Cairns North vs Edge Hill

Cairns North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Edge Hill. In Cairns North, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Edge Hill, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Edge Hill: a median of $880,000, against $750,000 in Cairns North, though rent is higher in Cairns North. On these figures, Cairns North tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Edge Hill suits families with children.

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

Edge Hill

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (70% vs 14%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (50% vs 29%)
  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 8)
  • But Cairns North 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

They split

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

  • Cairns North has cheaper houses ($750,000 vs $880,000)
  • Edge Hill has cheaper units ($340,000 vs $432,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Edge Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $340/wk)
  • But Cairns North has a bigger rental market to choose from (65% vs 37%)

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

Commuting to the city

Cairns North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 66/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cairns North

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (86% vs 30%)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 66/100)
  • But Edge Hill carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 97/100)

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

Investors

Edge Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (7.4% vs 6.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Cairns North and Edge Hill 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 North Edge Hill
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 North Edge Hill
Walkability 82 / 66
Cairns North — Walkability: 82/100 Edge Hill — Walkability: 66/100
Safety 3 / 27
Cairns North — Safety: 3/100 Edge Hill — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 62
Cairns North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Edge Hill — Low fire risk: 62/100

Demographics

Cairns North has more residents (5,334 vs 4,088); Edge Hill has higher household incomes ($87,048 vs $72,904).

Cairns North Edge Hill
Population 5,334
+23% vs other
 4,088
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% +4.4%
Median age 37 42
Median household income $72,904/yr $87,048/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk
+9% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cairns North Edge Hill
0-4 3.9% / 4.4%
Cairns North — 0-4: 3.9% Edge Hill — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 7.6% / 14.3%
Cairns North — 5-14: 7.6% Edge Hill — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 4.0% / 5.8%
Cairns North — 15-19: 4.0% Edge Hill — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 8.5% / 4.0%
Cairns North — 20-24: 8.5% Edge Hill — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 21.9% / 11.6%
Cairns North — 25-34: 21.9% Edge Hill — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 16.2% / 13.8%
Cairns North — 35-44: 16.2% Edge Hill — 35-44: 13.8%
45-54 13.1% / 15.3%
Cairns North — 45-54: 13.1% Edge Hill — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 12.2% / 13.7%
Cairns North — 55-64: 12.2% Edge Hill — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 8.6% / 11.1%
Cairns North — 65-74: 8.6% Edge Hill — 65-74: 11.1%
75-84 3.1% / 4.6%
Cairns North — 75-84: 3.1% Edge Hill — 75-84: 4.6%
85+ 0.9% / 1.4%
Cairns North — 85+: 0.9% Edge Hill — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cairns North 57.7% lone person
Cairns North — Lone Person: 57.7% Cairns North — Couple Families: 15.8% Cairns North — One Parent Families: 13.1% Cairns North — Group Household: 11.6% Cairns North — Other Families: 1.8%
Edge Hill 41.9% lone person
Edge Hill — Lone Person: 41.9% Edge Hill — Couple Families: 31.3% Edge Hill — One Parent Families: 18.4% Edge Hill — Group Household: 6.8% Edge Hill — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cairns North 65.3% renting
Cairns North — Owned Outright: 16.5% Cairns North — Mortgage: 18.3% Cairns North — Renting: 65.3%
Edge Hill 36.8% renting
Edge Hill — Owned Outright: 32.4% Edge Hill — Mortgage: 30.8% Edge Hill — Renting: 36.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cairns North Edge Hill
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 15.9%
Cairns North — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Edge Hill — Bachelor Degree: 15.9%
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 13.9%
Cairns North — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% Edge Hill — Certificate III & IV: 13.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.5%
Cairns North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Edge Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.6% / 6.3%
Cairns North — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6% Edge Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.1%
Cairns North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Edge Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

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 North Edge Hill
England 3.7% / 4.9%
Cairns North — England: 3.7% Edge Hill — England: 4.9%
New Zealand 2.9% / 3.3%
Cairns North — New Zealand: 2.9% Edge Hill — New Zealand: 3.3%
India 3.6% / 0.8%
Cairns North — India: 3.6% Edge Hill — India: 0.8%
Philippines 1.8% / 1.5%
Cairns North — Philippines: 1.8% Edge Hill — Philippines: 1.5%
Japan 1.4% / 1.6%
Cairns North — Japan: 1.4% Edge Hill — Japan: 1.6%
China 1.4% / 0.7%
Cairns North — China: 1.4% Edge Hill — China: 0.7%
Germany 0.9% / 0.8%
Cairns North — Germany: 0.9% Edge Hill — Germany: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cairns North 81.4% flats / apartments
Cairns North — Flats / Apartments: 81.4% Cairns North — Houses: 14.2% Cairns North — Townhouses: 4.4%
Edge Hill 24.0% flats / apartments
Edge Hill — Flats / Apartments: 24.0% Edge Hill — Houses: 69.8% Edge Hill — Townhouses: 6.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Cairns North Edge Hill
Median house price $750,000 $880,000
Median unit price $432,500 $340,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 17 sales
 22 days
from 38 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 North Edge Hill
1 bed $344K / $298K
Cairns North — 1 bed: $344K (58 sales) Edge Hill — 1 bed: $298K (9 sales)

58 vs 9 sales

2 bed $452K / $370K
Cairns North — 2 bed: $452K (130 sales) Edge Hill — 2 bed: $370K (17 sales)

130 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Cairns North Edge Hill
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 North Edge Hill
Houses 3.6%
$650/wk on $949K
 4.4%
$810/wk on $949K
Units 6.4%
$575/wk on $470K
 7.4%
$550/wk on $389K

Ranking within QLD

Cairns North Edge Hill
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of QLD Higher than 74% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD

Liveability

Cairns North is more walkable (82 vs 66).

Cairns North Edge Hill
Grade C
same for both
Score 39/100 41/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Edge Hill carries more bushfire risk (38 vs 0); Cairns North carries more crime risk (97 vs 73).

Cairns North Edge Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
38/100
Crime High
97/100
 High
73/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
35/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Cairns North

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

Schools in Edge Hill

  • Edge Hill State School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cairns North Edge Hill
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 14 10
Parks & reserves 8 13
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 4 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Cairns North Edge Hill
Walkability score 82/100 66/100
Distance to Brisbane 1700.9 km 1700 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1174 min 1173 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 67/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 132.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 19.0
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 North Edge Hill
Car (driver) 58.4% / 69.2%
Cairns North — Car (driver): 58.4% Edge Hill — Car (driver): 69.2%
Worked from Home 13.9% / 18.1%
Cairns North — Worked from Home: 13.9% Edge Hill — Worked from Home: 18.1%
Walked Only 13.1% / 2.7%
Cairns North — Walked Only: 13.1% Edge Hill — Walked Only: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 7.7% / 5.3%
Cairns North — Car (passenger): 7.7% Edge Hill — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Bicycle 4.0% / 3.4%
Cairns North — Bicycle: 4.0% Edge Hill — Bicycle: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.2%).

Setting

Cairns North Edge Hill
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 203 m 2.2 km

NBN connectivity

Cairns North Edge Hill
Connectivity score 87/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 62%
3,866 premises
 97%
2,043 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Cairns North

Affordable Apartments Coastal Multicultural Parks

Edge Hill

Coastal Parks Professionals Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cairns North

Cairns North vs Manunda Cairns North vs Whitfield Cairns North vs Parramatta Park Cairns North vs Cairns City Cairns North vs Aeroglen Cairns North vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Edge Hill

Edge Hill vs Manoora Edge Hill vs Manunda Edge Hill vs Whitfield
Full data on Cairns North Full data on Edge Hill
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