Cairns City vs Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 44 in Cairns City. In Cairns City, about half of households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Parramatta Park, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Cairns City: a median of $640,000, against $446,000 in Parramatta Park, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Cairns City tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Parramatta Park suits 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

Parramatta Park

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (35% vs 2%)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Parramatta Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($446,000 vs $640,000)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Parramatta Park

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $413/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (65% vs 51%)

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 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 10%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (98% vs 65%)

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

Investors

Cairns City

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (32.1% vs 3.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.9% vs 5.2%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Cairns City and Parramatta Park 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 Parramatta Park
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 Parramatta Park
Walkability 78 / 79
Cairns City — Walkability: 78/100 Parramatta Park — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 1 / 7
Cairns City — Safety: 1/100 Parramatta Park — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Cairns City — Low fire risk: 100/100 Parramatta Park — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cairns City rents higher ($413/wk vs $290/wk); Cairns City has higher household incomes ($84,604 vs $62,972).

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Population 3,616 3,621
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +32.1% +3.2%
Median age 44 33
Median household income $84,604/yr
+26% vs other
 $62,972/yr
Median weekly rent $413/wk
+30% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cairns City Parramatta Park
0-4 2.0% / 3.7%
Cairns City — 0-4: 2.0% Parramatta Park — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 3.2% / 8.4%
Cairns City — 5-14: 3.2% Parramatta Park — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 2.5% / 5.6%
Cairns City — 15-19: 2.5% Parramatta Park — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 7.2% / 8.8%
Cairns City — 20-24: 7.2% Parramatta Park — 20-24: 8.8%
25-34 24.1% / 26.4%
Cairns City — 25-34: 24.1% Parramatta Park — 25-34: 26.4%
35-44 11.4% / 14.8%
Cairns City — 35-44: 11.4% Parramatta Park — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 14.2% / 12.0%
Cairns City — 45-54: 14.2% Parramatta Park — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 14.6% / 10.6%
Cairns City — 55-64: 14.6% Parramatta Park — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 12.9% / 6.9%
Cairns City — 65-74: 12.9% Parramatta Park — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 6.0% / 2.4%
Cairns City — 75-84: 6.0% Parramatta Park — 75-84: 2.4%
85+ 1.5% / 0.4%
Cairns City — 85+: 1.5% Parramatta Park — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.4%).

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%
Parramatta Park 53.3% lone person
Parramatta Park — Lone Person: 53.3% Parramatta Park — Couple Families: 14.7% Parramatta Park — Group Household: 13.6% Parramatta Park — One Parent Families: 17.3% Parramatta Park — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
Parramatta Park 65.2% renting
Parramatta Park — Owned Outright: 14.4% Parramatta Park — Mortgage: 20.4% Parramatta Park — Renting: 65.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Bachelor Degree 12.6% / 15.8%
Cairns City — Bachelor Degree: 12.6% Parramatta Park — Bachelor Degree: 15.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 13.6%
Cairns City — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Parramatta Park — Certificate III & IV: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 9.0%
Cairns City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Parramatta Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 3.3%
Cairns City — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Parramatta Park — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.5%
Cairns City — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Parramatta Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

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 Parramatta Park
England 4.1% / 3.3%
Cairns City — England: 4.1% Parramatta Park — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 2.3% / 3.0%
Cairns City — New Zealand: 2.3% Parramatta Park — New Zealand: 3.0%
India 1.6% / 2.5%
Cairns City — India: 1.6% Parramatta Park — India: 2.5%
China 1.0% / 1.8%
Cairns City — China: 1.0% Parramatta Park — China: 1.8%
Japan — / 2.7%
Cairns City — Japan: not among its largest Parramatta Park — Japan: 2.7%
France 1.1% / —
Cairns City — France: 1.1% Parramatta Park — 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 — Townhouses: 5.8% Cairns City — Houses: 2.4%
Parramatta Park 5.3% flats / apartments
Parramatta Park — Flats / Apartments: 5.3% Parramatta Park — Townhouses: 59.5% Parramatta Park — Houses: 35.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Median house price — $748,750
Median unit price $640,000 $446,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 40 days
from 20 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 Parramatta Park
1 bed $365K / $322K
Cairns City — 1 bed: $365K (29 sales) Parramatta Park — 1 bed: $322K (16 sales)

29 vs 16 sales

2 bed $640K / $460K
Cairns City — 2 bed: $640K (51 sales) Parramatta Park — 2 bed: $460K (73 sales)

51 vs 73 sales

3 bed $1.15M / $575K
Cairns City — 3 bed: $1.15M (23 sales) Parramatta Park — 3 bed: $575K (8 sales)

23 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Cairns City Parramatta Park
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 Parramatta Park
Houses — 4.4%
$650/wk on $772K
Units 5.9%
$675/wk on $594K
 5.2%
$500/wk on $500K

Ranking within QLD

Cairns City Parramatta Park
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 58% of QLD Higher than 28% of QLD
Schools Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 72% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD

Liveability

Cairns City scores higher overall (53 vs 46).

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Grade B C
Score 53/100 46/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
99/100
 High
93/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
74/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 1
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 Parramatta Park

  • Parramatta State School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Augustine's College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Indie School, Logan - Parramatta Park Campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 108 2
Parks & reserves 5 3
Childcare 1 4
GPs 5 1
Pharmacies 7 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 12 0
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Walkability score 78/100 79/100
Distance to Brisbane 1699.1 km 1698.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1172 min 1169 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 158.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 28.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 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.

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Car (driver) 41.6% / 60.3%
Cairns City — Car (driver): 41.6% Parramatta Park — Car (driver): 60.3%
Walked Only 29.3% / 11.7%
Cairns City — Walked Only: 29.3% Parramatta Park — Walked Only: 11.7%
Worked from Home 17.4% / 11.0%
Cairns City — Worked from Home: 17.4% Parramatta Park — Worked from Home: 11.0%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 7.0%
Cairns City — Car (passenger): 6.0% Parramatta Park — Car (passenger): 7.0%
Bicycle 4.0% / 7.3%
Cairns City — Bicycle: 4.0% Parramatta Park — Bicycle: 7.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.3%).

Setting

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 53 m 1.4 km

NBN connectivity

Cairns City Parramatta Park
Connectivity score 92/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 78%
4,557 premises
 92%
2,093 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Cairns City Parramatta Park
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

Parramatta Park

Affordable Coastal Multicultural Parks River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cairns City

Cairns City vs Cairns North Cairns City vs Portsmith Cairns City vs East Trinity Cairns City vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park vs Cairns North Parramatta Park vs Manunda Parramatta Park vs Westcourt Parramatta Park vs Bungalow Parramatta Park vs Portsmith
Full data on Cairns City Full data on Parramatta Park
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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