QLD · Cairns Council
Freshwater, 4870
Current weather
21.5°CMainly clear
80% humidity · 10.9 km/h wind · 25.9° / 19.8° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
As a regional hub in Cairns, Freshwater combines local convenience with the appeal of a smaller community that feels genuinely its own. Distance from the capital is noticeable, but the trade-off is space, calm and a community that knows its neighbours. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with community and employment and housing affordability holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 2,142
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,867
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 81 of 957
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,625
- Employment rate
- 70.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 55 / 66 / 304
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $620
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Period: Mar 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Jul 2026)
- 280
- Against the person
- 72
- Against property
- 131
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 130.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 94.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +1.4%
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Assault1152
- Drug Offences1431
- Good Order Offences1187
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)2349
- Unlawful Entry891
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Period: Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Jul 2026; Jan 2026 to Jul 2026 · Updated on site · Calendar-year aggregates
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,064
- Freshwater State SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Amenities
28 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Freshwater State SchoolBus stop
- Kamerunga Road near Freshwater RoadBus stop
- Kamerunga Road near Old Smithfield RoadBus stop
- Lavis Road near Valley StreetBus stop
- Old Smithfield Road at Le Grande StreetBus stop
- Old Smithfield Road at Simon StreetBus stop
- Old Smithfield Road near Cassowary StreetBus stop
- Old Smithfield Road near Le Grande StreetBus stop
- LimberlostCafe
- Freshwater Qld Country Women's Association HallCommunity centre
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bugeja ParkPark
- Ryan Weare ParkPark
- Savina ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 45.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 39% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 2513th in Australia
- State rank
- 583rd in QLD
- Peer rank
- #162 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #235 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 73%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Australia Post - Freshwater LPOamenities227 Kamerunga Road, Freshwaterpost_office
- Davinas Butchery Takeawayamenitiesrestaurant
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
- Freshwater Qld Country Women's Association Hallamenitiescommunity_centre
- Freshwater State Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- IGAamenitiessupermarket
- Kamerunga Road near Freshwater Roadamenitiesbus_stop
- Kamerunga Road near Old Smithfield Roadamenitiesbus_stop
- Lavis Road near Valley Streetamenitiesbus_stop
- Limberlostamenitiescafe
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Cairns Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.