Suburb in Cairns

Freshwater, QLD

Freshwater had a population of 2,142 at the 2021 Census (+5.9% since 2016). Median age 41.4. Median weekly household income $1,851. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

Freshwater at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with Queensland.

In Cairns

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Freshwater's population grew by 5.9% to 2,142, slower than Queensland as a whole (+9.6%). With a median age of 41.4, it is older than the QLD average (38.2). Children under 10 make up 11.6% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 9.4%.

29.0% of households rent, a smaller share than the QLD average of 33.6%. 31.5% own their home outright. Flats and apartments are more common than in Queensland overall: 34.6% of homes, against 12.5%. The 2021 Census counted 878 households.

The median household earns $1,851 a week, above the QLD average of $1,676. Renters pay a median $350 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $1,604 a month.

21.3% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the QLD average of 24.1%. 9.4% use a language other than English at home. 55.8% report no religion, higher than the QLD average (44.8%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Freshwater beside QLD and Australia.

MeasureFreshwaterQLDAustralia
Population2,1425,156,15825,422,828
Growth since 2016+5.9%+9.6%+8.6%
Median age41.438.238.2
Households8781,869,4529,275,123
Flats and apartments34.6%12.5%14.3%
Renting29.0%33.6%31.1%
Owned outright31.5%29.5%31.4%
Median household income a week$1,851$1,676$1,747
Median rent a week$350$364$376
Median mortgage repayment a month$1,604$1,740$1,866
Born overseas21.3%24.1%29.3%
Other language at home9.4%14.1%23.6%
No religion55.8%44.8%41.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Population and age

Each census since 2011, and the age profile in 2021.

Population

+5.9% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 2,1042011
  2. 2,0232016
  3. 2,1422021

Age

Median age 41.4, against 38.2 for Queensland.

Freshwater Queensland
Share of people by age, Freshwater and Queensland
0–911.6%
10–1914.3%
20–298.8%
30–3912.7%
40–4915.7%
50–5916.6%
60–6911.3%
70–797.6%
80+1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Cultural background

The largest groups in Freshwater at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. English45.5%
  2. Australian34.4%
  3. Irish15.9%
  4. Scottish13.6%
  5. German7.8%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Japanese2.6%
  2. German1.6%
  3. Thai0.4%
  4. Afrikaans0.4%
  5. Australian Indigenous languages0.4%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. England5.5%
  2. New Zealand2.4%
  3. Japan1.7%
  4. Papua New Guinea1.3%
  5. Germany1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Around Freshwater

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Explore Freshwater in Censible

Every census figure for Freshwater, mapped and compared with any other place. A free account takes a minute.