NSW 2756 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Freemans Reach

At 2,049 residents spread across 24.6 square kilometres, Freemans Reach is one of the lower-density pockets of the Hawkesbury region, yet household income sits at the 81.6th percentile nationally, well above average for a rural-fringe suburb. Every occupied dwelling is a separate house, a 100% detached rate that is rare even among outer NSW localities. Nearly half of all homes have four or more bedrooms (49.8%), pointing to a large-family, owner-occupier character. The median age of 37 is 3 years younger than the national figure, and 90.6% of workers commute by car, confirming the suburb's dependence on private transport and its orientation toward family settlement rather than rental churn.

Freemans Reach urban fabric map

Population

2,049

Median Age

37.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,143/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

12

Median House

$1.1M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

24.6 km²· 83.3 people/km²· Family income $2,291/wk

The median house price in Freemans Reach reached $1,110,000, placing it well above the national average and in the upper tier of Hawkesbury LGA values. Price history shows a peak of $1,310,000 in 2024, retreating 20% to $1,047,500 in 2025, so buyers entering now are acquiring at a significant discount to recent highs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the suburb is more affordable to service than its headline price implies. The entire housing stock is detached houses, so there is no apartment segment competing for land, and 45.0% of households carry a mortgage compared to 36.8% who own outright, indicating an active, mid-stage ownership market rather than a fully settled one.

For Buyers

The median house price in Freemans Reach reached $1,110,000, placing it well above the national average and in the upper tier of Hawkesbury LGA values. Price history shows a peak of $1,310,000 in 2024, retreating 20% to $1,047,500 in 2025, so buyers entering now are acquiring at a significant discount to recent highs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the suburb is more affordable to service than its headline price implies. The entire housing stock is detached houses, so there is no apartment segment competing for land, and 45.0% of households carry a mortgage compared to 36.8% who own outright, indicating an active, mid-stage ownership market rather than a fully settled one.

For Investors

Freemans Reach is not a natural rental market. Only 18.2% of households rent, well below the national average, and weekly rents of $463 against a $1,110,000 median imply a gross yield below 2.2%. The vacancy rate of 2.4% is within a healthy range, but the thin renter base of roughly 373 households limits the tenant pool. Development activity recorded 11 applications in the past 12 months, mostly house alterations and additions, with no multi-dwelling projects visible in the sample, signalling low supply growth but also limited investor-led construction. The 20% price correction from peak gives buyers a potential re-entry point, but the investment case depends on capital recovery over time rather than immediate yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

61

Last 12 Months

12

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+50.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Garage / Carport / Shed
5
Renovation / Extension
4
Demolition
3
New Dwelling
3
Swimming Pool / Spa
2
Subdivision
1
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
1
Commercial / Industrial
1

Schools in Freemans Reach iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Freemans Reach Public School

ICSEA 957 Primary Government

K-6 · 194 students

Hawkesbury High School

ICSEA 946 Secondary Government

7-12 · 418 students

Demographics

The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, reflecting a younger-than-average community anchored by families with children: couples with children account for 789 of the 1,743 recorded family structures. Overseas-born residents make up 12.6% of the population, which is 9.0 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the suburb's strongly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (763), Maltese (281), Irish (218) and Scottish (182) lead all ancestries. The Maltese community at 281 residents is a distinctive concentration for a suburb of 2,049 people. University qualifications reach 19.8%, which is 10.3 points below the national figure, and average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 persons above national, both consistent with the family-dominant, trade-and-services workforce character.

Age Distribution

0-14
20.6%
15-24
12.7%
25-44
24.7%
45-64
27.7%
65+
14.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.4%
2 bed
7.8%
3 bed
41.1%
4+ bed
49.8%

Dwelling Structure

100.0%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 36.8% Mortgage 45.0% Rent 18.2%

Every dwelling in Freemans Reach is a separate house, making it one of the few NSW suburbs with a 100% detached rate. Almost half of homes (49.8%) have four or more bedrooms, and 41.1% have three bedrooms, confirming the large-family orientation. Tenure splits between mortgage holders at 45.0% and outright owners at 36.8%, with renters at only 18.2%, a tenure profile that skews lower than state and national averages for renting. Prices peaked at $1,310,000 in 2024 and fell 20% to $1,047,500 in 2025, which is a sharper correction than most metro markets. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4% stays comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 21.6% is similarly manageable, meaning existing housing costs are well contained relative to the suburb's 81.6th-percentile household income.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,167

Rent / wk

$463

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$877

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

2.4%

Unoccupied

16

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

21.6%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.4%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Canton
17

Ancestry

English
763
Maltese
281
Irish
218
Scottish
182
Ancestry NS
94
Other
86

Household Composition

24.2%

Couples, no children

1,743

Total families

Economy & Employment

Construction leads local employment at 16.9% (109 workers), reflecting the Hawkesbury region's land-development and trade activity. Healthcare and Education together employ 25.6% of the workforce (165 workers), proportions that are above what a small suburb typically generates and likely reflect regional service employers drawing local staff. Professional and technical services account for 7.0%. By occupation, Managers (188) outnumber Professionals (146), which is consistent with a small-business and trade-business ownership base rather than a salaried professional workforce. The full-time employment rate is 64.3% and unemployment sits at 3.2%, in line with national norms. Participation at 60.4% is moderate, partly because 465 residents are not in the labour force, a share consistent with the family structure and some early retirees.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

64.3%

Part-time

32.5%

Participation

60.4%

Employed

948

Occupations

Managers 188
Clerical/Admin 153
Professionals 146
Labourers 109
Machinery/Drivers 98
Community/Personal 95
Sales 67

Top Industries

Construction 16.9%
Healthcare 12.9%
Education 12.7%
Other Services 7.4%
Professional/Tech 7.0%

University

19.8%

Postgraduate

3.5%

Born Overseas

12.6%

Dwellings

659

Transport to Work

Car dependence is very high at 90.6%, above the national average, which is typical for a low-density rural-fringe suburb where public transport options are limited. Walking and cycling account for 4.5% of commutes, a modest active-transport share. Crime statistics are not available for Freemans Reach in this dataset, so a direct safety comparison cannot be made; however, the low-density character, low renter share of 18.2% and high household income at the 81.6th percentile are broadly correlated with lower crime rates in comparable outer-NSW areas. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset. The volunteering rate of 14.5% is reasonably active for a community of 2,049 people, and only 6.1% of residents (119 people) need assistance with daily activities, which is a low dependency burden.

Drive

90.6%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

4.5%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Freemans Reach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 21%
Household Income
Top 18%
Rent Level
Top 8%
Renters
Bottom 44%
Uni Educated
Bottom 36%
Born Overseas
Bottom 43%
Density
Top 27%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Freemans Reach a good suburb to live in?

Freemans Reach suits families seeking large detached homes with space: 49.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 100% of stock is separate houses. Household income sits at the 81.6th percentile nationally and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-off is high car dependence at 90.6% with limited public transport.

What is the median house price in Freemans Reach?

The median house price is approximately $1,110,000. Prices peaked at $1,310,000 in 2024 and fell around 20% to $1,047,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%, below the common stress threshold of 30%.

What schools are in Freemans Reach?

No schools are recorded within the Freemans Reach suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Windsor, Richmond and McGraths Hill in the Hawkesbury LGA. The suburb's university qualification rate of 19.8% is 10.3 points below the national figure, reflecting a workforce oriented toward trades and services.

Is Freemans Reach safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Freemans Reach in this dataset. Indirect indicators suggest a low-risk environment: the renter share is only 18.2% (far below national averages), household income sits at the 81.6th percentile, and the population density of 83.3 people per square kilometre is very low. Only 6.1% of residents (119 people) need daily assistance.

Is Freemans Reach good for property investment?

The investment case is modest. Weekly rent of $463 against a $1,110,000 median implies a gross yield below 2.2%, and only 18.2% of households rent, limiting the tenant pool. The 20% price fall from the 2024 peak of $1,310,000 offers a potential re-entry point, but returns depend on capital recovery over time rather than rental income.

How is Freemans Reach's population changing?

The current population of 2,049 residents is spread across 24.6 square kilometres at a low density of 83.3 people per square kilometre. Community stability is high: 82.9% of residents stayed at the same address over the measured period, and development activity is limited to 11 applications in the past 12 months, mostly house alterations, indicating slow, incremental growth.

How to read these comparisons

Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.

Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.

Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.

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