Babinda vs East Russell

Babinda is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 53 in East Russell. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Babinda, about half of households are people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

East Russell

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (59% vs 50%)
  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 68/100)
  • But Babinda has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

East Russell

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (12% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($150/wk vs $230/wk)
  • But Babinda has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 11%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Babinda

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (1124 min vs 1140 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1640.5 km vs 1651.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Babinda

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • But East Russell carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 68/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

East Russell

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.9% vs 2.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Babinda and East Russell drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Babinda East Russell
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Babinda East Russell
Walkability 55 / 0
Babinda — Walkability: 55/100 East Russell — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 32 / 42
Babinda — Safety: 32/100 East Russell — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 81
Babinda — Low fire risk: 100/100 East Russell — Low fire risk: 81/100

Demographics

Babinda has more residents (1,287 vs 83); Babinda rents higher ($230/wk vs $150/wk).

Babinda East Russell
Population 1,287
+94% vs other
 83
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +16.9%
Median age 48 53
Median household income $54,496/yr $67,184/yr
+23% vs other
Median weekly rent $230/wk
+35% vs other
 $150/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Babinda East Russell
0-4 4.1% / 8.4%
Babinda — 0-4: 4.1% East Russell — 0-4: 8.4%
5-14 12.7% / 3.6%
Babinda — 5-14: 12.7% East Russell — 5-14: 3.6%
15-19 5.7% / 7.2%
Babinda — 15-19: 5.7% East Russell — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 3.9% / 3.6%
Babinda — 20-24: 3.9% East Russell — 20-24: 3.6%
25-34 9.4% / 3.6%
Babinda — 25-34: 9.4% East Russell — 25-34: 3.6%
35-44 11.3% / 13.3%
Babinda — 35-44: 11.3% East Russell — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 11.0% / 19.3%
Babinda — 45-54: 11.0% East Russell — 45-54: 19.3%
55-64 15.5% / 26.5%
Babinda — 55-64: 15.5% East Russell — 55-64: 26.5%
65-74 15.2% / 19.3%
Babinda — 65-74: 15.2% East Russell — 65-74: 19.3%
75-84 8.6% / 4.8%
Babinda — 75-84: 8.6% East Russell — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.8% / —
Babinda — 85+: 2.8% East Russell — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Babinda 45.5% lone person
Babinda — Lone Person: 45.5% Babinda — Couple Families: 32.6% Babinda — One Parent Families: 17.4% Babinda — Group Household: 2.8% Babinda — Other Families: 1.7%
East Russell 40.9% lone person
East Russell — Lone Person: 40.9% East Russell — Couple Families: 40.9% East Russell — One Parent Families: 18.2% East Russell — Group Household: 0.0% East Russell — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Babinda 31.2% renting
Babinda — Owned Outright: 37.3% Babinda — Mortgage: 31.4% Babinda — Renting: 31.2%
East Russell 11.1% renting
East Russell — Owned Outright: 55.6% East Russell — Mortgage: 33.3% East Russell — Renting: 11.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Babinda East Russell
England 2.7% / 3.6%
Babinda — England: 2.7% East Russell — England: 3.6%
New Zealand 2.3% / —
Babinda — New Zealand: 2.3% East Russell — New Zealand: not among its largest
Philippines 1.3% / —
Babinda — Philippines: 1.3% East Russell — Philippines: not among its largest
Italy 0.9% / —
Babinda — Italy: 0.9% East Russell — Italy: not among its largest
Scotland 0.9% / —
Babinda — Scotland: 0.9% East Russell — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Babinda East Russell
Certificate III & IV 20.1% / 12.0%
Babinda — Certificate III & IV: 20.1% East Russell — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Bachelor Degree 6.4% / 10.8%
Babinda — Bachelor Degree: 6.4% East Russell — Bachelor Degree: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.3% / 3.6%
Babinda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3% East Russell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.5% / 4.8%
Babinda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5% East Russell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / —
Babinda — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% East Russell — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Babinda 94.0% houses
Babinda — Houses: 94.0% Babinda — Flats / Apartments: 1.8% Babinda — Townhouses: 4.2%
East Russell 91.2% houses
East Russell — Houses: 91.2% East Russell — Flats / Apartments: 8.8% East Russell — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Babinda East Russell
Median house price $480,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $200,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 102 days
from 16 sales
 —

Development activity

Babinda East Russell
New dwellings approved 767
across Cairns
same for both
Approvals change year on year -81%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Babinda East Russell
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 17% of QLD Higher than 33% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 10% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 55% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 37% of QLD

Liveability

Babinda is more walkable (55 vs 0).

Babinda East Russell
Grade C —
Score 37/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

East Russell carries more bushfire risk (19 vs 0); Babinda carries more crime risk (68 vs 58).

Babinda East Russell
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
19/100
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
58/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
76/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Babinda East Russell
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Babinda

  • Babinda State School Government · Combined above peers
  • St Rita's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in East Russell

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Babinda East Russell
Supermarkets 1 0
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 2 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Waterways 16 12

Mobility

East Russell sits further from the CBD (1651.2 km vs 1640.5 km).

Babinda East Russell
Walkability score 55/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 1640.5 km 1651.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1124 min 1140 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 4861
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 4861
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Babinda East Russell
Car (driver) 73.1% / 73.3%
Babinda — Car (driver): 73.1% East Russell — Car (driver): 73.3%
Worked from Home 9.8% / 26.7%
Babinda — Worked from Home: 9.8% East Russell — Worked from Home: 26.7%
Walked Only 8.4% / —
Babinda — Walked Only: 8.4% East Russell — Walked Only: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 3.9% / —
Babinda — Car (passenger): 3.9% East Russell — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 2.5% / —
Babinda — Bus: 2.5% East Russell — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.3%).

Setting

Babinda East Russell
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 243 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.8 km 783 m

NBN connectivity

Babinda East Russell
Connectivity score 63/100 28/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
694 premises
 0%
44 premises

Climate

Babinda East Russell
Annual rainfall 3,531 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 17.0°C
same for both

Council rates

Babinda East Russell
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Babinda East Russell
Division Kennedy
same for both
Member Bob Katter
same for both
Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Babinda East Russell
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Babinda

Acreage Affordable Quiet Retirees River

East Russell

Coastal Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Babinda

Babinda vs Mirriwinni Babinda vs Bellenden Ker

Other comparisons with East Russell

East Russell vs Mirriwinni East Russell vs Eubenangee East Russell vs Bellenden Ker East Russell vs Bramston Beach East Russell vs Deeral East Russell vs Coral Sea
Full data on Babinda Full data on East Russell
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or