Bungalow vs Portsmith

Portsmith is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 38 in Bungalow. In Bungalow, most households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Portsmith, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Portsmith: a median of $690,000, against $388,000 in Bungalow. On these figures, Bungalow tends to suit renters and buyers on a tighter budget, while Portsmith suits people living alone and share households.

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

Bungalow

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (34% vs 12%)
  • But Portsmith has more separate houses rather than flats (57% vs 42%)

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

First-home buyers

Bungalow

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 54%)
  • has cheaper units ($388,500 vs $690,000)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bungalow

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 37%)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (62% vs 40%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bungalow

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 6/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bungalow

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 6/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 43%)

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

Investors

Portsmith

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.8% vs 9.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bungalow Portsmith
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.

Bungalow Portsmith
Walkability 74 / 6
Bungalow — Walkability: 74/100 Portsmith — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 4 / 1
Bungalow — Safety: 4/100 Portsmith — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bungalow — Low fire risk: 100/100 Portsmith — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bungalow has more residents (2,358 vs 314); Bungalow has higher household incomes ($58,292 vs $38,948).

Bungalow Portsmith
Population 2,358
+87% vs other
 314
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.2% +20.8%
Median age 38 35
Median household income $58,292/yr
+33% vs other
 $38,948/yr
Median weekly rent $270/wk $280/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bungalow Portsmith
0-4 4.8% / 2.9%
Bungalow — 0-4: 4.8% Portsmith — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 7.8% / 9.6%
Bungalow — 5-14: 7.8% Portsmith — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 4.3% / 8.9%
Bungalow — 15-19: 4.3% Portsmith — 15-19: 8.9%
20-24 7.3% / 16.6%
Bungalow — 20-24: 7.3% Portsmith — 20-24: 16.6%
25-34 20.5% / 14.3%
Bungalow — 25-34: 20.5% Portsmith — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 15.8% / 9.9%
Bungalow — 35-44: 15.8% Portsmith — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 13.7% / 15.6%
Bungalow — 45-54: 13.7% Portsmith — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 13.5% / 12.7%
Bungalow — 55-64: 13.5% Portsmith — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 8.2% / 8.6%
Bungalow — 65-74: 8.2% Portsmith — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 3.3% / 4.1%
Bungalow — 75-84: 3.3% Portsmith — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.0% / 1.6%
Bungalow — 85+: 1.0% Portsmith — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bungalow 53.6% lone person
Bungalow — Lone Person: 53.6% Bungalow — Group Household: 10.4% Bungalow — Couple Families: 16.7% Bungalow — One Parent Families: 16.9% Bungalow — Other Families: 2.4%
Portsmith 69.2% lone person
Portsmith — Lone Person: 69.2% Portsmith — Group Household: 19.2% Portsmith — Couple Families: 11.5% Portsmith — One Parent Families: 0.0% Portsmith — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bungalow 61.5% renting
Bungalow — Owned Outright: 18.1% Bungalow — Mortgage: 20.4% Bungalow — Renting: 61.5%
Portsmith 40.0% renting
Portsmith — Owned Outright: 51.4% Portsmith — Mortgage: 8.6% Portsmith — Renting: 40.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bungalow Portsmith
Certificate III & IV 17.0% / 8.9%
Bungalow — Certificate III & IV: 17.0% Portsmith — Certificate III & IV: 8.9%
Bachelor Degree 9.7% / 4.1%
Bungalow — Bachelor Degree: 9.7% Portsmith — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 4.1%
Bungalow — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Portsmith — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 1.6%
Bungalow — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Portsmith — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / —
Bungalow — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Portsmith — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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.

Bungalow Portsmith
England 2.7% / 2.2%
Bungalow — England: 2.7% Portsmith — England: 2.2%
Philippines 2.4% / 1.9%
Bungalow — Philippines: 2.4% Portsmith — Philippines: 1.9%
New Zealand 2.9% / 1.0%
Bungalow — New Zealand: 2.9% Portsmith — New Zealand: 1.0%
China 1.3% / 1.9%
Bungalow — China: 1.3% Portsmith — China: 1.9%
India 1.9% / —
Bungalow — India: 1.9% Portsmith — India: not among its largest
Japan 1.8% / —
Bungalow — Japan: 1.8% Portsmith — Japan: not among its largest
Scotland — / 1.0%
Bungalow — Scotland: not among its largest Portsmith — Scotland: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bungalow 41.6% houses
Bungalow — Houses: 41.6% Bungalow — Flats / Apartments: 45.6% Bungalow — Townhouses: 12.7%
Portsmith 57.1% houses
Portsmith — Houses: 57.1% Portsmith — Flats / Apartments: 42.9% Portsmith — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bungalow Portsmith
Median house price $695,000 —
Median unit price $388,500 $690,000
Median land price $675,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 13 sales
 —

Development activity

Bungalow Portsmith
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.

Bungalow Portsmith
Houses 5.5%
$650/wk on $610K
 —
Units 6.0%
$425/wk on $367K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Bungalow Portsmith
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 20% of QLD Higher than 4% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 69% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 96% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of QLD —

Liveability

Bungalow is more walkable (74 vs 6).

Bungalow Portsmith
Grade D —
Score 28/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Bungalow Portsmith
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
96/100
 High
99/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
48/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bungalow Portsmith
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Bungalow Portsmith
Cafes & restaurants 5 2
Parks & reserves 1 0
Childcare 3 0
GPs 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Bungalow Portsmith
Walkability score 74/100 6/100
Distance to Brisbane 1695.7 km 1697.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1165 min 1169 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 28 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.

Bungalow Portsmith
Car (driver) 65.9% / 42.4%
Bungalow — Car (driver): 65.9% Portsmith — Car (driver): 42.4%
Walked Only 8.9% / 33.3%
Bungalow — Walked Only: 8.9% Portsmith — Walked Only: 33.3%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 12.1%
Bungalow — Worked from Home: 12.5% Portsmith — Worked from Home: 12.1%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / 12.1%
Bungalow — Car (passenger): 6.5% Portsmith — Car (passenger): 12.1%
Bicycle 4.3% / —
Bungalow — Bicycle: 4.3% Portsmith — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.9%).

Setting

Bungalow Portsmith
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.1 km 1.2 km

NBN connectivity

Bungalow Portsmith
Connectivity score 94/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 89%
2,250 premises
 93%
956 premises

Climate

Bungalow Portsmith
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)

Bungalow Portsmith
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Bungalow Portsmith
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Bungalow Portsmith
Division Leichhardt Kennedy
Member Matt Smith Bob Katter
Party Australian Labor Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP)

First Home Owner Grant

Bungalow Portsmith
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bungalow

Affordable Apartments Coastal

Portsmith

Coastal Multicultural Rural Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bungalow

Bungalow vs Mooroobool Bungalow vs Woree Bungalow vs Earlville Bungalow vs Westcourt Bungalow vs Parramatta Park

Other comparisons with Portsmith

Portsmith vs Edmonton Portsmith vs Woree Portsmith vs White Rock Portsmith vs Parramatta Park Portsmith vs Cairns City Portsmith vs East Trinity
Full data on Bungalow Full data on Portsmith
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