Freshwater suburb profile
Freshwater is a picturesque coastal suburb located on Sydney's Northern Beaches, just 17km north-east of the CBD. Known for its stunning beach, which is a popular spot for surfing and swimming, Freshwater offers a relaxed, beachside lifestyle. The suburb features a mix of charming older homes and modern apartments, catering to a diverse community. Freshwater Village provides a variety of cafes, shops, and local amenities, contributing to its vibrant community feel. With its beautiful natural surroundings and easy access to the city, Freshwater is a sought-after destination for families, professionals, and beach lovers alike.
Freshwater property market performance
Current median dwelling price$2,318,750Past 3 months
Property growth+2.6%Past 12 months
Freshwater’s property market has shown varied performance over the past 12 months. The median house price remains stable at $3.4 million, while unit values have appreciated by 7.1% to reach a median of $1.24 million. This reflects a stronger demand for units in the area.
In terms of sales activity, 15 houses and 29 units were sold in the past three months. Notably, houses are spending more time on the market, with 38 median days compared to 16 days for units, indicating higher buyer interest in units.
The rental market in Freshwater has also seen upward movement, with house rents increasing by 6.1% and units by 9%, bringing average rents to $1,750 and $850, respectively, suggesting strong demand for rental properties.
| Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
Median price Past 3 months | $3.40M | $1.24M |
Change in value Past 12 months | -2.0% | 7.1% |
Sold Past 3 months | 15 | 29 |
Median days on market Past 12 months | 38 | 16 |
Average rent Past 12 months | $1750 | $850 |
Change in rent Past 12 months | 6.1% | 9.0% |
5 year median price trend for houses and units
Freshwater demographics
Freshwater, a picturesque suburb located on Sydney's Northern Beaches, is renowned for its stunning coastline and relaxed beachside lifestyle. With a population of 9,186, Freshwater offers a blend of family-friendly living and vibrant community spirit. The median age of 37 suggests a balanced mix of young families and established residents who appreciate the suburb's natural beauty and proximity to the city.
The suburb's housing landscape is diverse, with a significant portion of properties being owned outright (28.3%) or with a mortgage (34.0%), indicating a stable and established community. However, with 37.6% of properties being rented, Freshwater also attracts those seeking the flexibility of rental living, including young professionals and families drawn to the area's lifestyle offerings.
Family life is a cornerstone of Freshwater, with 46.3% of households being couple families with children, and 41.2% being couples without children. This highlights the suburb's appeal to both growing families and those enjoying a quieter, child-free lifestyle. The presence of one-parent families (11.6%) and other family types (0.9%) adds to the suburb's diverse demographic tapestry. With its beautiful beaches, community events, and excellent schools, Freshwater is a sought-after location for those seeking a harmonious blend of coastal living and urban convenience.
Freshwater infrastructure, key developments and investment opportunities
Freshwater continues to benefit from its strong coastal amenity, with Freshwater Beach, the ocean pool and nearby cafes and restaurants reinforcing the suburb’s appeal to lifestyle-focused buyers and supporting premium pricing relative to many inland areas.[2][3] Inclusion in the Manly–Freshwater National and World Surfing Reserve underlines the long-term protection and promotion of the beachfront, which is likely to preserve the area’s natural character and ongoing desirability for both residents and visitors.[2][3]
Local planning is overseen by Northern Beaches Council, which is generally focused on managing density, protecting neighbourhood character and improving public domain upgrades along key village and foreshore areas, all of which can underpin steady capital growth rather than large-scale redevelopment volatility.[5][6] Proximity to major employment and transport hubs in nearby Manly and the broader Northern Beaches, combined with multiple parks and recreational spaces within the suburb, continues to drive strong demand from families and professionals, even in the absence of any single headline infrastructure project.[1][2]
Freshwater rental market trends
The rental market in Freshwater has shown steady growth, with house rents increasing by 6.1% over the past year to $1,750 per week, while unit rents have risen by 9.0% to $850 per week. With its appealing coastal lifestyle and strong demand, Freshwater continues to be a desirable location for both renters and property investors.
Suburbs near Freshwater
Some popular suburbs near Freshwater include:
How does Freshwater compare to nearby suburbs?
- Median house prices: Freshwater’s median house price is 29.0% lower than Curl Curl’s.
- Median unit prices: Freshwater’s median unit price is 34.1% higher than Manly Vale’s.
- House price growth: Property prices in nearby Curl Curl have risen 13.8% more than in Freshwater over the past year.
- Unit price growth: Over the past 12 months, unit prices in Freshwater have grown 8.5% higher than in Queenscliff.
- Selling speed for houses: Properties in Freshwater are selling 15.6% faster than in North Manly.
- Selling speed for units: Properties in Freshwater are selling 46.7% faster than in Queenscliff.
- Investment considerations: In Freshwater, the rental yield for house is 93.8% higher than the Sydney average, while the rental yield for units is 9.3% higher.
- House price growth: Over the past 12 months, house prices in Freshwater have grown 94.6% higher than the average rate of growth across Sydney.
- Unit price growth:Over the past 12 months, unit prices in Freshwater have grown 41.7% higher than the average rate of growth for units across Sydney.

