Brinsmead vs Whitfield

Brinsmead is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 45 in Whitfield. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Brinsmead, most households are couple families. On these figures, Brinsmead tends to suit families with children and couples, while Whitfield suits people living alone and older residents.

Brinsmead and Whitfield are similar in median house price at $835,000, but they differ notably in income and liveability. Brinsmead has a higher median household income of $113,880 compared to Whitfield's $87,412, and scores better on liveability (57 vs 42) and walkability (44 vs 38). Whitfield skews older with a median age of 45 years versus Brinsmead's 39, and carries a higher crime risk score of 78 compared to Brinsmead's 57. Brinsmead may suit buyers seeking a more affluent, walkable neighbourhood, while Whitfield could appeal to those prioritising a more established, quieter community—though rental costs are notably higher in Brinsmead at $450 weekly versus $340.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Brinsmead

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 51%)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 78/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 79%)
  • But Whitfield has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Brinsmead

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 24%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Whitfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Whitfield

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (21% vs 3%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 12%)
  • But Brinsmead carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 78/100)

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

Investors

Brinsmead

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Brinsmead Whitfield
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.

Brinsmead Whitfield
Walkability 44 / 38
Brinsmead — Walkability: 44/100 Whitfield — Walkability: 38/100
Safety 43 / 22
Brinsmead — Safety: 43/100 Whitfield — Safety: 22/100
Low fire risk 100 / 46
Brinsmead — Low fire risk: 100/100 Whitfield — Low fire risk: 46/100

Demographics

Brinsmead rents higher ($450/wk vs $340/wk); Brinsmead has higher household incomes ($113,880 vs $87,412).

Brinsmead Whitfield
Population 5,537
+23% vs other
 4,262
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% -0.3%
Median age 39 45
Median household income $113,880/yr
+23% vs other
 $87,412/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+24% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Brinsmead Whitfield
0-4 5.6% / 3.6%
Brinsmead — 0-4: 5.6% Whitfield — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 16.5% / 13.0%
Brinsmead — 5-14: 16.5% Whitfield — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 7.2% / 5.7%
Brinsmead — 15-19: 7.2% Whitfield — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 4.3% / 3.3%
Brinsmead — 20-24: 4.3% Whitfield — 20-24: 3.3%
25-34 9.7% / 11.6%
Brinsmead — 25-34: 9.7% Whitfield — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 15.5% / 12.1%
Brinsmead — 35-44: 15.5% Whitfield — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 15.6% / 16.3%
Brinsmead — 45-54: 15.6% Whitfield — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 13.5% / 13.0%
Brinsmead — 55-64: 13.5% Whitfield — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 7.9% / 10.4%
Brinsmead — 65-74: 7.9% Whitfield — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 3.1% / 6.7%
Brinsmead — 75-84: 3.1% Whitfield — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 0.9% / 4.1%
Brinsmead — 85+: 0.9% Whitfield — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Brinsmead 56.6% couple families
Brinsmead — Couple Families: 56.6% Brinsmead — Lone Person: 21.2% Brinsmead — One Parent Families: 17.4% Brinsmead — Group Household: 3.7% Brinsmead — Other Families: 1.1%
Whitfield 34.2% couple families
Whitfield — Couple Families: 34.2% Whitfield — Lone Person: 42.0% Whitfield — One Parent Families: 16.9% Whitfield — Group Household: 6.1% Whitfield — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Brinsmead 20.5% renting
Brinsmead — Owned Outright: 30.4% Brinsmead — Mortgage: 49.1% Brinsmead — Renting: 20.5%
Whitfield 31.0% renting
Whitfield — Owned Outright: 33.9% Whitfield — Mortgage: 35.2% Whitfield — Renting: 31.0%
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.

Brinsmead Whitfield
England 3.3% / 4.5%
Brinsmead — England: 3.3% Whitfield — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 3.0% / 2.6%
Brinsmead — New Zealand: 3.0% Whitfield — New Zealand: 2.6%
Japan 1.4% / 1.3%
Brinsmead — Japan: 1.4% Whitfield — Japan: 1.3%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.1%
Brinsmead — Philippines: 0.8% Whitfield — Philippines: 1.1%
India 0.8% / 1.0%
Brinsmead — India: 0.8% Whitfield — India: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

Qualifications

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

Brinsmead Whitfield
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 14.6%
Brinsmead — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Whitfield — Certificate III & IV: 14.6%
Bachelor Degree 13.4% / 16.3%
Brinsmead — Bachelor Degree: 13.4% Whitfield — Bachelor Degree: 16.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 8.5%
Brinsmead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Whitfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 5.5%
Brinsmead — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Whitfield — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.1%
Brinsmead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Whitfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Brinsmead 97.2% houses
Brinsmead — Houses: 97.2% Brinsmead — Townhouses: 0.0% Brinsmead — Flats / Apartments: 2.8%
Whitfield 78.9% houses
Whitfield — Houses: 78.9% Whitfield — Townhouses: 19.2% Whitfield — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Brinsmead Whitfield
Median house price $856,000 $861,500
Median unit price — $520,000
Median land price — $517,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 50 sales
 23 days
from 29 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Brinsmead Whitfield
3 bed $710K / $800K
Brinsmead — 3 bed: $710K (38 sales) Whitfield — 3 bed: $800K (19 sales)

38 vs 19 sales

4 bed $900K / $940K
Brinsmead — 4 bed: $900K (80 sales) Whitfield — 4 bed: $940K (28 sales)

80 vs 28 sales

5 bed $960K / $1.36M
Brinsmead — 5 bed: $960K (8 sales) Whitfield — 5 bed: $1.36M (6 sales)

8 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Brinsmead Whitfield
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.

Brinsmead Whitfield
Houses 5.0%
$810/wk on $840K
 3.9%
$660/wk on $880K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Brinsmead Whitfield
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 48% of QLD

Liveability

Brinsmead scores higher overall (61 vs 35).

Brinsmead Whitfield
Grade B C
Score 61/100 35/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Whitfield carries more bushfire risk (54 vs 0); Whitfield carries more crime risk (78 vs 57).

Brinsmead Whitfield
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
54/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 High
78/100
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 6
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Brinsmead Whitfield
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 8.7 km
 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 9.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 0.9%

Schools in Brinsmead

  • Freshwater Christian College Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Whitfield

  • Whitfield State School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Brinsmead Whitfield
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 10 9
Childcare 4 2
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Brinsmead Whitfield
Walkability score 44/100 38/100
Distance to Brisbane 1702.8 km 1701.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1175 min 1177 min
Public transport score 41/100
Bus
 57/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 3 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4870
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 4870
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.

Brinsmead Whitfield
Car (driver) 74.8% / 70.6%
Brinsmead — Car (driver): 74.8% Whitfield — Car (driver): 70.6%
Worked from Home 16.6% / 18.7%
Brinsmead — Worked from Home: 16.6% Whitfield — Worked from Home: 18.7%
Car (passenger) 6.2% / 5.8%
Brinsmead — Car (passenger): 6.2% Whitfield — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Bicycle 0.7% / 2.7%
Brinsmead — Bicycle: 0.7% Whitfield — Bicycle: 2.7%
Bus 0.8% / 0.9%
Brinsmead — Bus: 0.8% Whitfield — Bus: 0.9%
Walked Only 0.5% / 1.2%
Brinsmead — Walked Only: 0.5% Whitfield — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.8%).

Setting

Brinsmead Whitfield
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km 3.1 km

NBN connectivity

Brinsmead Whitfield
Connectivity score 74/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
2,088 premises
 82%
2,116 premises

Climate

Brinsmead Whitfield
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)

Brinsmead Whitfield
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Brinsmead Whitfield
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Brinsmead Whitfield
Division Leichhardt
same for both
Member Matt Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Brinsmead Whitfield
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Brinsmead

Family Large Blocks Parks

Whitfield

Parks Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Brinsmead

Brinsmead vs Redlynch Brinsmead vs Kanimbla Brinsmead vs Freshwater Brinsmead vs Stratford

Other comparisons with Whitfield

Whitfield vs Manoora Whitfield vs Cairns North Whitfield vs Edge Hill Whitfield vs Kanimbla Whitfield vs Stratford Whitfield vs Aeroglen
Full data on Brinsmead Full data on Whitfield
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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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