Urban Area · Area profile
Kempsey
195 km²
A growing proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now live in Kempsey, where the population has aged and shrunk slightly since 2011. This community is noticeably older than the national average, with over one in five residents now aged 65 or over. It is a place where people generally earn much less than they do elsewhere in Australia, yet many live in large, detached family homes. These trends point to a modest regional hub with a strong indigenous presence and a high number of retirees.
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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen sharply to 18.3% since 2011, a figure far above the state and national averages. The community is older than usual, with a typical resident aged 42 and a significant 22.6% of people aged 65 and over.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 6.6% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with only 2.9% of people using another language at home. This is far below the state and national averages, and very few residents speak little or no English.
About 48.5% of the community is Christian, while 35.5% report no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen by 18 points since 2011, though this remains well below the national figure.
Education levels are much lower than the state average, with only 7.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 28.7% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the national average.
Typical incomes are far below those in the rest of the state, with the usual family earning $1,340 a week. Only 7.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is among the lowest rates for similar areas.
Health challenges are common here, as 36.8% of people have a long-term health condition and 11% need help with daily activities. Both figures are well above the national average.
More people provide unpaid care here than in most other areas, at 14.2%. However, the proportion of people caring for children has fallen by 11 points since 2011.
One-parent families make up 26.8% of the community, a figure far above the national average. While people living alone have increased to 28.9%, typical households remain slightly larger than those elsewhere in Australia.
Separate houses dominate the landscape at 90.6%, and 37.1% of homes are owned outright. Rent is well below the national average, with a typical weekly payment of $285.
Most people rely on cars, and only 0.4% commute via public transport. Very few residents work from home, at 5.8%, which is far below the state average.
The community is relatively stable, as 32.7% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very low at 5.7%.
Job opportunities are limited, with an unemployment rate of 8.6% that is well above the national average. Only 43.4% of adults are working or looking for work, a figure that has fallen by 12 points since 2011.
The area is only somewhat walkable, and far fewer homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, schools, or health services compared to the state average.