Housing

Housing tenure

About this topic

Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.

This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.

Interpretation notes

  • Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
  • It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.

Key insight

In 2021, 72% of households in Kempsey (A) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 24% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Regional NSW (31.2%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Kempsey (A) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises housing tenure for Kempsey (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Kempsey (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Kempsey (A)
Regional NSW

Fully owned

2021 count

5,146

% of total

45.3%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

Mortgage

2021 count

3,036

% of total

26.7%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Renting - Total

2021 count

2,725

% of total

24.0%

Change from 2016

-2.0pp

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

422

% of total

3.7%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Renting - Private

2021 count

2,283

% of total

20.1%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

26

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Other tenure type

2021 count

183

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Not stated

2021 count

264

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Data table

Housing tenure for Kempsey (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Housing tenure for Kempsey (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Housing tenure for Kempsey (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Fully owned5,14645.3%38.0%4,58543.0%37.4%+561+2.3pp
Mortgage3,03626.7%31.2%2,87827.0%30.6%+158-0.3pp
Renting - Total2,72524.0%26.8%2,76426.0%27.9%-39-2.0pp
Renting - Social housing4223.7%4.0%4374.1%4.5%-15-0.4pp
Renting - Private2,28320.1%22.6%2,23521.0%22.7%+48-0.9pp
Renting - Not stated260.2%0.2%890.8%0.7%-63-0.6pp
Other tenure type1831.6%2.3%640.6%1.0%+119+1.0pp
Not stated2642.3%1.7%3683.5%3.0%-104-1.2pp
Total households11,352100.0%100.0%10,651100.0%100.0%+7010.0pp