New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Freshwater NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Freshwater, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Freshwater NSW is 9,186 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Freshwater is $1,355 per week ($70,460 per year). Median rent in Freshwater is $600 per week ($2,600 per month). Freshwater has a median age of 37 years, younger than the national median of 38. Freshwater has a population density of 5236.3 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Freshwater is England. The most common religion is No Religion (53% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Freshwater is $3,055.

There were 47 recorded offences in Freshwater in 2025-26, a rate of 5 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (21 offences).

Freshwater Map

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Freshwater Population

residents (Census 2021)

Freshwater Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$1,355/wk

$70,460 per year

#218 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$600/wk

$2,600 per month

#202 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

37years

1 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$3,055/mo

Avg household size: 2.5 · 1 per bedroom

Freshwater Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (4,509) Female 50.9% (4,675)

Population Density

5236.3

people per km²

9,186 people · 1.8 km²

Households

2.5

Avg household size

Persons per bedroom

$3,390

Family income/wk

Freshwater Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Freshwater Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

45.4% 986 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

54.6% 1,184 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Freshwater Country of Birth

Australia

83.4%

England

11.5%

Brazil

1.6%

Canada

0.8%

Germany

0.7%

France

0.7%

China

0.4%

India

0.4%

Croatia

0.3%

Hong Kong

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Freshwater Religion

No Religion

52.9%

Catholic

24.0%

Anglican

13.2%

Not stated

4.7%

Uniting Church

1.8%

Christian (other)

1.3%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

1.2%

Buddhism

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Freshwater Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

82.7%

Year 10 or equivalent

11.6%

Year 11 or equivalent

3.8%

Year 9 or equivalent

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Freshwater Languages Spoken at Home

Other

18.8%

Spanish

17.4%

Portuguese

16.9%

Italian

11.8%

French

10.9%

German

9.7%

Mandarin

5.3%

Russian

5.3%

Japan

3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Freshwater Employment

💼

Employed full-time

48.9% 3,300 people

⏰

Employed part-time

21.9% 1,479 people

🔍

Unemployed

2.1% 143 people

🏠

Not in labour force

27.0% 1,822 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Freshwater Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

45.8%

Certificate III/IV

16.9%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

16.4%

Postgraduate Degree

14.9%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

4.4%

Certificate I/II

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Freshwater Occupation

Professionals

39.8%

Managers

23.7%

Technicians & Trade Workers

11.1%

Clerical & Administrative

9.5%

Community & Personal Service

7.3%

Sales Workers

5.1%

Labourers

2.3%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Freshwater Field of Study

Management & Commerce

31.0%

Society & Culture

13.8%

Engineering

9.8%

Health

8.9%

Creative Arts

8.8%

Architecture & Building

8.2%

Education

7.2%

Natural & Physical Sciences

3.6%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

3.3%

Information Technology

3.3%

Agriculture & Environment

2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Freshwater Dwelling Types

Separate house

89.9%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

7.4%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Freshwater Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.2%

$1-$149/wk

0.4%

$150-$299/wk

0.8%

$300-$399/wk

1.1%

$400-$499/wk

2.7%

$500-$649/wk

2.4%

$650-$799/wk

2.3%

$800-$999/wk

3.4%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

4.6%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

5.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.8%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

12.8%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

6.5%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

8.4%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

6.0%

$4,000+/wk

32.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Freshwater Marital Status

💍

Married

45.1% 3,360

↔️

Separated

2.2% 167

📋

Divorced

7.9% 592

🕊️

Widowed

2.8% 212

👤

Never married

41.9% 3,122

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Freshwater Ancestry

English

33.0%

Australian

25.1%

Irish

10.5%

Other

9.4%

Scottish

9.0%

Italian

3.8%

German

3.4%

Dutch

1.4%

French

1.2%

Chinese

1.2%

New Zealander

1.0%

Welsh

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Freshwater School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

30.1%

Secondary — Government

16.6%

Vocational Education

12.7%

Pre-school

12.2%

Secondary — Catholic

9.0%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

8.4%

Primary — Catholic

6.4%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Freshwater Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

2.2% 385

✅

No need for assistance

97.8% 17,404

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Freshwater Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

18.6% 1,340

—

Not a volunteer

81.4% 5,865

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Freshwater Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

5.6%

$300-$449/mo

1.8%

$450-$599/mo

1.8%

$600-$799/mo

3.1%

$800-$999/mo

2.5%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

9.1%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

9.3%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

19.8%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

17.2%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

29.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Freshwater How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

60.0%

Did not go to work

23.1%

Walked only

4.3%

Bus

3.6%

Car (passenger)

3.0%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.7%

Bicycle

1.6%

Truck

1.2%

Other

0.7%

Ferry

0.6%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Freshwater Car Ownership

0 vehicles

5.6%

1 vehicle

44.0%

2 vehicles

37.9%

3 vehicles

7.8%

4+ vehicles

4.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Freshwater Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

12.9%

2 bedrooms

42.9%

3 bedrooms

20.1%

4 bedrooms

16.0%

5 bedrooms

6.2%

6+ bedrooms

1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Freshwater Population Mobility

18.1%

moved in the last year

47.1%

moved in the last 5 years

2.6%

unemployment rate (Census)

72.6%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Freshwater Indigenous Population

0.5%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Indigenous residents

17,804

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Freshwater Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

491

Asthma

277

Arthritis

223

Heart disease

165

Diabetes

109

Cancer

Lung condition

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Freshwater Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

7.8%

$1-$149/wk

3.2%

$150-$299/wk

3.2%

$300-$399/wk

1.4%

$400-$499/wk

1.8%

$500-$649/wk

2.0%

$650-$799/wk

6.2%

$800-$999/wk

6.8%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

9.3%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.1%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

8.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

7.4%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

14.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.4%

$3,500+/wk

14.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Freshwater Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

47.1%

Couple — no children

28.9%

Couple — no children under 15

14.9%

One parent — children under 15

4.8%

One parent — no children under 15

4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Freshwater Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

0.1% 8

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.1% 9

🏅

Previously served

1.5% 106

👤

Never served

98.3% 7,098

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Freshwater Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

9.2% 661

—

Did not provide

90.8% 6,532

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Freshwater Children Ever Born

No children

44.0%

1 child

13.7%

2 children

27.1%

3 children

11.3%

4 children

3.3%

5+ children

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Freshwater When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

161

1971–1980

199

1981–1990

266

1991–2000

357

2001–2010

639

2011–2015

468

2016

128

2017

2018

116

2019

123

2020

2021

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Freshwater Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

25.9%

5–14 hours

35.8%

15–29 hours

12.5%

30+ hours

7.7%

Did not do domestic work

18.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Freshwater Household Size

1 person

24.9%

2 persons

36.6%

3 persons

14.6%

4 persons

16.7%

5 persons

5.6%

6+ persons

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Freshwater Where Residents Moved From

Same address

7,180

Moved from NSW

1,012

Moved — same area (SA2)

419

Moved from overseas

Moved from VIC

Moved from QLD

Moved from ACT

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Freshwater Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

91.9%

Step family — no other children

5.3%

Blended family — no other children

2.0%

Intact family — other children present

0.4%

Other couple — children only

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Freshwater Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 47 total

Theft

Property Damage

Sexual Offences

Assault

Other Against Person

Drug Offences

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Freshwater Schools

schools nearby

government

1118

avg ICSEA score

14,194

total students

Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 766 students

1217

ICSEA

St Luke's Grammar School Independent

Combined · K-12 · 1,481 students

1178

ICSEA

Balgowlah Heights Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 651 students

1177

ICSEA

St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 232 students

1168

ICSEA

St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 330 students

1159

ICSEA

Manly Village Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 532 students

1151

ICSEA

Manly West Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 761 students

1147

ICSEA

St Augustine's College Sydney Independent

Combined · 5-12 · 1,580 students

1141

ICSEA

Harbord Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 881 students

1137

ICSEA

Stella Maris College Independent

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,006 students

1135

ICSEA

St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 163 students

1134

ICSEA

Manly Vale Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 553 students

1129

ICSEA

St Kieran's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 141 students

1122

ICSEA

Curl Curl North Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 699 students

1116

ICSEA

Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,023 students

1115

ICSEA

Showing 15 of 31 schools

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Freshwater with map →

Freshwater Rent Prices & Affordability

22%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $2,726/wk

Median Rent $600/wk

Rent-to-Income 22.0%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Freshwater

Your weekly income

≈ $11,813/month

Median rent $600/wk

Left after rent $2,126/wk

Rent share 22.0%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Voyager Point

Income: $1,152/wk Rent: $325/wk Save: $275/wk

Sutherland (NSW)

Income: $1,109/wk Rent: $450/wk Save: $150/wk

Potts Point

Income: $1,534/wk Rent: $490/wk Save: $110/wk

Artarmon

Income: $1,202/wk Rent: $525/wk Save: $75/wk

Brookvale

Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $550/wk Save: $50/wk

Darlinghurst

Income: $1,535/wk Rent: $550/wk Save: $50/wk

Lane Cove West

Income: $1,293/wk Rent: $570/wk Save: $30/wk

Pemulwuy

Income: $1,098/wk Rent: $570/wk Save: $30/wk

Freshwater vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Camden South

Pop: 4,595 Income: $929/wk Rent: $450/wk

Narromine

Pop: 4,608 Income: $710/wk Rent: $250/wk

Hamilton (NSW)

Pop: 4,614 Income: $888/wk Rent: $420/wk

North Strathfield

Pop: 4,618 Income: $1,049/wk Rent: $495/wk

Monterey

Pop: 4,619 Income: $847/wk Rent: $480/wk

North Epping

Pop: 4,657 Income: $1,036/wk Rent: $615/wk

Compare Freshwater (NSW)

Freshwater (NSW) vs Camden South →Freshwater (NSW) vs Narromine →Freshwater (NSW) vs Hamilton (NSW) →Freshwater (NSW) vs North Strathfield →

Frequently Asked Questions About Freshwater

What is the population of Freshwater NSW?

The population of Freshwater NSW is 9,186 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 5236.3 people per km².Freshwater is ranked #739 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Freshwater?

The median personal income in Freshwater NSW is $1,355 per week, or $70,460 per year.The median household income is $2,726 per week.Family income is $3,390 per week.Freshwater is ranked #218 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Freshwater?

Median rent in Freshwater NSW is $600 per week ($2,600 per month).Rent represents 22.0% of household income, which is considered affordable.Freshwater ranks #202 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Freshwater?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Freshwater NSW is $3,055. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Freshwater?

The median age in Freshwater NSW is 37 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Freshwater a good suburb to live in?

Freshwater is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 9,186.The median income is $1,355/wk, which is above the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 11572. All dollar figures in AUD.