Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Freshwater suburb profile
Freshwater, QLD · Postcode 4870
This Freshwater suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Freshwater, QLD (postcode 4870). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Freshwater with nearby suburbs.
Freshwater at a glance
Population
2,142
Median rent
$350/wk
Household income
$1,867/wk
Median age
42
Freshwater trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+1.8% over 10 years
Population
2,142
was 2,023 in 2016
+119 · +5.9%
Median rent
$350/wk
was $300/wk in 2016
+$50 · +16.7%
Household income
$1,867/wk
was $1,507/wk in 2016
+$360 · +23.9%
Median age
42
was 42 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Freshwater population growth · Freshwater then and now
Freshwater vs nearby & QLD
Median Census 2021 figures for Freshwater, nearby suburbs (8), and the QLD state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-5.4% vs area
- Freshwater$350/wk
- Nearby$335/wk
- QLD$370/wk
Household income
+8.6% vs area
- Freshwater$1,867/wk
- Nearby$1,448.5/wk
- QLD$1,719/wk
Median age
+7.7% vs area
- Freshwater42
- Nearby39
- QLD39
Personal income
+38.4% vs area
- Freshwater$1,095/wk
- Nearby$803.5/wk
- QLD$791/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD.
Socio-economic profile
How Freshwater compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Freshwater sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 81,051.7
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 81,040.4
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 41,005.1
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 91,074.9
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Freshwater on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Freshwater, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Freshwater people
- Population
- 2,142
- Median age
- 42
- Born overseas
- 20.4%
- Average household size
- 2.3
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Freshwater income
- Median household income
- $1,867/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,095/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Freshwater housing
- Median rent
- $350/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,625/mo
- Separate houses
- 52.5%
- Flats & apartments
- 31.8%
- Owned outright
- 28.7%
- Mortgaged
- 35.2%
- Rented
- 26.4%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 8.5%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Freshwater work
- Employment to population
- 70.3%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.5%
- Year 12 or above
- 70.5%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4870)
Compare Freshwater with nearby suburbs
Freshwater in numbers
Freshwater had 2,142 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 42, 5% above the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 2.3 people. 20.4% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 28.7% own their home outright, 35.2% are paying a mortgage, 26.4% rent. Separate houses make up 52.5% of dwellings, with 31.8% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $350/wk, close to the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $1,867/wk, 11% above the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.5%. 70.5% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 8 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 5.9% (from 2,023 to 2,142). Median rent moved from $300/wk to $350/wk (+16.7%).
Freshwater suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Freshwater, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Freshwater was $350/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Freshwater, QLD?
- Freshwater had 2,142 residents at the 2021 Census, up 5.9% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Freshwater?
- Median household income in Freshwater was $1,867/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Freshwater?
- 26.4% of occupied homes in Freshwater were rented, 28.7% were owned outright and 35.2% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Freshwater suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Freshwater (Qld). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology