Question 1

Is West Kempsey a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

West Kempsey is the residential side of Kempsey on the Mid North Coast, set beside the Macleay River and offering a relaxed regional lifestyle. The suburb mixes older timber cottages and low-set brick homes on generous blocks with pockets of newer infill, and it tends to appeal to families, tradespeople and retirees who value space and a quieter pace. Riverfront reserves provide spots for fishing and boating, and community facilities are within easy reach of the town centre. Strong road links on the Pacific Highway and regional transport services make nearby coastal towns and services accessible.

The suburb is home to 5,073 people with a median age of 40, and families are varied in composition, one-parent families being the largest single group at 36.4%. Homes are mostly owner-occupied (59.3%) while 40.7% are rented, and the median household income is $925 a week. Recent and planned civic work focuses on health and the riverside, including a redeveloped Kempsey District Hospital, a proposed health precinct around the hospital and TAFE, foreshore stabilisation, sporting facility upgrades and a Community Housing Limited project for 32 social and affordable homes. Whether West Kempsey suits you will depend on how much you value space, river access and a regional pace of life.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in West Kempsey?

Accepted Answer

A median house price of $500,000 in West Kempsey works out to about 10.4 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, so buying sits well above what households there earned at that time. Renting is also stretched against local incomes: $493 a week for a house would be about 53.2% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and $380 a week for a unit would be about 41.1%. Both rent shares are a large portion of a typical local household's income at the last Census, while the house price is a high multiple of a local year's household earnings.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is West Kempsey a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months in West Kempsey, house values climbed 10.3% while house rents rose 7.2%, so on the houses side capital growth outpaced rental growth over the year. Unit rents jumped 13.4% over the same period and therefore rose faster than house rents, so if rental income is your priority the unit-side movement is the most relevant figure here. Whether that balance between price growth and rent growth fits your plans depends on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$500K	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	10.3%	N/A
Sold Past 3 months	31	1
Median days on market Past 12 months	61	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$493	$380
Change in rent Past 12 months	7.2%	13.4%

Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in West Kempsey

West Kempsey suburb profile

West Kempsey property market performance

5 year median price trend for houses and units

West Kempsey demographics

Suburbs near West Kempsey

How does West Kempsey compare to nearby suburbs?

Choose the right real estate agents in West Kempsey

Get a head start and compare top local agents in West Kempsey

Not quite ready to sell?

Suburb and property report

Digital estimate for your property

Navigate the market