Freshwater vs North Manly

Freshwater is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in North Manly. In both, most households own their home. In Freshwater, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are couple families. In North Manly, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Freshwater: a median of $3.8 million, against $3.25 million in North Manly, though rent is higher in North Manly. On these figures, Freshwater tends to suit people living alone, while North Manly suits couples.

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

  • Freshwater has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • North Manly has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 42%)

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

First-home buyers

North Manly

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($3,250,000 vs $3,800,000)
  • has cheaper units ($1,030,000 vs $1,202,500)

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 $675/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Freshwater

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 18%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

North Manly

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.9% vs 3.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Freshwater North Manly
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.

Freshwater North Manly
Walkability 82 / 85
Freshwater — Walkability: 82/100 North Manly — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 69 / 76
Freshwater — Safety: 69/100 North Manly — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Freshwater — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Manly — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Freshwater has more residents (9,186 vs 3,396); North Manly has higher household incomes ($164,788 vs $141,752).

Freshwater North Manly
Population 9,186
+63% vs other
 3,396
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% +9.9%
Median age 37 40
Median household income $141,752/yr $164,788/yr
+16% vs other
Median weekly rent $600/wk $675/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Freshwater North Manly
0-4 6.6% / 5.0%
Freshwater — 0-4: 6.6% North Manly — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 12.2% / 17.7%
Freshwater — 5-14: 12.2% North Manly — 5-14: 17.7%
15-19 5.2% / 7.7%
Freshwater — 15-19: 5.2% North Manly — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 4.5% / 4.4%
Freshwater — 20-24: 4.5% North Manly — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 17.4% / 9.1%
Freshwater — 25-34: 17.4% North Manly — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 16.1% / 14.0%
Freshwater — 35-44: 16.1% North Manly — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 15.0% / 18.0%
Freshwater — 45-54: 15.0% North Manly — 45-54: 18.0%
55-64 10.5% / 10.3%
Freshwater — 55-64: 10.5% North Manly — 55-64: 10.3%
65-74 7.4% / 7.6%
Freshwater — 65-74: 7.4% North Manly — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 3.9% / 4.3%
Freshwater — 75-84: 3.9% North Manly — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.2% / 2.2%
Freshwater — 85+: 1.2% North Manly — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
North Manly 63.1% couple families
North Manly — Couple Families: 63.1% North Manly — Lone Person: 20.4% North Manly — One Parent Families: 12.5% North Manly — Group Household: 3.0% North Manly — 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.

Freshwater 37.6% renting
Freshwater — Owned Outright: 28.3% Freshwater — Mortgage: 34.0% Freshwater — Renting: 37.6%
North Manly 22.0% renting
North Manly — Owned Outright: 34.5% North Manly — Mortgage: 43.5% North Manly — Renting: 22.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Freshwater North Manly
Bachelor Degree 25.8% / 20.1%
Freshwater — Bachelor Degree: 25.8% North Manly — Bachelor Degree: 20.1%
Certificate III & IV 9.5% / 8.1%
Freshwater — Certificate III & IV: 9.5% North Manly — Certificate III & IV: 8.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.4%
Freshwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% North Manly — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 7.4%
Freshwater — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% North Manly — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 1.9%
Freshwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% North Manly — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

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.

Freshwater North Manly
England 9.1% / 7.2%
Freshwater — England: 9.1% North Manly — England: 7.2%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.8%
Freshwater — New Zealand: 2.2% North Manly — New Zealand: 2.8%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.4%
Freshwater — South Africa: 1.2% North Manly — South Africa: 1.4%
Italy 0.7% / 1.8%
Freshwater — Italy: 0.7% North Manly — Italy: 1.8%
Brazil 1.4% / 1.0%
Freshwater — Brazil: 1.4% North Manly — Brazil: 1.0%
Germany 0.8% / 1.1%
Freshwater — Germany: 0.8% North Manly — Germany: 1.1%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.7%
Freshwater — Scotland: 0.8% North Manly — Scotland: 0.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater 41.7% houses
Freshwater — Houses: 41.7% Freshwater — Flats / Apartments: 53.6% Freshwater — Townhouses: 4.7%
North Manly 81.6% houses
North Manly — Houses: 81.6% North Manly — Flats / Apartments: 11.5% North Manly — Townhouses: 6.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Freshwater North Manly
Median house price $3,800,000 $3,250,000
Median unit price $1,202,500 $1,030,000
Median land price — $1,750,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 16 sales
 26 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.

Freshwater North Manly
3 bed $3.45M / $2.95M
Freshwater — 3 bed: $3.45M (18 sales) North Manly — 3 bed: $2.95M (15 sales)

18 vs 15 sales

4 bed $4.42M / $3.45M
Freshwater — 4 bed: $4.42M (23 sales) North Manly — 4 bed: $3.45M (23 sales)

23 vs 23 sales

5 bed $4.25M / $3.24M
Freshwater — 5 bed: $4.25M (11 sales) North Manly — 5 bed: $3.24M (14 sales)

11 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Freshwater North Manly
Residential 86% 68%
Parks and recreation 12% 23%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 6%
Industrial 1% 2%
Commercial 1% 0%
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

Freshwater North Manly
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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Freshwater North Manly
House price Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 89% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 23% of NSW —

Liveability

Freshwater North Manly
Grade A+
same for both
Score 88/100 91/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

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

Schools

Freshwater North Manly
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.7 km
 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 2.8%

Schools in Freshwater

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

Schools in North Manly

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Freshwater North Manly
Walkability score 82/100 85/100
Distance to Sydney 16.8 km
+8% vs other
 15.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 26 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 281.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 128.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 2096
 2.0%
postcode 2100
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2096
 33
postcode 2100

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.

Freshwater North Manly
Worked from Home 56.8% / 54.1%
Freshwater — Worked from Home: 56.8% North Manly — Worked from Home: 54.1%
Car (driver) 35.3% / 33.8%
Freshwater — Car (driver): 35.3% North Manly — Car (driver): 33.8%
Bus 2.5% / 3.5%
Freshwater — Bus: 2.5% North Manly — Bus: 3.5%
Walked Only 2.5% / 3.2%
Freshwater — Walked Only: 2.5% North Manly — Walked Only: 3.2%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 3.5%
Freshwater — Car (passenger): 1.7% North Manly — Car (passenger): 3.5%

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

Setting

Freshwater North Manly
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 821 m
876 m to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Freshwater North Manly
Connectivity score 84/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
4,229 premises
 54%
1,220 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Freshwater North Manly
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

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

Federal electorate

Freshwater North Manly
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Freshwater

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

North Manly

Coastal Easy Commute Family Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Freshwater

Freshwater vs Queenscliff Freshwater vs Curl Curl

Other comparisons with North Manly

North Manly vs Manly North Manly vs Allambie Heights North Manly vs Manly Vale North Manly vs Queenscliff North Manly vs Brookvale North Manly vs Curl Curl
Full data on Freshwater Full data on North Manly
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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