Freshwater vs Redlynch

Redlynch is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Freshwater. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Redlynch, most households are couple families. On these figures, Freshwater tends to suit people living alone, while Redlynch suits families with children and 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

Redlynch

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 5)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 57%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 54%)
  • But Freshwater has more schools rated above their peers (1 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 land ($410,000 vs $825,500)

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

Renters

Freshwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $440/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Freshwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1705.6 km vs 1708.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Freshwater

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (43% vs 9%)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 63/100)
  • But Redlynch has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Redlynch

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 3.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Freshwater and Redlynch 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 Redlynch
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 Redlynch
Walkability 55 / 0
Freshwater — Walkability: 55/100 Redlynch — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 60 / 37
Freshwater — Safety: 60/100 Redlynch — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 100 / 73
Freshwater — Low fire risk: 100/100 Redlynch — Low fire risk: 73/100

Demographics

Redlynch has more residents (10,571 vs 2,142); Redlynch rents higher ($440/wk vs $350/wk).

Freshwater Redlynch
Population 2,142 10,571
+394% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.9% +8.7%
Median age 42 37
Median household income $97,084/yr $120,484/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $440/wk
+26% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Redlynch
0-4 4.8% / 6.0%
Freshwater — 0-4: 4.8% Redlynch — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 15.4% / 18.6%
Freshwater — 5-14: 15.4% Redlynch — 5-14: 18.6%
15-19 5.6% / 8.3%
Freshwater — 15-19: 5.6% Redlynch — 15-19: 8.3%
20-24 4.2% / 4.4%
Freshwater — 20-24: 4.2% Redlynch — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 10.7% / 9.4%
Freshwater — 25-34: 10.7% Redlynch — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 14.3% / 16.6%
Freshwater — 35-44: 14.3% Redlynch — 35-44: 16.6%
45-54 16.9% / 15.9%
Freshwater — 45-54: 16.9% Redlynch — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 13.9% / 10.6%
Freshwater — 55-64: 13.9% Redlynch — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 9.6% / 5.9%
Freshwater — 65-74: 9.6% Redlynch — 65-74: 5.9%
75-84 4.0% / 2.9%
Freshwater — 75-84: 4.0% Redlynch — 75-84: 2.9%
85+ 0.8% / 1.3%
Freshwater — 85+: 0.8% Redlynch — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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%
Redlynch 62.5% couple families
Redlynch — Couple Families: 62.5% Redlynch — Lone Person: 17.6% Redlynch — One Parent Families: 15.7% Redlynch — Group Household: 3.3% Redlynch — 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 29.2% renting
Freshwater — Owned Outright: 31.8% Freshwater — Mortgage: 39.0% Freshwater — Renting: 29.2%
Redlynch 22.6% renting
Redlynch — Owned Outright: 24.9% Redlynch — Mortgage: 52.5% Redlynch — Renting: 22.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Freshwater Redlynch
Bachelor Degree 18.4% / 14.2%
Freshwater — Bachelor Degree: 18.4% Redlynch — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Certificate III & IV 15.0% / 15.1%
Freshwater — Certificate III & IV: 15.0% Redlynch — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 9.0%
Freshwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Redlynch — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 3.4%
Freshwater — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% Redlynch — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 2.2%
Freshwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Redlynch — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

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 Redlynch
England 5.3% / 4.4%
Freshwater — England: 5.3% Redlynch — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 2.3% / 3.0%
Freshwater — New Zealand: 2.3% Redlynch — New Zealand: 3.0%
Japan 1.7% / 1.0%
Freshwater — Japan: 1.7% Redlynch — Japan: 1.0%
India — / 2.2%
Freshwater — India: not among its largest Redlynch — India: 2.2%
South Africa 0.7% / 1.4%
Freshwater — South Africa: 0.7% Redlynch — South Africa: 1.4%
Germany 1.1% / 0.6%
Freshwater — Germany: 1.1% Redlynch — Germany: 0.6%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.5%
Freshwater — Scotland: 0.8% Redlynch — Scotland: 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%
Redlynch 90.6% houses
Redlynch — Houses: 90.6% Redlynch — Flats / Apartments: 6.6% Redlynch — Townhouses: 2.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Freshwater Redlynch
Median house price $870,000 $860,000
Median unit price $545,000 $550,000
Median land price $410,000 $825,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 16 sales
 21 days
from 128 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 Redlynch
3 bed $798K / $763K
Freshwater — 3 bed: $798K (20 sales) Redlynch — 3 bed: $763K (44 sales)

20 vs 44 sales

4 bed $980K / $855K
Freshwater — 4 bed: $980K (15 sales) Redlynch — 4 bed: $855K (132 sales)

15 vs 132 sales

5 bed $982K / $1.05M
Freshwater — 5 bed: $982K (6 sales) Redlynch — 5 bed: $1.05M (33 sales)

6 vs 33 sales

Development activity

Freshwater Redlynch
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 Redlynch
Houses 3.5%
$635/wk on $947K
 4.7%
$818/wk on $900K
Units — 6.2%
$635/wk on $531K

Ranking within QLD

Freshwater Redlynch
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 46% 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 81% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 92% of QLD

Liveability

Freshwater is more walkable (55 vs 0); Freshwater scores higher overall (67 vs 38).

Freshwater Redlynch
Grade A C
Score 67/100 38/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Redlynch carries more bushfire risk (27 vs 0); Redlynch carries more crime risk (63 vs 40).

Freshwater Redlynch
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
27/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 Moderate
63/100
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 Redlynch
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 7.0 km
 None

Schools in Freshwater

  • Freshwater State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Redlynch

  • St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch Valley Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Redlynch State College Government · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Freshwater Redlynch
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 4 3
Parks & reserves 5 13
Childcare 4 6
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 0 13

Mobility

Redlynch sits further from the CBD (1708.2 km vs 1705.6 km).

Freshwater Redlynch
Walkability score 55/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 1705.6 km 1708.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1179 min 1182 min
Public transport score 57/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 15.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 37.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Redlynch
Car (driver) 71.5% / 74.3%
Freshwater — Car (driver): 71.5% Redlynch — Car (driver): 74.3%
Worked from Home 20.7% / 16.6%
Freshwater — Worked from Home: 20.7% Redlynch — Worked from Home: 16.6%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 5.8%
Freshwater — Car (passenger): 4.4% Redlynch — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Bicycle 1.7% / 0.7%
Freshwater — Bicycle: 1.7% Redlynch — Bicycle: 0.7%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.4%
Freshwater — Walked Only: 0.9% Redlynch — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 0.9% / 1.1%
Freshwater — Bus: 0.9% Redlynch — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.3%).

Setting

Freshwater Redlynch
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 7.6 km

NBN connectivity

Freshwater Redlynch
Connectivity score 67/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,045 premises
 49%
4,036 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Freshwater Redlynch
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

Redlynch

Family Quiet Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Freshwater

Freshwater vs Brinsmead Freshwater vs Stratford Freshwater vs Kamerunga Freshwater vs Barron

Other comparisons with Redlynch

Redlynch vs Brinsmead Redlynch vs Kanimbla Redlynch vs Kamerunga
Full data on Freshwater Full data on Redlynch
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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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