Freshwater vs Barron

Freshwater is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 48 in Barron. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. On these figures, Freshwater tends to suit people living alone and families with children, while Barron suits share households.

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 96/100)
  • But Barron has more separate houses rather than flats (108% vs 57%)

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

First-home buyers

Freshwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 26%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Barron

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($295/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Freshwater

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (1179 min vs 1187 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1705.6 km vs 1707.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Freshwater

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 96/100)

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

Investors

Barron

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (61.9% vs 5.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Freshwater and Barron 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 Barron
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 Barron
Walkability 55 / 0
Freshwater — Walkability: 55/100 Barron — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 60 / 4
Freshwater — Safety: 60/100 Barron — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Freshwater — Low fire risk: 100/100 Barron — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Freshwater has more residents (2,142 vs 68); Freshwater rents higher ($350/wk vs $295/wk).

Freshwater Barron
Population 2,142
+97% vs other
 68
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.9% +61.9%
Median age 42 48
Median household income $97,084/yr $106,184/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+16% vs other
 $295/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Barron
0-4 4.8% / 8.8%
Freshwater — 0-4: 4.8% Barron — 0-4: 8.8%
5-14 15.4% / 5.9%
Freshwater — 5-14: 15.4% Barron — 5-14: 5.9%
15-19 5.6% / —
Freshwater — 15-19: 5.6% Barron — 15-19: not among its largest
20-24 4.2% / 7.4%
Freshwater — 20-24: 4.2% Barron — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 10.7% / 13.2%
Freshwater — 25-34: 10.7% Barron — 25-34: 13.2%
35-44 14.3% / 11.8%
Freshwater — 35-44: 14.3% Barron — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 16.9% / 20.6%
Freshwater — 45-54: 16.9% Barron — 45-54: 20.6%
55-64 13.9% / 23.5%
Freshwater — 55-64: 13.9% Barron — 55-64: 23.5%
65-74 9.6% / 13.2%
Freshwater — 65-74: 9.6% Barron — 65-74: 13.2%
75-84 4.0% / —
Freshwater — 75-84: 4.0% Barron — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ 0.8% / —
Freshwater — 85+: 0.8% Barron — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Freshwater 33.9% couple families
Freshwater — Couple Families: 33.9% Freshwater — Lone Person: 41.1% Freshwater — One Parent Families: 19.8% Freshwater — Group Household: 4.2% Freshwater — Other Families: 0.9%
Barron 35.0% couple families
Barron — Couple Families: 35.0% Barron — Lone Person: 20.0% Barron — One Parent Families: 30.0% Barron — Group Household: 15.0% Barron — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater 29.2% renting
Freshwater — Owned Outright: 31.8% Freshwater — Mortgage: 39.0% Freshwater — Renting: 29.2%
Barron 23.1% renting
Barron — Owned Outright: 42.3% Barron — Mortgage: 34.6% Barron — Renting: 23.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Barron
New Zealand 2.3% / 4.4%
Freshwater — New Zealand: 2.3% Barron — New Zealand: 4.4%
England 5.3% / —
Freshwater — England: 5.3% Barron — England: not among its largest
Japan 1.7% / —
Freshwater — Japan: 1.7% Barron — Japan: not among its largest
Germany 1.1% / —
Freshwater — Germany: 1.1% Barron — Germany: not among its largest
Scotland 0.8% / —
Freshwater — Scotland: 0.8% Barron — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

Qualifications

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

Freshwater Barron
Certificate III & IV 15.0% / 20.6%
Freshwater — Certificate III & IV: 15.0% Barron — Certificate III & IV: 20.6%
Bachelor Degree 18.4% / 8.8%
Freshwater — Bachelor Degree: 18.4% Barron — Bachelor Degree: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 8.8%
Freshwater — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% Barron — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 4.4%
Freshwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Barron — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / —
Freshwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Barron — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater 57.2% houses
Freshwater — Houses: 57.2% Freshwater — Flats / Apartments: 35.3% Freshwater — Townhouses: 7.5%
Barron 108.3% houses
Barron — Houses: 108.3% Barron — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Barron — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Freshwater Barron
Median house price $870,000 —
Median unit price $545,000 —
Median land price $410,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 16 sales
 —

Development activity

Freshwater Barron
New dwellings approved 767
across Cairns
same for both
Approvals change year on year -81%
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 Barron
Houses 3.5%
$635/wk on $947K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Freshwater Barron
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 5% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of QLD —

Liveability

Freshwater is more walkable (55 vs 0).

Freshwater Barron
Grade A —
Score 67/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Barron carries more crime risk (96 vs 40).

Freshwater Barron
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
40/100
 High
96/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Freshwater Barron
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 7.0 km
 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 5.0 km

Schools in Freshwater

  • Freshwater State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Barron

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

Amenities in the suburb

Freshwater Barron
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 1
Parks & reserves 5 1
Childcare 4 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Barron sits further from the CBD (1707.6 km vs 1705.6 km).

Freshwater Barron
Walkability score 55/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 1705.6 km 1707.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1179 min 1187 min
Public transport score 57/100
Bus
 25/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 15.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 23 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4870
 0.7%
postcode 4878
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 4870
 64
postcode 4878

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 Barron
Car (driver) 71.5% / 52.0%
Freshwater — Car (driver): 71.5% Barron — Car (driver): 52.0%
Worked from Home 20.7% / 32.0%
Freshwater — Worked from Home: 20.7% Barron — Worked from Home: 32.0%
Walked Only 0.9% / 16.0%
Freshwater — Walked Only: 0.9% Barron — Walked Only: 16.0%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / —
Freshwater — Car (passenger): 4.4% Barron — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bicycle 1.7% / —
Freshwater — Bicycle: 1.7% Barron — Bicycle: not among its largest
Bus 0.9% / —
Freshwater — Bus: 0.9% Barron — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.5%).

Setting

Freshwater Barron
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.1 km 4.0 km

NBN connectivity

Freshwater Barron
Connectivity score 67/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,045 premises
 48%
21 premises

Climate

Freshwater Barron
Annual rainfall 2,121 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 18.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Freshwater Barron
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Freshwater Barron
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Freshwater Barron
Division Leichhardt
same for both
Member Matt Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Freshwater Barron
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Freshwater

Apartments Parks Professionals

Barron

Rural Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Freshwater

Freshwater vs Redlynch Freshwater vs Brinsmead Freshwater vs Stratford Freshwater vs Kamerunga

Other comparisons with Barron

Barron vs Smithfield Barron vs Yorkeys Knob Barron vs Holloways Beach Barron vs Caravonica Barron vs Stratford Barron vs Kamerunga
Full data on Freshwater Full data on Barron
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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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