Freshwater, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Freshwater QLD is 2,142 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Freshwater is $1,095 per week ($56,940 per year). Median rent in Freshwater is $350 per week ($1,517 per month). Freshwater has a median age of 42 years, older than the national median of 38. Freshwater has a population density of 1,352 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Freshwater is England. The most common religion is No religion (52.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Japanese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Freshwater is $1,625.

Population
2,142
Census 2021
Median income
$1,095/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$350/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
42years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Freshwater vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Freshwater is $1,095 a week, 47% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 97th of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $350 a week, $30 more than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 18.7% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 42, the same age as in the typical QLD suburb.

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureFreshwaterTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,095/wk$747/wk +47%$766/wk
Household income$1,867/wk$1,593/wk +17%$1,637/wk
Rent$350/wk$320/wk +9%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,625/mo$1,625/mo 0%$1,733/mo
Median age4242 0 yrs42
Rent share of household income18.7%20.4% −1.7 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Freshwater, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Freshwater Population

2,142 residents at the 2021 Census.

Freshwater Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,095/wk
$56,940 per year
Ranked 725 of 14,663
Median Rent
$350/wk
$1,517 per month
Ranked 3,104 of 14,663
Median Age
42years
4 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,625/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Freshwater Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,867/wk
Median rent $350/wk
Rent to income 18.7%

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

Median rent in Freshwater against your income

About $8,090 a month
Median rent $350/wk
Left after rent $1,517/wk
Rent share 18.7%

Freshwater Schools

6
schools nearby
3
government
1035
avg ICSEA score
5,681
total students
St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch Valley Catholic
Combined · Prep-12 · 1,373 students
1067
ICSEA
Freshwater State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 594 students
1064
ICSEA
Peace Lutheran College Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 544 students
1054
ICSEA
Freshwater Christian College Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 562 students
1041
ICSEA
Redlynch State College Government
Combined · Prep-12 · 1,834 students
1007
ICSEA
Whitfield State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 774 students
974
ICSEA

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

All schools near Freshwater, with a map

Freshwater Map

Freshwater, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Freshwater, Queensland: 16.8831°S, 145.7123°E

Freshwater Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (6)

People in Freshwater

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 46.3% (990) Female 53.7% (1,148)

Population Density

1,352
people per km²
2,142 people · 1.6 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,273
Family income/wk

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 and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
5.3%
New Zealand
2.3%
Japan
1.7%
Papua New Guinea
1.2%
Germany
1.1%
Scotland
0.8%
South Africa
0.7%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Japanese
2.5%
German
1.6%
Thai
0.4%
Afrikaans
0.4%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.4%
Italian
0.4%
Cantonese
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
43.4%
Australian
32.8%
Irish
15.1%
Scottish
13.0%
German
7.5%
Italian
5.0%
Australian Aboriginal
3.4%
Dutch
2.6%
Filipino
1.3%
Chinese
1.1%
Welsh
0.9%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
52.0%
Catholic
17.1%
Anglican
10.5%
Not stated
5.6%
Uniting Church
2.8%
Christian (other)
2.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.7%
Buddhism
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
42.4% 724
Separated
3.2% 55
Divorced
12.5% 213
Widowed
3.1% 53
Never married
38.8% 663

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
40.8%
Couple: no children
29.9%
One parent: children under 15
13.9%
Couple: no children under 15
9.9%
One parent: no children under 15
5.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
30.2%
2 persons
35.1%
3 persons
15.7%
4 persons
12.9%
5 persons
4.5%
6+ persons
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Freshwater

Housing Tenure

Of the 878 occupied private dwellings in Freshwater at the 2021 Census, 28.8% were rented, 31.3% owned outright and 38.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.3% 3 dwellings
Owned outright
31.3% 275 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
38.4% 337 dwellings
Rented
28.8% 253 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.6% 5 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
88.1%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
9.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.0%
2 bedrooms
33.8%
3 bedrooms
32.6%
4 bedrooms
24.3%
5 bedrooms
6.5%
6+ bedrooms
1.7%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.8%
$300-$449/mo
3.1%
$450-$599/mo
1.0%
$600-$799/mo
4.8%
$800-$999/mo
9.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
15.7%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
25.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
20.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
8.5%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
6.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.8%
1 vehicle
44.1%
2 vehicles
37.7%
3 vehicles
11.3%
4+ vehicles
5.1%

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

Work, income and education in Freshwater

Employment

Employed full-time
44.3% 683 people
Employed part-time
27.9% 431 people
Unemployed
3.4% 53 people
Not in labour force
24.4% 376 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
43.5%
Managers
12.4%
Technicians & Trade Workers
12.4%
Community & Personal Service
12.2%
Clerical & Administrative
9.0%
Sales Workers
4.5%
Labourers
3.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$1-$149/wk
1.1%
$150-$299/wk
1.1%
$300-$399/wk
1.3%
$400-$499/wk
5.2%
$500-$649/wk
2.8%
$650-$799/wk
5.4%
$800-$999/wk
5.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
8.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
14.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
5.2%
$4,000+/wk
11.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.1%
$1-$149/wk
4.4%
$150-$299/wk
4.2%
$300-$399/wk
1.8%
$400-$499/wk
2.7%
$500-$649/wk
3.1%
$650-$799/wk
6.6%
$800-$999/wk
8.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
8.9%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
13.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.5%
$3,500+/wk
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
67.3%
Did not go to work
23.5%
Car (passenger)
4.1%
Bicycle
1.6%
Other
0.9%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.9%
Bus
0.8%
Walked only
0.8%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
75.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
16.3%
Year 11 or equivalent
6.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
1.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
35.3%
Certificate III/IV
28.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
17.5%
Postgraduate Degree
11.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.4%
Certificate I/II
1.7%

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

Field of Study

Health
22.6%
Management & Commerce
18.0%
Society & Culture
13.6%
Engineering
12.7%
Education
12.5%
Architecture & Building
6.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.9%
Creative Arts
2.8%
Agriculture & Environment
1.9%
Information Technology
0.4%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
34.7%
Secondary: Government
25.7%
Vocational Education
10.0%
Pre-school
8.8%
Secondary: Catholic
7.3%
Primary: Catholic
6.5%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.9%

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

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
91.5%
Has need for assistance
3.8%
Need for assistance not stated
4.3%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
183
Arthritis
58
Asthma
54
Heart disease
37
Lung condition
32
Diabetes
31
Cancer
30
Kidney disease
19
Stroke
17
Dementia
4

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
10.6% 172
Did not provide
89.4% 1,457

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
21.4% 349
Not a volunteer
78.6% 1,281

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.8% 13
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 3
Previously served
4.8% 78
Never served
94.3% 1,544

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
38.9%
1 child
15.4%
2 children
27.6%
3 children
15.2%
4 children
2.4%
5+ children
0.5%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
4
1951: 1960
19
1961: 1970
38
1971: 1980
47
1981: 1990
72
1991: 2000
68
2001: 2010
105
2011: 2015
35
2016
7
2017
14
2018
10
2019
20
2020
5

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

Population Mobility

19.7%
moved in the last year
46.5%
moved in the last 5 years
4.3%
unemployment rate (Census)
73.4%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,634
Moved from QLD
278
Moved: same area (SA2)
61
Moved from overseas
16
Moved from WA
10
Moved from ACT
9
Moved from NSW
9
Moved from SA
6
Moved from VIC
4
Moved from NT
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
25.2%
5: 14 hours
35.1%
15: 29 hours
14.5%
30+ hours
8.0%
Did not do domestic work
17.2%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
84.0%
Step family: no other children
14.2%
Blended family: no other children
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Edge Hill
Income: $942/wk Rent: $310/wk $40/wk less rent
East Mackay
Income: $916/wk Rent: $320/wk $30/wk less rent
Torrington (Qld)
Income: $922/wk Rent: $343/wk $7/wk less rent
South Townsville
Income: $914/wk Rent: $300/wk $50/wk less rent
Alligator Creek (Townsville - Qld)
Income: $1,018/wk Rent: $325/wk $25/wk less rent
Alton Downs
Income: $912/wk Rent: $330/wk $20/wk less rent
Mount Lofty
Income: $965/wk Rent: $340/wk $10/wk less rent
Stratford (Qld)
Income: $948/wk Rent: $345/wk $5/wk less rent

Suburbs near Freshwater

The closest suburb to Freshwater is Brinsmead, 1.9 km away.

Brinsmead
1.9 km away · income $979/wk · rent $450/wk
Stratford (Qld)
2.2 km away · income $948/wk · rent $345/wk
Whitfield (Qld)
2.9 km away · income $887/wk · rent $340/wk
Edge Hill
3.9 km away · income $942/wk · rent $310/wk
Caravonica
3.9 km away · income $807/wk · rent $360/wk
Kanimbla (Qld)
4.3 km away · income $916/wk · rent $450/wk

Compare Freshwater (Qld)

Frequently Asked Questions About Freshwater

What is the population of Freshwater QLD?

The population of Freshwater QLD is 2,142 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,352 people per km². Freshwater is ranked #2,926 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Freshwater?

The median personal income in Freshwater QLD is $1,095 per week, or $56,940 per year. The median household income is $1,867 per week. Family income is $2,273 per week. Freshwater is ranked #725 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Freshwater?

Median rent in Freshwater QLD is $350 per week ($1,517 per month). Rent represents 18.7% of household income, which is considered affordable. Freshwater ranks #3,104 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Freshwater?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Freshwater QLD is $1,625. 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 QLD is 42 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Freshwater a good suburb to live in?

Freshwater is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 2,142. The median income is $1,095/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.7% 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: 31087. All dollar figures in AUD.