New South Wales · Suburb Profile

West Kempsey NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for West Kempsey, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of West Kempsey NSW is 5,073 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in West Kempsey is $493 per week ($25,636 per year). Median rent in West Kempsey is $290 per week ($1,257 per month). West Kempsey has a median age of 40 years, older than the national median of 38. West Kempsey has a population density of 538.3 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in West Kempsey is England. The most common religion is No Religion (38% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Kempsey is $1,170.

There were 441 recorded offences in West Kempsey in 2025-26, a rate of 87 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (183 offences).

West Kempsey Map

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West Kempsey Population

residents (Census 2021)

West Kempsey Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$493/wk

$25,636 per year

#8265 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$290/wk

$1,257 per month

#5154 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

40years

2 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,170/mo

Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

West Kempsey Demographics

Gender Split

Male 46.1% (2,338) Female 53.9% (2,739)

Population Density

538.3

people per km²

5,073 people · 9.4 km²

Households

2.3

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$1,213

Family income/wk

West Kempsey Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

West Kempsey Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

57.3% 613 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

42.7% 456 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

West Kempsey Country of Birth

Australia

97.1%

England

1.9%

India

0.7%

China

0.1%

Germany

0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

West Kempsey Religion

No Religion

37.8%

Catholic

22.3%

Anglican

17.5%

Not stated

12.8%

Uniting Church

4.4%

Christian (other)

1.9%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

1.8%

Christnty Sevnth dy Advntst

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

West Kempsey Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent

39.8%

Year 12 or equivalent

35.9%

Year 9 or equivalent

15.3%

Year 11 or equivalent

8.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

West Kempsey Languages Spoken at Home

Other

29.7%

Malayalam

23.0%

Australian Indigenous

13.5%

SAL Tot

10.8%

SAL Tagalog

6.8%

Cantonese

6.8%

Bengali

5.4%

Mandarin

4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

West Kempsey Employment

💼

Employed full-time

21.1% 731 people

⏰

Employed part-time

16.1% 556 people

🔍

Unemployed

5.3% 185 people

🏠

Not in labour force

57.5% 1,992 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

West Kempsey Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

59.7%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

15.4%

Bachelor Degree

14.8%

Certificate I/II

4.3%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

3.4%

Postgraduate Degree

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

West Kempsey Occupation

Community & Personal Service

26.7%

Professionals

21.1%

Technicians & Trade Workers

11.5%

Clerical & Administrative

10.5%

Labourers

9.6%

Managers

9.0%

Sales Workers

7.6%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

West Kempsey Field of Study

Society & Culture

21.5%

Management & Commerce

20.9%

Health

15.6%

Engineering

11.5%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

8.9%

Education

8.4%

Architecture & Building

7.0%

Agriculture & Environment

2.5%

Information Technology

2.2%

Natural & Physical Sciences

0.9%

Creative Arts

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

West Kempsey Dwelling Types

Separate house

97.2%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

1.8%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

West Kempsey Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.7%

$1-$149/wk

1.0%

$150-$299/wk

2.6%

$300-$399/wk

4.3%

$400-$499/wk

14.7%

$500-$649/wk

8.0%

$650-$799/wk

11.2%

$800-$999/wk

10.7%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

9.3%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.2%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.0%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

7.9%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

3.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

2.2%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

1.2%

$4,000+/wk

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

West Kempsey Marital Status

💍

Married

29.6% 1,192

↔️

Separated

5.3% 213

📋

Divorced

11.7% 471

🕊️

Widowed

10.1% 408

👤

Never married

43.3% 1,743

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

West Kempsey Ancestry

Australian

31.9%

English

30.9%

Aboriginal Australianralian

15.3%

Irish

7.8%

Scottish

5.9%

Other

2.9%

German

2.3%

Filipino

0.9%

Indian

0.7%

Italian

0.6%

Dutch

0.5%

Maori

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

West Kempsey School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

30.4%

Secondary — Government

21.6%

Vocational Education

12.9%

Pre-school

10.5%

Primary — Catholic

7.7%

Secondary — Catholic

7.4%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

5.5%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

West Kempsey Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

15.6% 1,420

✅

No need for assistance

84.4% 7,672

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

West Kempsey Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

12.1% 433

—

Not a volunteer

87.9% 3,154

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

West Kempsey Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

4.4%

$300-$449/mo

4.0%

$450-$599/mo

2.3%

$600-$799/mo

9.3%

$800-$999/mo

13.3%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

36.2%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

18.5%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

8.6%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

1.9%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

West Kempsey How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

73.2%

Did not go to work

10.8%

Car (passenger)

9.0%

Walked only

3.8%

Truck

1.2%

Bus

0.6%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.5%

Other

0.4%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.3%

Bicycle

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

West Kempsey Car Ownership

0 vehicles

11.0%

1 vehicle

45.8%

2 vehicles

30.0%

3 vehicles

8.9%

4+ vehicles

4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

West Kempsey Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

6.0%

2 bedrooms

21.3%

3 bedrooms

52.0%

4 bedrooms

17.7%

5 bedrooms

2.1%

6+ bedrooms

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

West Kempsey Population Mobility

14.7%

moved in the last year

40.8%

moved in the last 5 years

11.3%

unemployment rate (Census)

40.2%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

West Kempsey Indigenous Population

22.8%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

2,102

Indigenous residents

7,099

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

West Kempsey Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

767

Arthritis

231

Asthma

224

Lung condition

201

Diabetes

187

Heart disease

166

Stroke

125

Cancer

Kidney disease

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

West Kempsey Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

11.3%

$1-$149/wk

3.7%

$150-$299/wk

10.0%

$300-$399/wk

8.7%

$400-$499/wk

9.9%

$500-$649/wk

6.0%

$650-$799/wk

11.4%

$800-$999/wk

12.6%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.6%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

6.0%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

4.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

2.2%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

2.6%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

0.2%

$3,500+/wk

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

West Kempsey Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

29.6%

One parent — children under 15

24.6%

Couple — no children

24.3%

One parent — no children under 15

12.6%

Couple — no children under 15

8.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

West Kempsey Military Service

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.2% 7

🏅

Previously served

3.9% 141

👤

Never served

95.9% 3,469

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

West Kempsey Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

16.1% 575

—

Did not provide

83.9% 2,996

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

West Kempsey Children Ever Born

No children

25.4%

1 child

12.0%

2 children

27.0%

3 children

20.3%

4 children

10.9%

5+ children

4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

West Kempsey When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

West Kempsey Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

15.8%

5–14 hours

21.8%

15–29 hours

11.2%

30+ hours

10.4%

Did not do domestic work

40.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

West Kempsey Household Size

1 person

34.0%

2 persons

33.0%

3 persons

13.1%

4 persons

10.8%

5 persons

5.0%

6+ persons

4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

West Kempsey Where Residents Moved From

Same address

3,786

Moved — same area (SA2)

354

Moved from NSW

238

Moved from QLD

Moved from overseas

Moved from VIC

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

West Kempsey Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

71.6%

Step family — no other children

13.8%

Blended family — no other children

7.6%

Intact family — other children present

2.4%

Other couple — children only

2.4%

Blended family — other children present

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

West Kempsey Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 441 total

Other Against Property

183

Theft

Assault

Property Damage

Other Against Person

Drug Offences

Sexual Offences

Weapons

Traffic

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

West Kempsey Schools

schools nearby

government

893

avg ICSEA score

2,514

total students

St Paul's College Catholic

Secondary · 7-12 · 641 students

999

ICSEA

St Joseph's Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 332 students

991

ICSEA

Kempsey East Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 180 students

875

ICSEA

Melville High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 355 students

849

ICSEA

Kempsey High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 584 students

848

ICSEA

Kempsey West Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 422 students

794

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in West Kempsey with map →

West Kempsey Rent Prices & Affordability

31%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $925/wk

Median Rent $290/wk

Rent-to-Income 31.4%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in West Kempsey

Your weekly income

≈ $4,008/month

Median rent $290/wk

Left after rent $635/wk

Rent share 31.4%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

South Grafton

Income: $526/wk Rent: $280/wk Save: $10/wk

Bowenfels

Income: $497/wk Rent: $185/wk Save: $105/wk

Wellington (NSW)

Income: $552/wk Rent: $230/wk Save: $60/wk

Warrawong

Income: $481/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $20/wk

South Kempsey

Income: $527/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $20/wk

Unanderra

Income: $563/wk Rent: $285/wk Save: $5/wk

Windale

Income: $462/wk Rent: $186/wk Save: $104/wk

Yennora

Income: $448/wk Rent: $226/wk Save: $64/wk

West Kempsey vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

McGraths Hill

Pop: 2,537 Income: $942/wk Rent: $450/wk

Estella

Pop: 2,541 Income: $916/wk Rent: $380/wk

Aberdare

Pop: 2,542 Income: $640/wk Rent: $303/wk

Abermain

Pop: 2,544 Income: $667/wk Rent: $320/wk

Rankin Park

Pop: 2,547 Income: $928/wk Rent: $450/wk

Mannering Park

Pop: 2,554 Income: $653/wk Rent: $378/wk

Compare West Kempsey

West Kempsey vs McGraths Hill →West Kempsey vs Estella →West Kempsey vs Aberdare →West Kempsey vs Abermain →

Frequently Asked Questions About West Kempsey

What is the population of West Kempsey NSW?

The population of West Kempsey NSW is 5,073 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 538.3 people per km².West Kempsey is ranked #1,548 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in West Kempsey?

The median personal income in West Kempsey NSW is $493 per week, or $25,636 per year.The median household income is $925 per week.Family income is $1,213 per week.West Kempsey is ranked #8,265 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in West Kempsey?

Median rent in West Kempsey NSW is $290 per week ($1,257 per month).Rent represents 31.4% of household income, which is considered moderate.West Kempsey ranks #5,154 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in West Kempsey?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Kempsey NSW is $1,170. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in West Kempsey?

The median age in West Kempsey NSW is 40 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is West Kempsey a good suburb to live in?

West Kempsey is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 5,073.The median income is $493/wk, which is below the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (31.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 14264. All dollar figures in AUD.