Freshwater
NSW 2096 · Northern Beaches
9,186 (2021) → 9,757 est. (2025) · Stable
Part of the Northern Beaches local government area (est. 271,738 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Freshwater is a stable suburb in Northern Beaches, NSW 2096, about 13km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $4.07M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 2 schools, a transport score of 56/100, and is right by the coast. Freshwater has an overall score of 82/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 100/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2096 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (9.09%), New Zealand (2.18%), USA (1.65%), Brazil (1.44%), South Africa (1.19%)
Top languages: Spanish (1.77%), Portuguese (1.63%), Italian (1.11%), French (0.99%), German (0.99%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1131 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Harbord Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1137
- St John the Baptist Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1134
Nearby (within 10km)
- Stewart House SchoolCombined · Government · 0.7km
- Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior CampusSecondary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1098
- Stella Maris CollegeSecondary · Independent · 1.1kmICSEA 1135
- Stella Maris College Benedict CampusSecondary · Independent · 1.2km
- Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls CampusSecondary · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 1115
- Curl Curl North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1116
- Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly CampusSecondary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1217
- St Kieran's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.7kmICSEA 1122
- St Luke's Grammar SchoolCombined · Independent · 1.8kmICSEA 1178
- Brookvale Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1075
- The Beach SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.1kmICSEA 1039
- St Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.1kmICSEA 1159
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Some green space
Around the national average — a reasonable amount of parks and outdoor space nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Rich cultural scene
Well above average — a strong mix of cultural venues nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Quiet area
Pretty light on licensed venues. Good for peace and quiet; less so for spontaneous nights out.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Some choices available
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of childcare options, though popular services may have waiting lists.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Northern Beaches
Compare Freshwater with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Freshwater
Is Freshwater safe?
Freshwater has a residential safety score of 100/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 1,905 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Freshwater?
In Freshwater, the median house price is $4.07M and the median unit price is $1.29M. Median weekly house rent is $1,850.
How far is Freshwater from Sydney CBD?
Freshwater is about 12.9 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 51 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Freshwater?
Freshwater has 2 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1136 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Freshwater?
Freshwater has a transport score of 56/100 and 59 bus stops.