Side by sideSuburb comparison

South Kempsey vs Frederickton.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $440,000 and $548,750.

South Kempsey (median $440,000) is roughly 20% cheaper to buy into than Frederickton ($548,750). Over the past year, South Kempsey (+18.9%) ran 22.2 percentage points ahead of Frederickton (-3.3%) on house-price growth.

Frederickton scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Frederickton (875) sits above South Kempsey (863). Frederickton skews owner-occupied (71%), South Kempsey runs more rental-dense (61% owner).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

South Kempsey is the lower entry point at $440,000 median, 20% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

South Kempsey carries both higher gross yield (5.97% 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 questionsSouth Kempsey vs Frederickton

Common questions

Is South Kempsey or Frederickton cheaper to buy in?

South Kempsey has the lower median house price at $440,000, roughly 20% below Frederickton ($548,750). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, South Kempsey or Frederickton?

Over the past 12 months, South Kempsey grew +18.9% vs -3.3% in Frederickton, a gap of 22.2 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 South Kempsey or Frederickton have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Frederickton scores 875 vs 863 in South 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 is more walkable, South Kempsey or Frederickton?

Frederickton scores 2/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.

Which suburb has higher rental yield, South Kempsey or Frederickton?

Gross rental yield on houses is 5.97% in South 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

South Kempsey
Metric
Frederickton

Price & Market

$440,000
Median house
$548,750
$205,920
Median unit
$205,920
+18.9%
Annual growth (house)
-3.3%
Days on market

Rental

$505/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$505/wk
$383/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$383/wk
61.0%
Owner occupied
71.0%
32.0%
Renter occupied
23.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

0
Walk score
2
0
Transit score
0
0
Bike score
0
2,604
Population
1,452
42
Median age
49

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

12
Schools nearby
14
863
Avg ICSEA
875

Climate

Annual rainfall
Mean max (Jan)

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).