Frederickton vs West Kempsey.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $548,750 and $460,000. West Kempsey edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
West Kempsey (median $460,000) is roughly 19% cheaper to buy into than Frederickton ($548,750). Over the past year, West Kempsey (+4.5%) ran 7.8 percentage points ahead of Frederickton (-3.3%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Frederickton (875) sits above West Kempsey (863). Frederickton skews owner-occupied (71%), West Kempsey runs more rental-dense (58% owner).
For buyers
West Kempsey is the lower entry point at $460,000 median, 19% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
West Kempsey carries both higher gross yield (5.71% vs 4.79%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Frederickton edges out on average school ICSEA (875 vs 863).
Common questions
Is Frederickton or West Kempsey cheaper to buy in?
West Kempsey has the lower median house price at $460,000, roughly 19% below Frederickton ($548,750). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Frederickton or West Kempsey?
Over the past 12 months, West Kempsey grew +4.5% vs -3.3% in Frederickton, a gap of 7.8 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Frederickton or West Kempsey have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Frederickton scores 875 vs 863 in West Kempsey. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Frederickton or West Kempsey?
Gross rental yield on houses is 5.71% in West Kempsey vs 4.79% in Frederickton. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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