Barron vs Smithfield

Smithfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 48 in Barron. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Smithfield, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Barron tends to suit share households, while Smithfield suits families with children and couples.

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

Smithfield

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Barron has more separate houses rather than flats (108% vs 91%)

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

Barron

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($295/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Barron sits closer to the CBD (1707.6 km vs 1713.8 km)
  • Smithfield is more walkable (59/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Smithfield

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (81/100 vs 96/100)

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

Investors

Barron

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (61.9% vs 25.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Barron Smithfield
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.

Barron Smithfield
Walkability 0 / 59
Barron — Walkability: 0/100 Smithfield — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 4 / 19
Barron — Safety: 4/100 Smithfield — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 76
Barron — Low fire risk: 100/100 Smithfield — Low fire risk: 76/100

Demographics

Smithfield has more residents (6,664 vs 68); Smithfield rents higher ($420/wk vs $295/wk).

Barron Smithfield
Population 68 6,664
+9700% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +61.9% +25.7%
Median age 48 34
Median household income $106,184/yr
+10% vs other
 $95,680/yr
Median weekly rent $295/wk $420/wk
+42% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Barron Smithfield
0-4 8.8% / 6.5%
Barron — 0-4: 8.8% Smithfield — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 5.9% / 13.1%
Barron — 5-14: 5.9% Smithfield — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 — / 8.0%
Barron — 15-19: not among its largest Smithfield — 15-19: 8.0%
20-24 7.4% / 7.9%
Barron — 20-24: 7.4% Smithfield — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 13.2% / 14.8%
Barron — 25-34: 13.2% Smithfield — 25-34: 14.8%
35-44 11.8% / 14.8%
Barron — 35-44: 11.8% Smithfield — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 20.6% / 13.1%
Barron — 45-54: 20.6% Smithfield — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 23.5% / 10.1%
Barron — 55-64: 23.5% Smithfield — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 13.2% / 7.3%
Barron — 65-74: 13.2% Smithfield — 65-74: 7.3%
75-84 — / 3.5%
Barron — 75-84: not among its largest Smithfield — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ — / 1.0%
Barron — 85+: not among its largest Smithfield — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Barron 35.0% couple families
Barron — Couple Families: 35.0% Barron — One Parent Families: 30.0% Barron — Lone Person: 20.0% Barron — Group Household: 15.0% Barron — Other Families: 0.0%
Smithfield 46.2% couple families
Smithfield — Couple Families: 46.2% Smithfield — One Parent Families: 17.2% Smithfield — Lone Person: 26.8% Smithfield — Group Household: 8.0% Smithfield — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Barron 23.1% renting
Barron — Owned Outright: 42.3% Barron — Mortgage: 34.6% Barron — Renting: 23.1%
Smithfield 33.0% renting
Smithfield — Owned Outright: 23.5% Smithfield — Mortgage: 43.5% Smithfield — Renting: 33.0%
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.

Barron Smithfield
New Zealand 4.4% / 2.6%
Barron — New Zealand: 4.4% Smithfield — New Zealand: 2.6%
England — / 4.4%
Barron — England: not among its largest Smithfield — England: 4.4%
India — / 2.2%
Barron — India: not among its largest Smithfield — India: 2.2%
Philippines — / 1.1%
Barron — Philippines: not among its largest Smithfield — Philippines: 1.1%
China — / 1.1%
Barron — China: not among its largest Smithfield — China: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

Qualifications

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

Barron Smithfield
Certificate III & IV 20.6% / 16.4%
Barron — Certificate III & IV: 20.6% Smithfield — Certificate III & IV: 16.4%
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 12.2%
Barron — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Smithfield — Bachelor Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.4% / 8.6%
Barron — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.4% Smithfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 8.8% / 3.6%
Barron — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8% Smithfield — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.8%
Barron — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Smithfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Barron 108.3% houses
Barron — Houses: 108.3% Barron — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Barron — Townhouses: 0.0%
Smithfield 91.0% houses
Smithfield — Houses: 91.0% Smithfield — Flats / Apartments: 6.3% Smithfield — Townhouses: 2.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Barron Smithfield
Median house price — $815,000
Median unit price — $468,000
Median land price — $875,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 20 days
from 92 sales

Development activity

Barron Smithfield
New dwellings approved 767
across Cairns
same for both
Approvals change year on year -81%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Barron Smithfield
Houses — 4.7%
$765/wk on $838K
Units — 6.8%
$650/wk on $500K

Ranking within QLD

Barron Smithfield
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 69% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 5% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 85% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 95% of QLD

Liveability

Smithfield is more walkable (59 vs 0).

Barron Smithfield
Grade — C
Score — 41/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Smithfield carries more bushfire risk (24 vs 0); Barron carries more crime risk (96 vs 81).

Barron Smithfield
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
24/100
Crime High
96/100
 High
81/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Barron Smithfield
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 5.0 km
 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 0.0 km

Schools in Barron

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

Schools in Smithfield

  • Newman Catholic College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Tropical North Learning Academy - Smithfield State High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Barron Smithfield
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 1 5
Parks & reserves 1 10
Childcare 0 4
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 1 20

Mobility

Smithfield sits further from the CBD (1713.8 km vs 1707.6 km).

Barron Smithfield
Walkability score 0/100 59/100
Distance to Brisbane 1707.6 km 1713.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1187 min 1188 min
Public transport score 25/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 61.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 23 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4878
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 4878
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.

Barron Smithfield
Car (driver) 52.0% / 74.4%
Barron — Car (driver): 52.0% Smithfield — Car (driver): 74.4%
Worked from Home 32.0% / 15.3%
Barron — Worked from Home: 32.0% Smithfield — Worked from Home: 15.3%
Walked Only 16.0% / 2.1%
Barron — Walked Only: 16.0% Smithfield — Walked Only: 2.1%
Car (passenger) — / 5.5%
Barron — Car (passenger): not among its largest Smithfield — Car (passenger): 5.5%
Bus — / 1.5%
Barron — Bus: not among its largest Smithfield — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.4%).

Setting

Barron Smithfield
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km 3.4 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Barron Smithfield
Connectivity score 68/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
21 premises
 54%
2,904 premises

Climate

Barron Smithfield
Annual rainfall 2,121 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 18.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Barron Smithfield
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Barron Smithfield
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Barron Smithfield
Division Leichhardt
same for both
Member Matt Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Barron Smithfield
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Barron

Rural Young Families

Smithfield

Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Barron

Barron vs Yorkeys Knob Barron vs Holloways Beach Barron vs Caravonica Barron vs Freshwater Barron vs Stratford Barron vs Kamerunga

Other comparisons with Smithfield

Smithfield vs Trinity Beach Smithfield vs Kewarra Beach Smithfield vs Trinity Park Smithfield vs Yorkeys Knob Smithfield vs Caravonica
Full data on Barron Full data on Smithfield
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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.

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