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Queensland · Postcode 4870
Freshwater postcode and suburb data
Queensland · Phone area code 07 · 1396 km from Brisbane
Suburb snapshot
Freshwater at a glance vs QLD
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against QLD
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Detailed comparison table
Freshwater vs the QLD average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Freshwater | QLD avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,867 ≈QLD | $1,770 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $350 ≈QLD | $380 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $1,625 ≈QLD | $1,774 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 42 | 44.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 8/10 +QLD | 4.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 4.5% -QLD | 6.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the QLD average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Freshwater is a locality 1396 km from Brisbane in Queensland, classified as outer regional by the ABS. The postcode is 4870. It falls within the Cairns region. The local government area is Cairns.
According to the 2021 Census, Freshwater has a population of 2,142 with a median age of 42. The median weekly household income is $1,867, close to the QLD average. The unemployment rate is 4.5%, lower than the QLD average. The Indigenous population is 106 (4.9% of residents).
Housing in Freshwater includes a median weekly rent of $350, median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,625, with 878 total dwellings. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 70.8% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Freshwater scores in decile 8 out of 10, which is above the national average.
Freshwater is served by Freshwater State School.
Freshwater is part of the Cairns - South statistical area in Queensland.
Freshwater details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 4870 |
| State | Queensland (QLD) |
| Phone Area Code | 07 |
| Population (2021) | 2,142 |
| Median Age | 42 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,867/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $1,095/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $350 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $1,625 |
| Average Household Size | 2.3 persons |
| Area | 1.6 km² |
| Population Density | 1352/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 878 |
| Australian Citizens | 88.9% |
| Indigenous Population | 106 (4.9%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 8/10 (above average) |
| Latitude | -16.883333 |
| Longitude | 145.716667 |
| Distance from Brisbane | 1396 km |
| Region (SA4) | Cairns |
| Area (SA3) | Cairns - South |
| Local Government | Cairns |
| Federal Electorate | Leichhardt |
| State Electorate | Mulgrave |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Brisbane (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 432 (20.2%) |
| 15–24 years | 210 (9.8%) |
| 25–44 years | 535 (25.0%) |
| 45–64 years | 660 (30.8%) |
| 65+ years | 308 (14.4%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 148 (6.9%) |
| Asthma | 125 (5.8%) |
| Heart Disease | 64 (3.0%) |
| Cancer | 56 (2.6%) |
| Diabetes | 47 (2.2%) |
| Lung Condition | 31 (1.4%) |
| Dementia | 4 (0.2%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 16 (1.8%) |
| 1 vehicle | 384 (44.1%) |
| 2 vehicles | 328 (37.7%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 142 (16.3%) |
Schools in Freshwater
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Freshwater. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Freshwater
Same Postcode (4870)
More Freshwater Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.