Freshwater
At 2,142 residents, Freshwater packs a median age of 42 into a 1.58 sq km footprint, producing density of 1,351.6 people per sq km. That compact feel reflects a housing mix of 57.6% separate houses and 34.9% apartments, while household income sits at the 67.4th percentile and university attainment reaches 41.5%, 11.4 percentage points above the national comparison. Compared with nearby Edge Hill and Stratford, Freshwater suits buyers seeking a smaller Cairns setting because 70.2% of residents stayed at the same address and 20.7% work from home. The outlook is measured, with annual growth at 0.85%.
Local council: Cairns
Population
2,142
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,867/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Freshwater suits buyers seeking established housing variety without a strongly rental-dominated tenure profile. Separate houses account for 57.6%, apartments 34.9% and semi-detached homes 7.6%, so the 2 and 3 bedroom segments, at 33.8% and 32.6%, are relevant for couples and smaller households. A typical mortgage commitment is $1,625 monthly, while weekly rent is $350 and mortgage costs equal 20.1% of household income. Compared with renting at 29.1%, outright ownership at 31.7% points to a stable owner base. Buyers should confirm current sale prices because the median house figure is not stated.
For Buyers
Freshwater suits buyers seeking established housing variety without a strongly rental-dominated tenure profile. Separate houses account for 57.6%, apartments 34.9% and semi-detached homes 7.6%, so the 2 and 3 bedroom segments, at 33.8% and 32.6%, are relevant for couples and smaller households. A typical mortgage commitment is $1,625 monthly, while weekly rent is $350 and mortgage costs equal 20.1% of household income. Compared with renting at 29.1%, outright ownership at 31.7% points to a stable owner base. Buyers should confirm current sale prices because the median house figure is not stated.
For Investors
Freshwater's rental case rests more on tenant demand and established housing than on a large development pipeline. Rent is $350 a week, renters comprise 29.1% of households and vacancy is 8.5%, indicating more available stock than a tightly undersupplied market. Rent growth of 33.3% points to stronger pricing momentum, while only 1 development approval in the past 12 months limits evidence of a construction surge. Compared with outright ownership at 31.7%, the rental share is meaningful but not dominant. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support demand because new arrivals often need established rental stock before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Freshwater
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Freshwater State School
Demographics
Freshwater has an older, settled profile: median age is 42, which is 2 years above the national comparison, and 70.2% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period. University attainment is 41.5%, 11.4 percentage points above national, while overseas-born residents make up 21.3%, only 0.3 points below national. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 929, 324 and 278, reinforcing an Anglo-leaning pattern. No religion is recorded for 1,113 people versus 836 identifying with Christianity. Compared with the surrounding Edge Hill and Stratford market, Freshwater's smaller 2.3-person households point to a mature local base because couples without children form 40.7% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
57.6%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
34.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Freshwater's housing mix is more compact than a detached-home suburb: 57.6% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 34.9% apartments and 7.6% semi-detached homes. Tenure is split across 31.7% owned outright, 38.8% with a mortgage and 29.1% rented, creating a larger mortgaged group than outright-owner group. The bedroom profile supports this variety, with 33.8% two-bedroom, 32.6% three-bedroom and 32.5% four-bedroom-plus homes. Weekly rent is $350, vacancy is 8.5% and mortgage costs equal 20.1% of household income. This compact mix may appeal because apartments and smaller homes suit a dense 1.58 sq km suburb.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $350.
$680
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $680 · units $510
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,095
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.5%
Unoccupied
81
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.8%
Couples with children
40.7%
Couples, no children
21.5%
Single parent
590
Total families
Economy & Employment
Freshwater's employment base is led by Healthcare at 28.1% or 267 workers, followed by Education at 14.2% and Public Administration at 9.4%; Professional and Technical work contributes 8.3% and Construction 7.5%. Professionals number 425 and managers 151, helping explain an education and occupation decile of 8 and IRSAD decile of 7. Economic resources sit lower at IER decile 6, despite household income at the 67.4th percentile, above the midpoint, while IRSD reaches decile 8. The contrast suggests education and occupation are stronger than asset depth because the local workforce is professional but housing costs still matter. Unemployment is 4.5% and participation is 73.5%.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
1,258
Unemployed
57
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.5%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
73.5%
Employed
1,201
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.5%
Postgraduate
10.3%
Born Overseas
21.3%
Dwellings
872
Transport to Work
Daily life in Freshwater is strongly car-oriented: 71.5% drive as a car driver, compared with only 0.9% using public transport, while 20.7% work from home. That pattern matters because local trips and commuting are less likely to rely on frequent transit. School access includes 1 government state school in the suburb, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. A density of 1,351.6 people per sq km keeps services and neighbours relatively close, and 21.4% volunteering points to civic participation. IRSAD sits in decile 7, above the middle of the national decile scale. For safety decisions, combine an address-specific check with local lighting and evening activity.
Drive
71.5%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
20.7%
Growth Outlook
Freshwater is an established suburb with a forecast annual growth trend of 0.85%, led primarily by Overseas migration. The wider area records 13.5% population change across ten years, while the forecast trajectory is Mixed rather than a one-direction expansion story. Compared with the 33.3% rent growth, the 0.85% annual population trend indicates a market where rental pressure may move faster than resident growth. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 25, and the shift measure records a 1.8 percentage point increase in senior share. Change should be measured, not explosive, because the suburb covers 1.58 sq km and recorded only 1 development approval over 12 months.
Population trend: Cairns council area
Freshwater sits in the Cairns council area. These are the council area's residents, not Freshwater's.
Residents 2025
179,334
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit residents who prefer a compact, established Cairns setting. It has 2,142 residents, a median age of 42, 20.7% working from home and 21.4% volunteering. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, daily life is more car dependent because 71.5% drive while only 0.9% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Freshwater?
Check recent settled sales for Freshwater's current median house price rather than inferring it from rent. Weekly rent is $350, while the dwelling mix includes 57.6% separate houses, 34.9% apartments and 7.6% semi-detached homes, so property type can materially affect the comparison.
What schools are in Freshwater?
Freshwater includes 1 government school, classified as a state school. Families should confirm enrolment zones against the exact address, because catchments can differ between nearby streets. School choice should also consider transport, year levels and places available rather than relying on suburb boundaries alone.
Is Freshwater safe?
Assess safety using recent incident data for the exact address, along with street lighting and evening activity, rather than relying on a broad suburb label. Freshwater has 2,142 residents and density of 1,351.6 people per sq km, so conditions can differ between busier and quieter pockets.
Is Freshwater good for property investment?
Freshwater may suit investors seeking an established rental market, but the 8.5% vacancy rate calls for careful leasing assumptions. Weekly rent is $350, rent growth is 33.3%, and only 1 development approval was recorded over 12 months. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support tenant demand.
How is Freshwater's population changing?
Freshwater's growth outlook is measured rather than explosive. Annual growth is forecast at 0.85%, and population change across the wider area is 13.5% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Mixed and gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 25.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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