Freshwater vs Queenscliff

In Freshwater, most households own their home, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are couple families. In Queenscliff, about half of households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. On these figures, Freshwater tends to suit families with children and couples, while Queenscliff suits young adults.

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

Freshwater

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (42% vs 17%)

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 houses ($3,800,000 vs $4,327,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Freshwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($600/wk vs $650/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Freshwater has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • Queenscliff has more units and townhouses to downsize into (83% vs 58%)

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

Investors

Queenscliff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.8% vs 4.0%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Freshwater and Queenscliff 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 Queenscliff
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 Queenscliff
Walkability 82 / 85
Freshwater — Walkability: 82/100 Queenscliff — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 69 / 77
Freshwater — Safety: 69/100 Queenscliff — Safety: 77/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Freshwater — Low fire risk: 100/100 Queenscliff — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Freshwater has more residents (9,186 vs 3,407).

Freshwater Queenscliff
Population 9,186
+63% vs other
 3,407
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% +0.9%
Median age 37 36
Median household income $141,752/yr $150,956/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $600/wk $650/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Queenscliff
0-4 6.6% / 5.9%
Freshwater — 0-4: 6.6% Queenscliff — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 12.2% / 6.8%
Freshwater — 5-14: 12.2% Queenscliff — 5-14: 6.8%
15-19 5.2% / 3.6%
Freshwater — 15-19: 5.2% Queenscliff — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 4.5% / 4.6%
Freshwater — 20-24: 4.5% Queenscliff — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 17.4% / 26.4%
Freshwater — 25-34: 17.4% Queenscliff — 25-34: 26.4%
35-44 16.1% / 18.8%
Freshwater — 35-44: 16.1% Queenscliff — 35-44: 18.8%
45-54 15.0% / 12.2%
Freshwater — 45-54: 15.0% Queenscliff — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 10.5% / 11.1%
Freshwater — 55-64: 10.5% Queenscliff — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 7.4% / 6.4%
Freshwater — 65-74: 7.4% Queenscliff — 65-74: 6.4%
75-84 3.9% / 3.2%
Freshwater — 75-84: 3.9% Queenscliff — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 1.2% / 1.3%
Freshwater — 85+: 1.2% Queenscliff — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.4%).

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%
Queenscliff 33.6% couple families
Queenscliff — Couple Families: 33.6% Queenscliff — Lone Person: 42.5% Queenscliff — One Parent Families: 9.6% Queenscliff — Group Household: 12.4% Queenscliff — Other Families: 1.9%
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%
Queenscliff 45.9% renting
Queenscliff — Owned Outright: 26.5% Queenscliff — Mortgage: 27.6% Queenscliff — Renting: 45.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Freshwater Queenscliff
Bachelor Degree 25.8% / 31.4%
Freshwater — Bachelor Degree: 25.8% Queenscliff — Bachelor Degree: 31.4%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 11.1%
Freshwater — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% Queenscliff — Postgraduate Degree: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 9.2%
Freshwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Queenscliff — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Certificate III & IV 9.5% / 7.8%
Freshwater — Certificate III & IV: 9.5% Queenscliff — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 3.2%
Freshwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Queenscliff — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.4%).

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 Queenscliff
England 9.1% / 11.2%
Freshwater — England: 9.1% Queenscliff — England: 11.2%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.9%
Freshwater — New Zealand: 2.2% Queenscliff — New Zealand: 2.9%
Brazil 1.4% / 2.6%
Freshwater — Brazil: 1.4% Queenscliff — Brazil: 2.6%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.4%
Freshwater — South Africa: 1.2% Queenscliff — South Africa: 1.4%
France — / 1.3%
Freshwater — France: not among its largest Queenscliff — France: 1.3%
Scotland 0.8% / —
Freshwater — Scotland: 0.8% Queenscliff — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater 53.6% flats / apartments
Freshwater — Flats / Apartments: 53.6% Freshwater — Houses: 41.7% Freshwater — Townhouses: 4.7%
Queenscliff 80.1% flats / apartments
Queenscliff — Flats / Apartments: 80.1% Queenscliff — Houses: 17.0% Queenscliff — Townhouses: 2.9%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Freshwater Queenscliff
Median house price $3,800,000 $4,327,500
Median unit price $1,202,500 $1,295,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 16 sales
 50 days
from 5 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 Queenscliff
3 bed $3.45M / $4.05M
Freshwater — 3 bed: $3.45M (18 sales) Queenscliff — 3 bed: $4.05M (5 sales)

18 vs 5 sales

4 bed $4.42M / $4.18M
Freshwater — 4 bed: $4.42M (23 sales) Queenscliff — 4 bed: $4.18M (7 sales)

23 vs 7 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Freshwater Queenscliff
1 bed $855K / $935K
Freshwater — 1 bed: $855K (27 sales) Queenscliff — 1 bed: $935K (27 sales)

27 vs 27 sales

2 bed $1.25M / $1.32M
Freshwater — 2 bed: $1.25M (91 sales) Queenscliff — 2 bed: $1.32M (57 sales)

91 vs 57 sales

3 bed $3.06M / $2.35M
Freshwater — 3 bed: $3.06M (6 sales) Queenscliff — 3 bed: $2.35M (14 sales)

6 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Freshwater Queenscliff
Residential 86% 88%
Parks and recreation 12% 10%
Commercial 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Freshwater and 99% of Queenscliff. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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 Queenscliff
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 Queenscliff
Houses 4.4%
$2,525/wk on $3M
 —
Units 4.0%
$862/wk on $1.12M
 4.8%
$962/wk on $1.05M

Ranking within NSW

Freshwater Queenscliff
House price Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 95% 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 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 89% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW

Liveability

Queenscliff scores higher overall (93 vs 88).

Freshwater Queenscliff
Grade A+
same for both
Score 88/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Freshwater Queenscliff
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
31/100
 Low
23/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
23/100
 Low
11/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Freshwater Queenscliff
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, 9.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 1.9%

Schools in Freshwater

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

Schools in Queenscliff

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

Amenities in the suburb

Freshwater Queenscliff
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 12 1
Parks & reserves 7 4
Childcare 8 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Freshwater Queenscliff
Walkability score 82/100 85/100
Distance to Sydney 16.8 km 16.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 281.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 86.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Freshwater Queenscliff
Worked from Home 56.8% / 63.0%
Freshwater — Worked from Home: 56.8% Queenscliff — Worked from Home: 63.0%
Car (driver) 35.3% / 29.9%
Freshwater — Car (driver): 35.3% Queenscliff — Car (driver): 29.9%
Bus 2.5% / 2.7%
Freshwater — Bus: 2.5% Queenscliff — Bus: 2.7%
Walked Only 2.5% / 2.0%
Freshwater — Walked Only: 2.5% Queenscliff — Walked Only: 2.0%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 1.0%
Freshwater — Car (passenger): 1.7% Queenscliff — Car (passenger): 1.0%
Bicycle 1.0% / 1.4%
Freshwater — Bicycle: 1.0% Queenscliff — Bicycle: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.0%).

Setting

Freshwater Queenscliff
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 821 m
876 m to a named beach
 392 m
525 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Freshwater Queenscliff
Connectivity score 84/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
4,229 premises
 14%
1,820 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Freshwater Queenscliff
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

Queenscliff

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Freshwater

Freshwater vs North Manly Freshwater vs Curl Curl

Other comparisons with Queenscliff

Queenscliff vs Manly Queenscliff vs North Manly
Full data on Freshwater Full data on Queenscliff
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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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