Freshwater
At the 94.9th household income percentile ($2,726/week), Freshwater ranks among Sydney's wealthiest beachside suburbs, yet 53.3% of dwellings are apartments, creating an unusual profile where premium incomes live in medium-density housing. The median house price of $1,465,000 rose from $1,300,000 to $1,650,000 in a single year (26.9% increase), an acceleration that outpaces even Sydney's broader Northern Beaches trend. SEIFA scores are at or near maximum: IRSAD decile 10, IRSD decile 10, IEO decile 9 and IER decile 9. University qualifications at 55.1% run 25 percentage points above the national average, and Professional/Tech is the top employment sector at 18.8%. Just 94 development applications were lodged in 12 months, signalling active renewal in a constrained 1.75 km2 footprint.
Population
9,186
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,726/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
100
Median House
$1.5M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,465,000 median reflects a mix of apartments and houses, with the price jumping 26.9% in one year (from $1,300,000 in 2024 to $1,650,000 in 2025). Two-bedroom units dominate at 42.8% of stock, while four-plus bedrooms account for 24.1%, creating a barbell between apartment entry and detached family homes. Monthly mortgage repayments of $3,055 produce a 25.9% mortgage-to-income ratio, manageable for high-earning households but approaching stress for median-income buyers. Outright ownership at 28.3% and mortgage holders at 34.0% together total 62.3%. Walking/cycling at 8.2% is well above the national average. Harbord Public School (ICSEA 1,137, 881 students) and the Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus (ICSEA 1,098, 647 students) both score well above the national benchmark.
For Buyers
The $1,465,000 median reflects a mix of apartments and houses, with the price jumping 26.9% in one year (from $1,300,000 in 2024 to $1,650,000 in 2025). Two-bedroom units dominate at 42.8% of stock, while four-plus bedrooms account for 24.1%, creating a barbell between apartment entry and detached family homes. Monthly mortgage repayments of $3,055 produce a 25.9% mortgage-to-income ratio, manageable for high-earning households but approaching stress for median-income buyers. Outright ownership at 28.3% and mortgage holders at 34.0% together total 62.3%. Walking/cycling at 8.2% is well above the national average. Harbord Public School (ICSEA 1,137, 881 students) and the Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus (ICSEA 1,098, 647 students) both score well above the national benchmark.
For Investors
Renters at 37.6% form a sizeable tenant pool for a high-income suburb. Median rent of $600/week against a $1,465,000 price produces a gross yield of just 2.1%, typical of premium beachside locations where capital growth drives returns rather than income. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is moderate. With 94 DAs lodged in 12 months (including subdivisions and new residential construction), the development pipeline is active for such a small suburb. The 26.1% turnover rate suggests reasonable tenant churn. Renters face a rent-to-income ratio of 22.0%, moderate given the suburb's wealth profile. Net overseas migration data is not available at suburb level, but the 30.4% overseas-born share indicates sustained international demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
634
Last 12 Months
100
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-2.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Freshwater iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Harbord Public School
K-6 · 881 students
St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 163 students
Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus
11-12 · 647 students
Demographics
University qualifications at 55.1% are 25 percentage points above the national average, and Professionals (1,826) and Managers (1,140) together represent over 60% of all workers. English ancestry leads at 4,025, followed by Irish (1,280) and Scottish (1,099), with Italian (460) reflecting a European thread. The 30.4% overseas-born share is 8.8 points above national, but the linguistic profile (Portuguese 70, Italian 49, French 45, German 40, Mandarin 22) leans European rather than Asian, distinguishing Freshwater from Sydney's western suburbs. Median age of 37 is 3 years below national, and average household size of 2.5 matches the national norm exactly. Couples without children (2,089) and couples with children (3,401) coexist, reflecting a suburb that attracts both young professionals and established families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
41.8%
Houses
4.7%
Townhouse
53.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Apartments narrowly lead at 53.3%, with detached houses at 41.8% and semi-detached at 4.7%. The bedroom mix reflects this split: 42.8% two-bedrooms (apartment stock), 24.1% four-plus (houses), 20.1% three-bedrooms and 13.0% studios/one-beds. Mortgage holders at 34.0% and outright owners at 28.3% together account for 62.3% of tenure, with renters at 37.6%. The median rose 26.9% in one year, from $1,300,000 (2024) to $1,650,000 (2025), though this short series should be read with caution as sample size effects can amplify year-on-year swings. The price-to-income ratio of roughly 10.4 times annual household income is high but lower than comparable Sydney beachside suburbs with detached-only medians.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,055
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,355
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
290
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.7%
Couples, no children
7,289
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech services lead at 18.8% (782 workers), followed by Healthcare at 11.6% (484), Construction at 10.5% (436), Education at 10.2% (424) and Finance at 9.7% (402). This is a classic knowledge-economy suburb: Professionals (1,826) and Managers (1,140) dominate the occupational structure. The unemployment rate of 2.8% is well below the national average, and full-time employment at 69.1% is strong. Participation rate of 66.0% exceeds the national figure. The SEIFA IEO decile 9 and IER decile 9 confirm both high educational attainment and strong economic resources. The 10.5% construction share is notable for a beachside suburb and likely reflects renovation and redevelopment activity rather than greenfield building.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.1%
Part-time
28.1%
Participation
66.0%
Employed
4,783
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.1%
Postgraduate
13.6%
Born Overseas
30.4%
Dwellings
3,564
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling at 8.2% run well above the national average, reflecting the beach proximity and village-style retail strip. Public transport at 5.0% is moderate. Three schools score well above the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark: Harbord Public (1,137, 881 students, Government), St John the Baptist Catholic Primary (1,134, 163 students), and Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus (1,098, 647 students, Government). IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 10 confirm top-tier advantage. The unemployment rate of 2.8% is among the lowest nationally. Rent-to-income at 22.0% and mortgage-to-income at 25.9% are moderate for a suburb at the 94.9th income percentile.
Drive
82.8%
Public Transport
5.0%
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Freshwater compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Freshwater a good suburb to live in?
Freshwater scores IRSAD decile 10 and sits at the 94.9th household income percentile. Schools score well above 1,000 ICSEA (up to 1,137), unemployment is just 2.8%, and 8.2% walk or cycle to work. The $1,465,000 median and 25.9% mortgage-to-income ratio are manageable for high-income households.
What is the median house price in Freshwater?
The median is $1,465,000 (PSI-derived, 2024-2025), rising from $1,300,000 to $1,650,000 in one year (26.9% increase). Monthly mortgage repayments of $3,055 produce a 25.9% mortgage-to-income ratio. Median weekly rent is $600.
What schools are in Freshwater?
Three schools serve the suburb, all above the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark: Harbord Public School (1,137, 881 students, Government), St John the Baptist Catholic Primary (1,134, 163 students), and Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus (1,098, 647 students, Government).
Is Freshwater safe?
Crime data is not available for Freshwater in the current dataset. IRSD decile 10 indicates minimal disadvantage, and IRSAD decile 10 confirms top-level socio-economic advantage. The 2.2% need-assistance rate (196 people) is well below the national average.
Is Freshwater good for property investment?
The 37.6% renter share provides a moderate tenant pool, but gross yield of approximately 2.1% ($600/week on $1,465,000) is low. Capital growth of 26.9% in one year is strong but volatile over a short series. The 7.5% vacancy rate is moderate, and 94 DAs in 12 months indicate active redevelopment.
How is Freshwater's population changing?
Freshwater's 1.75 km2 footprint limits expansion, but 94 DAs in 12 months signal infill development. The 30.4% overseas-born share (8.8 points above national) shows international demand. Median age of 37 is 3 years below national, and the 2.2% need-assistance rate is among the lowest recorded.
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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