Freshwater vs Kamerunga

Kamerunga is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in Freshwater. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Kamerunga, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Freshwater tends to suit people living alone, while Kamerunga 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

Freshwater

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 55/100)
  • But Kamerunga has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 57%)

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

First-home buyers

Kamerunga

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($390,000 vs $545,000)
  • has cheaper land ($320,000 vs $410,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Freshwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $400/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 (55/100 vs 30/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Freshwater

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (43% vs 14%)
  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 30/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 55/100)

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

Investors

Freshwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.9% vs -8.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Freshwater and Kamerunga 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 Kamerunga
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 Kamerunga
Walkability 55 / 30
Freshwater — Walkability: 55/100 Kamerunga — Walkability: 30/100
Safety 60 / 45
Freshwater — Safety: 60/100 Kamerunga — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 56
Freshwater — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kamerunga — Low fire risk: 56/100

Demographics

Freshwater has more residents (2,142 vs 962); Kamerunga rents higher ($400/wk vs $350/wk).

Freshwater Kamerunga
Population 2,142
+55% vs other
 962
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.9% -8.3%
Median age 42 39
Median household income $97,084/yr $109,408/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $400/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Kamerunga
0-4 4.8% / 6.1%
Freshwater — 0-4: 4.8% Kamerunga — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 15.4% / 14.1%
Freshwater — 5-14: 15.4% Kamerunga — 5-14: 14.1%
15-19 5.6% / 9.3%
Freshwater — 15-19: 5.6% Kamerunga — 15-19: 9.3%
20-24 4.2% / 2.8%
Freshwater — 20-24: 4.2% Kamerunga — 20-24: 2.8%
25-34 10.7% / 12.4%
Freshwater — 25-34: 10.7% Kamerunga — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 14.3% / 13.6%
Freshwater — 35-44: 14.3% Kamerunga — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 16.9% / 18.9%
Freshwater — 45-54: 16.9% Kamerunga — 45-54: 18.9%
55-64 13.9% / 13.1%
Freshwater — 55-64: 13.9% Kamerunga — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 9.6% / 8.1%
Freshwater — 65-74: 9.6% Kamerunga — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 4.0% / 2.3%
Freshwater — 75-84: 4.0% Kamerunga — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 0.8% / 0.3%
Freshwater — 85+: 0.8% Kamerunga — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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%
Kamerunga 46.8% couple families
Kamerunga — Couple Families: 46.8% Kamerunga — Lone Person: 30.2% Kamerunga — One Parent Families: 16.2% Kamerunga — Group Household: 6.8% Kamerunga — 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%
Kamerunga 15.9% renting
Kamerunga — Owned Outright: 29.4% Kamerunga — Mortgage: 54.7% Kamerunga — Renting: 15.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Freshwater Kamerunga
Certificate III & IV 15.0% / 17.9%
Freshwater — Certificate III & IV: 15.0% Kamerunga — Certificate III & IV: 17.9%
Bachelor Degree 18.4% / 12.3%
Freshwater — Bachelor Degree: 18.4% Kamerunga — Bachelor Degree: 12.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 7.8%
Freshwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Kamerunga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 4.7%
Freshwater — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% Kamerunga — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 3.4%
Freshwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Kamerunga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.4%).

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 Kamerunga
England 5.3% / 4.1%
Freshwater — England: 5.3% Kamerunga — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.2%
Freshwater — New Zealand: 2.3% Kamerunga — New Zealand: 2.2%
Japan 1.7% / 0.4%
Freshwater — Japan: 1.7% Kamerunga — Japan: 0.4%
Germany 1.1% / 1.0%
Freshwater — Germany: 1.1% Kamerunga — Germany: 1.0%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.4%
Freshwater — Scotland: 0.8% Kamerunga — Scotland: 0.4%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.5%
Freshwater — Philippines: 0.4% Kamerunga — Philippines: 0.5%

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

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%
Kamerunga 86.4% houses
Kamerunga — Houses: 86.4% Kamerunga — Flats / Apartments: 12.7% Kamerunga — Townhouses: 0.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Freshwater Kamerunga
Median house price $870,000 $820,000
Median unit price $545,000 $390,000
Median land price $410,000 $320,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 16 sales
 32 days
from 11 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 Kamerunga
3 bed $798K / $798K
Freshwater — 3 bed: $798K (20 sales) Kamerunga — 3 bed: $798K (16 sales)

20 vs 16 sales

4 bed $980K / $870K
Freshwater — 4 bed: $980K (15 sales) Kamerunga — 4 bed: $870K (18 sales)

15 vs 18 sales

Development activity

Freshwater Kamerunga
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 Kamerunga
Houses 3.5%
$635/wk on $947K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Freshwater Kamerunga
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of QLD —

Liveability

Freshwater is more walkable (55 vs 30); Freshwater scores higher overall (67 vs 39).

Freshwater Kamerunga
Grade A C
Score 67/100 39/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kamerunga carries more bushfire risk (44 vs 0); Kamerunga carries more crime risk (55 vs 40).

Freshwater Kamerunga
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
44/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 Moderate
55/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Freshwater Kamerunga
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 7.0 km
 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 5.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 0.9%

Schools in Freshwater

  • Freshwater State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Kamerunga

  • Peace Lutheran College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Freshwater Kamerunga
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 5 1
Childcare 4 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Freshwater Kamerunga
Walkability score 55/100 30/100
Distance to Brisbane 1705.6 km 1705.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1179 min 1178 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
 30 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4870
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 4870
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 Kamerunga
Car (driver) 71.5% / 77.2%
Freshwater — Car (driver): 71.5% Kamerunga — Car (driver): 77.2%
Worked from Home 20.7% / 13.7%
Freshwater — Worked from Home: 20.7% Kamerunga — Worked from Home: 13.7%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 6.5%
Freshwater — Car (passenger): 4.4% Kamerunga — Car (passenger): 6.5%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.8%
Freshwater — Walked Only: 0.9% Kamerunga — Walked Only: 1.8%
Bicycle 1.7% / 0.8%
Freshwater — Bicycle: 1.7% Kamerunga — Bicycle: 0.8%
Bus 0.9% / —
Freshwater — Bus: 0.9% Kamerunga — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.2%).

Setting

Freshwater Kamerunga
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.1 km 6.9 km

NBN connectivity

Freshwater Kamerunga
Connectivity score 67/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,045 premises
 37%
389 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Freshwater Kamerunga
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

Kamerunga

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Freshwater

Freshwater vs Redlynch Freshwater vs Brinsmead Freshwater vs Stratford Freshwater vs Barron

Other comparisons with Kamerunga

Kamerunga vs Redlynch Kamerunga vs Caravonica Kamerunga vs Barron
Full data on Freshwater Full data on Kamerunga
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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