Curl Curl vs Freshwater

Freshwater is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Curl Curl. In both, most households own their home. In Curl Curl, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Freshwater, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Curl Curl tends to suit couples, while Freshwater suits people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Curl Curl has more separate houses rather than flats (76% vs 42%)
  • Freshwater has more childcare (8 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Freshwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,202,500 vs $1,600,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Freshwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($600/wk vs $705/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Freshwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 65/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Freshwater

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 24%)
  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 46/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Freshwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.6% vs -2.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Curl Curl and Freshwater drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Curl Curl Freshwater
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Curl Curl Freshwater
Walkability 65 / 82
Curl Curl — Walkability: 65/100 Freshwater — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 54 / 69
Curl Curl — Safety: 54/100 Freshwater — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Curl Curl — Low fire risk: 100/100 Freshwater — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Freshwater has more residents (9,186 vs 2,364); Curl Curl has higher household incomes ($201,240 vs $141,752).

Curl Curl Freshwater
Population 2,364 9,186
+289% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.1% +3.6%
Median age 40 37
Median household income $201,240/yr
+30% vs other
 $141,752/yr
Median weekly rent $705/wk
+15% vs other
 $600/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl Freshwater
0-4 5.0% / 6.6%
Curl Curl — 0-4: 5.0% Freshwater — 0-4: 6.6%
5-14 15.5% / 12.2%
Curl Curl — 5-14: 15.5% Freshwater — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 8.6% / 5.2%
Curl Curl — 15-19: 8.6% Freshwater — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 5.9% / 4.5%
Curl Curl — 20-24: 5.9% Freshwater — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 9.6% / 17.4%
Curl Curl — 25-34: 9.6% Freshwater — 25-34: 17.4%
35-44 11.6% / 16.1%
Curl Curl — 35-44: 11.6% Freshwater — 35-44: 16.1%
45-54 19.3% / 15.0%
Curl Curl — 45-54: 19.3% Freshwater — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 12.4% / 10.5%
Curl Curl — 55-64: 12.4% Freshwater — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 7.0% / 7.4%
Curl Curl — 65-74: 7.0% Freshwater — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 3.7% / 3.9%
Curl Curl — 75-84: 3.7% Freshwater — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 1.7% / 1.2%
Curl Curl — 85+: 1.7% Freshwater — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl 65.1% couple families
Curl Curl — Couple Families: 65.1% Curl Curl — Lone Person: 19.0% Curl Curl — One Parent Families: 10.6% Curl Curl — Group Household: 4.3% Curl Curl — Other Families: 1.1%
Freshwater 45.8% couple families
Freshwater — Couple Families: 45.8% Freshwater — Lone Person: 34.6% Freshwater — One Parent Families: 11.5% Freshwater — Group Household: 7.2% Freshwater — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl 22.5% renting
Curl Curl — Owned Outright: 37.4% Curl Curl — Mortgage: 40.1% Curl Curl — Renting: 22.5%
Freshwater 37.6% renting
Freshwater — Owned Outright: 28.3% Freshwater — Mortgage: 34.0% Freshwater — Renting: 37.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl Freshwater
Bachelor Degree 23.0% / 25.8%
Curl Curl — Bachelor Degree: 23.0% Freshwater — Bachelor Degree: 25.8%
Certificate III & IV 8.1% / 9.5%
Curl Curl — Certificate III & IV: 8.1% Freshwater — Certificate III & IV: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 8.5%
Curl Curl — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Freshwater — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 9.2%
Curl Curl — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Freshwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.5%
Curl Curl — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Freshwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Curl Curl Freshwater
England 8.1% / 9.1%
Curl Curl — England: 8.1% Freshwater — England: 9.1%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.2%
Curl Curl — New Zealand: 2.2% Freshwater — New Zealand: 2.2%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.2%
Curl Curl — South Africa: 1.2% Freshwater — South Africa: 1.2%
Brazil 0.7% / 1.4%
Curl Curl — Brazil: 0.7% Freshwater — Brazil: 1.4%
Ireland 0.8% / 0.8%
Curl Curl — Ireland: 0.8% Freshwater — Ireland: 0.8%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.8%
Curl Curl — Scotland: 0.7% Freshwater — Scotland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl 75.5% houses
Curl Curl — Houses: 75.5% Curl Curl — Flats / Apartments: 16.8% Curl Curl — Townhouses: 7.7%
Freshwater 41.7% houses
Freshwater — Houses: 41.7% Freshwater — Flats / Apartments: 53.6% Freshwater — Townhouses: 4.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Curl Curl Freshwater
Median house price $4,110,000 $3,800,000
Median unit price $1,600,000 $1,202,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 7 sales
 22 days
from 16 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Curl Curl Freshwater
3 bed $3.92M / $3.45M
Curl Curl — 3 bed: $3.92M (12 sales) Freshwater — 3 bed: $3.45M (18 sales)

12 vs 18 sales

4 bed $3.77M / $4.42M
Curl Curl — 4 bed: $3.77M (12 sales) Freshwater — 4 bed: $4.42M (23 sales)

12 vs 23 sales

5 bed $4.72M / $4.25M
Curl Curl — 5 bed: $4.72M (16 sales) Freshwater — 5 bed: $4.25M (11 sales)

16 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Curl Curl Freshwater
Residential 44% 86%
Parks and recreation 55% 12%
Commercial 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Curl Curl Freshwater
New dwellings approved 620
across Northern Beaches
same for both
Approvals change year on year +51%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Curl Curl Freshwater
Houses — 4.4%
$2,525/wk on $3M
Units — 4.0%
$862/wk on $1.12M

Ranking within NSW

Curl Curl Freshwater
House price Higher than 97% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 23% of NSW

Liveability

Freshwater is more walkable (82 vs 65).

Curl Curl Freshwater
Grade A A+
Score 84/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Curl Curl carries more crime risk (46 vs 31).

Curl Curl Freshwater
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
24/100
 Low
23/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Curl Curl Freshwater
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km None 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.7 km

Schools in Curl Curl

  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus Government · Secondary
  • Stewart House School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Freshwater

  • St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Harbord Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Curl Curl Freshwater
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 12
Parks & reserves 5 7
Childcare 0 8
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Curl Curl Freshwater
Walkability score 65/100 82/100
Distance to Sydney 18 km
+7% vs other
 16.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 28 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 136.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 281.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 2096
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2096
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Curl Curl Freshwater
Worked from Home 55.3% / 56.8%
Curl Curl — Worked from Home: 55.3% Freshwater — Worked from Home: 56.8%
Car (driver) 36.8% / 35.3%
Curl Curl — Car (driver): 36.8% Freshwater — Car (driver): 35.3%
Bus 2.0% / 2.5%
Curl Curl — Bus: 2.0% Freshwater — Bus: 2.5%
Walked Only 2.0% / 2.5%
Curl Curl — Walked Only: 2.0% Freshwater — Walked Only: 2.5%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 1.7%
Curl Curl — Car (passenger): 2.7% Freshwater — Car (passenger): 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.8%).

Setting

Curl Curl Freshwater
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 504 m
628 m to a named beach
 821 m
876 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Curl Curl Freshwater
Connectivity score 88/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
876 premises
 31%
4,229 premises

Climate

Curl Curl Freshwater
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Curl Curl Freshwater
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Curl Curl Freshwater
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Curl Curl Freshwater
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Curl Curl Freshwater
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Curl Curl

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Transport Hub

Freshwater

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Curl Curl

Curl Curl vs North Curl Curl Curl Curl vs North Manly Curl Curl vs Brookvale

Other comparisons with Freshwater

Freshwater vs Queenscliff Freshwater vs North Manly
Full data on Curl Curl Full data on Freshwater
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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