Cairns suburbs where seniors live

Palm Cove has the highest share, at 27.8% of residents. Earlville and Caravonica follow. These 15 suburbs came from a field of 30 eligible Cairns suburbs.

This page ranks Cairns suburbs by the share of residents aged 65 and over in the 2021 Census — where retirees and older Australians are most concentrated. Only suburbs with at least 2,000 residents are ranked.

Shares are the count of Cairns residents aged 65 and over divided by the suburb's total population, from the ABS 2021 Census age tables — the same figures behind each suburb page's age profile. Percentile ranks are computed within Cairns's pool, so the list reflects concentration relative to other metro suburbs. This is descriptive demographic information, not a recommendation.

Cairns suburbs where seniors live

Ranked by the share of residents aged 65 and over in the 2021 Census, among suburbs with at least 2,000 residents — where retirees and older Australians are most concentrated.

Palm Cove

QLD 4879 · 2,450 residents

27.8% of residents · 680 people

C 100.0

Earlville

QLD 4870 · 4,200 residents

23.9% of residents · 1,003 people

D 96.5

Caravonica

QLD 4878 · 2,183 residents

23.4% of residents · 510 people

C 93.1

Westcourt

QLD 4870 · 3,841 residents

21.8% of residents · 836 people

D 89.7

Clifton Beach

QLD 4879 · 3,192 residents

21.7% of residents · 693 people

B 86.2

Yorkeys Knob

QLD 4878 · 2,794 residents

21.3% of residents · 596 people

D 82.8

Whitfield

QLD 4870 · 4,262 residents

21.2% of residents · 904 people

C 79.3

Bayview Heights

QLD 4868 · 4,175 residents

20.5% of residents · 856 people

B 75.9

Cairns City

QLD 4870 · 3,616 residents

20.4% of residents · 737 people

B 72.4

Kewarra Beach

QLD 4879 · 6,133 residents

18.1% of residents · 1,113 people

B 69.0

Mooroobool

QLD 4870 · 7,136 residents

17.5% of residents · 1,247 people

D 65.5

Holloways Beach

QLD 4878 · 2,398 residents

17.5% of residents · 419 people

C 62.1

Edge Hill

QLD 4870 · 4,088 residents

17.1% of residents · 700 people

C 58.6

White Rock

QLD 4868 · 4,918 residents

17.0% of residents · 835 people

C 55.2

Manunda

QLD 4870 · 5,191 residents

16.8% of residents · 874 people

C 51.7

Ranked from 30 qualifying suburbs.

How we ranked these

100% share of residents in the relevant age band in the 2021 Census (the band's count divided by the suburb's total population), percentile-ranked within Cairns's candidate pool. Only suburbs with at least 2,000 residents qualify, and the larger absolute cohort breaks ties. Descriptive ABS Census data, not a recommendation. See how we calculate for the full methodology.

Common questions about this ranking

What are the cairns suburbs where seniors live?

Palm Cove has the highest share, at 27.8% of residents. Earlville and Caravonica follow. These 15 suburbs came from a field of 30 eligible Cairns suburbs.

How is this ranking put together?

Each Cairns suburb is ranked by the share of its residents aged 65 and over in the 2021 Census — that age group's count divided by the suburb's total population. Only suburbs with at least 2,000 residents are included, and percentile ranks are computed within Cairns's pool, so the list reflects concentration relative to other metro suburbs.

Where does the data come from?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census age tables — the same figures behind the age profile shown on each suburb page. Nothing is estimated or inferred about any individual.

Why would someone use this list?

People often want to settle where retirees and older residents are well represented — for the amenities, services, and social fabric that tend to follow. This is a factual demographic snapshot to help with that, not a judgement about any suburb.

How current is it?

The figures are from the 2021 Census, the most recent available until results from the August 2026 Census are released in 2027. The top 15 is recomputed whenever we refresh the census data.

Same list in other cities

Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.

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Cairns suburbs where seniors live

Cairns suburbs where seniors live

Common questions about this ranking

Same list in other cities

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