Cairns City vs Cairns North

Cairns North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 44 in Cairns City. In both, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Cairns City, about half of households rent. In Cairns North, most households rent. Units cost more in Cairns City: a median of $640,000, against $432,000 in Cairns North, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Cairns North tends to suit renters and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Cairns North

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (14% vs 2%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Cairns North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($432,500 vs $640,000)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cairns North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (65% vs 51%)
  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $413/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

Cairns City

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 13%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (98% vs 86%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Cairns City is growing faster (32.1% vs 2.8%)
  • Cairns North returns a higher gross yield on units (6.4% vs 5.9%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cairns City Cairns North
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.

Cairns City Cairns North
Walkability 78 / 82
Cairns City — Walkability: 78/100 Cairns North — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 1 / 3
Cairns City — Safety: 1/100 Cairns North — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Cairns City — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cairns North — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cairns North has more residents (5,334 vs 3,616); Cairns City rents higher ($413/wk vs $340/wk).

Cairns City Cairns North
Population 3,616 5,334
+48% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +32.1% +2.8%
Median age 44 37
Median household income $84,604/yr
+14% vs other
 $72,904/yr
Median weekly rent $413/wk
+18% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cairns City Cairns North
0-4 2.0% / 3.9%
Cairns City — 0-4: 2.0% Cairns North — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 3.2% / 7.6%
Cairns City — 5-14: 3.2% Cairns North — 5-14: 7.6%
15-19 2.5% / 4.0%
Cairns City — 15-19: 2.5% Cairns North — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 7.2% / 8.5%
Cairns City — 20-24: 7.2% Cairns North — 20-24: 8.5%
25-34 24.1% / 21.9%
Cairns City — 25-34: 24.1% Cairns North — 25-34: 21.9%
35-44 11.4% / 16.2%
Cairns City — 35-44: 11.4% Cairns North — 35-44: 16.2%
45-54 14.2% / 13.1%
Cairns City — 45-54: 14.2% Cairns North — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 14.6% / 12.2%
Cairns City — 55-64: 14.6% Cairns North — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 12.9% / 8.6%
Cairns City — 65-74: 12.9% Cairns North — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 6.0% / 3.1%
Cairns City — 75-84: 6.0% Cairns North — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 1.5% / 0.9%
Cairns City — 85+: 1.5% Cairns North — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cairns City 62.4% lone person
Cairns City — Lone Person: 62.4% Cairns City — Couple Families: 16.6% Cairns City — Group Household: 12.4% Cairns City — One Parent Families: 7.2% Cairns City — Other Families: 1.5%
Cairns North 57.7% lone person
Cairns North — Lone Person: 57.7% Cairns North — Couple Families: 15.8% Cairns North — Group Household: 11.6% Cairns North — One Parent Families: 13.1% Cairns North — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cairns City 50.7% renting
Cairns City — Owned Outright: 31.6% Cairns City — Mortgage: 17.7% Cairns City — Renting: 50.7%
Cairns North 65.3% renting
Cairns North — Owned Outright: 16.5% Cairns North — Mortgage: 18.3% Cairns North — Renting: 65.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cairns City Cairns North
Bachelor Degree 12.6% / 16.2%
Cairns City — Bachelor Degree: 12.6% Cairns North — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 11.8%
Cairns City — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Cairns North — Certificate III & IV: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 9.2%
Cairns City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Cairns North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 5.6%
Cairns City — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Cairns North — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.3%
Cairns City — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Cairns North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

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.

Cairns City Cairns North
England 4.1% / 3.7%
Cairns City — England: 4.1% Cairns North — England: 3.7%
India 1.6% / 3.6%
Cairns City — India: 1.6% Cairns North — India: 3.6%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.9%
Cairns City — New Zealand: 2.3% Cairns North — New Zealand: 2.9%
Philippines 0.9% / 1.8%
Cairns City — Philippines: 0.9% Cairns North — Philippines: 1.8%
China 1.0% / 1.4%
Cairns City — China: 1.0% Cairns North — China: 1.4%
France 1.1% / —
Cairns City — France: 1.1% Cairns North — France: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cairns City 91.8% flats / apartments
Cairns City — Flats / Apartments: 91.8% Cairns City — Houses: 2.4% Cairns City — Townhouses: 5.8%
Cairns North 81.4% flats / apartments
Cairns North — Flats / Apartments: 81.4% Cairns North — Houses: 14.2% Cairns North — Townhouses: 4.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Cairns City Cairns North
Median house price — $750,000
Median unit price $640,000 $432,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 26 days
from 17 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Cairns City Cairns North
1 bed $365K / $344K
Cairns City — 1 bed: $365K (29 sales) Cairns North — 1 bed: $344K (58 sales)

29 vs 58 sales

2 bed $640K / $452K
Cairns City — 2 bed: $640K (51 sales) Cairns North — 2 bed: $452K (130 sales)

51 vs 130 sales

3 bed $1.15M / $618K
Cairns City — 3 bed: $1.15M (23 sales) Cairns North — 3 bed: $618K (30 sales)

23 vs 30 sales

Development activity

Cairns City Cairns North
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.

Cairns City Cairns North
Houses — 3.6%
$650/wk on $949K
Units 5.9%
$675/wk on $594K
 6.4%
$575/wk on $470K

Ranking within QLD

Cairns City Cairns North
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 58% of QLD Higher than 42% of QLD
Schools Higher than 71% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 26% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD

Liveability

Cairns City scores higher overall (53 vs 39).

Cairns City Cairns North
Grade B C
Score 53/100 39/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Cairns City Cairns North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
99/100
 High
97/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
74/100
 Low
35/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cairns City Cairns North
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Cairns City

  • St Monica's College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Mastery Schools Australia - Cairns Campus Independent · Combined
  • Mungalla Silver Lining School - Carins Temporary Facility Independent · Secondary

Schools in Cairns North

  • Cairns State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Mother of Good Counsel School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cairns City Cairns North
Supermarkets 5 3
Cafes & restaurants 108 14
Parks & reserves 5 8
Childcare 1 3
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 7 1
Hospitals 1 2
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 12 1
Fuel stations 1 4
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Cairns City Cairns North
Walkability score 78/100 82/100
Distance to Brisbane 1699.1 km 1700.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1172 min 1174 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 158.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 132.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Cairns City Cairns North
Car (driver) 41.6% / 58.4%
Cairns City — Car (driver): 41.6% Cairns North — Car (driver): 58.4%
Walked Only 29.3% / 13.1%
Cairns City — Walked Only: 29.3% Cairns North — Walked Only: 13.1%
Worked from Home 17.4% / 13.9%
Cairns City — Worked from Home: 17.4% Cairns North — Worked from Home: 13.9%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 7.7%
Cairns City — Car (passenger): 6.0% Cairns North — Car (passenger): 7.7%
Bicycle 4.0% / 4.0%
Cairns City — Bicycle: 4.0% Cairns North — Bicycle: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.4%).

Setting

Cairns City Cairns North
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 53 m 203 m

NBN connectivity

Cairns City Cairns North
Connectivity score 92/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 78%
4,557 premises
 62%
3,866 premises

Climate

Cairns City Cairns North
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)

Cairns City Cairns North
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Cairns City Cairns North
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Cairns City Cairns North
Division Leichhardt
same for both
Member Matt Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cairns City Cairns North
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cairns City

Apartments Cafe Culture Coastal Multicultural Nightlife Parks

Cairns North

Affordable Apartments Coastal Multicultural Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cairns City

Cairns City vs Parramatta Park Cairns City vs Portsmith Cairns City vs East Trinity Cairns City vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Cairns North

Cairns North vs Manunda Cairns North vs Whitfield Cairns North vs Edge Hill Cairns North vs Parramatta Park Cairns North vs Aeroglen Cairns North vs Coral Sea
Full data on Cairns City Full data on Cairns North
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.

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