Freshwater (NSW)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Freshwater reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the population of Freshwater (NSW) is estimated at around 9,696 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 510 people (5.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,186 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 9,626 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 13 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,637 persons per square kilometer, placing Freshwater (NSW) in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Freshwater's growth of 5.6% since the 2021 Census exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.3%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth for Freshwater (NSW).

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where data was not available, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to demographic trends, Freshwater (NSW) is anticipated to grow by 183 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 1.2% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Freshwater according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis shows Freshwater recorded approximately 20 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 101 homes. As of FY-26, 12 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 gained 2.7 new residents per year. New homes are constructed at an average value of $1,054,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment.

This financial year has seen $47.6 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Freshwater records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 24th percentile nationally, suggesting relatively constrained buyer choice. New construction favours standalone homes at 62.0% and townhouses or apartments at 38.0%, offering options across different price points. The location has approximately 662 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market.

Population forecasts estimate Freshwater will gain 113 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Freshwater has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the local area significantly. These include the Freshwater Beach Masterplan, The Alba, Harbord Hotel Planning Proposal (37-Room Hotel Wing), and Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Campus Expansion. The following list details those likely to be most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis places Freshwater well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Freshwater has a highly educated workforce with a notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 5,980 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.3% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

The workforce participation rate in Freshwater is 77.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 55.3% of residents work from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries for employment among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and construction. Freshwater has a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 10.8% compared to the regional average of 14.1%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Freshwater's labour force decreased by 0.2%, with employment declining by 1.1% leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with only marginal increases in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Freshwater's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The suburb of Freshwater has an exceptionally high income level nationally, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Freshwater is $74,509, and the average income stands at $133,268. These figures compare to those for Greater Sydney, which are $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $81,110 (median) and $145,076 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Freshwater all rank highly nationally, between the 94th and 96th percentiles. Income distribution data shows that the $4000+ bracket dominates with 32.0% of residents (3,102 people), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Freshwater demonstrates considerable affluence with 46.4% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 17.1% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 93rd percentile nationally. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Freshwater features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Freshwater, as evaluated at the latest Census, 41.8% of dwellings were houses while 58.2% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Sydney metropolitan areas where 55.9% were houses and 44.1% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Freshwater was similar to Sydney metro at 28.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.2% and rented ones at 37.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,055, higher than Sydney's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Freshwater stood at $600 compared to Sydney's $470. Nationally, Freshwater's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Freshwater features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.8% of all households, including 32.8% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.2%, with lone person households at 24.9% and group households comprising 5.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Freshwater demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Freshwater's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 48.6% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. This educational advantage positions Freshwater favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 34.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 28.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.2% and certificates for 15.9%. Educational participation is high in Freshwater, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 5.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Freshwater has 69 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 27 different routes that collectively facilitate 1,670 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 104 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars are the primary mode of transportation, used by 81% of residents. Buses and walking account for 6% each.

On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 55.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 238 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Freshwater's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Freshwater's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 79% of the total population (7,694 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 6.0 and 5.4% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 79.2%, report being completely free from medical ailments compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Freshwater has 14.8% of its population aged 65 and over (1,435 people). Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Freshwater was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Freshwater's population was found to have higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 12.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 30.4% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Freshwater, comprising 45.0% of its population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.1% versus 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, English was the most represented group at 30.7%, significantly higher than the regional average of 19.0%. Australian ancestry also had a high representation at 23.3%, exceeding the regional average of 17.8%. Irish ancestry made up 9.8% of Freshwater's population. Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included French (1.1% vs regional 0.5%), Welsh (0.9% vs regional 0.4%), and Spanish (0.8% vs regional 0.6%).

Freshwater's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Freshwater's median age is 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely aligning with Australia's median age of 38. The age group of 45-54 years has a strong presence in Freshwater at 13.4%, compared to Greater Sydney. However, the 5-14 age cohort is less prevalent in Freshwater at 10.3%. From 2021 onwards, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.7% to 11.6%, while the 75-84 age group has grown from 3.9% to 4.9%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 12.2% to 10.3%, and the 45-54 age group has fallen from 15.0% to 13.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Freshwater's age structure. Notably, the 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 54%, reaching 734 people from its current figure of 475. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 95% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 45-54 and 25-34 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.