Kempsey

Kempsey has a population of 15,654 and is noticeably older than most areas, with a typical age of 42. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 22.6% of the community, a figure well above the national average.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 6.6% of people born overseas, which is far below the state and national figures. English and Australian ancestries are the most common.

English is the primary language here, and only 2.9% of people use another language at home. This is far below the national figure, and very few residents speak little or no English.

About 48.5% of residents identify as Christian, while 35.5% report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 20 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is much lower than the state average, with only 7.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 28.7% of residents completed Year 12, though this has risen since 2011.

Incomes in Kempsey are among the lowest in the region; the typical weekly household income is $1,081, which is far below the national figure of $1,746.

Health challenges are common here, with 36.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 11% of residents need help with daily activities.

More people provide unpaid care here than in most similar areas, at 14.2%. However, the proportion of volunteers has fallen to 12.1% since 2011.

The First Nations community is large, with 2,865 people. This group faces significant disadvantage, with an unemployment rate of 20.1%, which is far above the state average.

One-parent families are very common at 26.8%, a rate far above the national average. Additionally, 28.9% of people live alone, which is higher than in most areas.

Separate houses make up 90.6% of dwellings, far more than the national figure. While rents are much lower than typical, 37.1% of homes are owned outright.

Most people rely on cars, with 69.1% driving to work. Very few residents use public transport for commuting, despite the area having a high number of bus stops.

The population is relatively stable, with 32.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also very low at 5.7%.

Job seekers face a tough market, with an unemployment rate of 8.6% that is well above the national average. Many of the remaining jobs are in health care and social assistance.

Kempsey ranks very low for overall advantage, scoring 1 out of 10. It also scores at the bottom for access to money, resources, and job skills compared to other areas.

The area is very wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,278mm, which is far above the New South Wales average.

The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.1. Many residents live far from basic needs, as only 34.8% are within a 15-minute walk of health services.