Cairns North vs Whitfield

Cairns North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 45 in Whitfield. In Cairns North, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Whitfield, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Whitfield: a median of $862,000, against $750,000 in Cairns North. On these figures, Cairns North tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Whitfield suits older residents.

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

Whitfield

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (79% vs 14%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (51% vs 29%)
  • carries lower crime risk (78/100 vs 97/100)
  • 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

Cairns North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($432,500 vs $520,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($750,000 vs $861,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cairns North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (65% vs 31%)

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 38/100)

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 21%)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 38/100)
  • But Whitfield has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 13%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Cairns North 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.

Cairns North 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.

Cairns North Whitfield
Walkability 82 / 38
Cairns North — Walkability: 82/100 Whitfield — Walkability: 38/100
Safety 3 / 22
Cairns North — Safety: 3/100 Whitfield — Safety: 22/100
Low fire risk 100 / 46
Cairns North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Whitfield — Low fire risk: 46/100

Demographics

Cairns North has more residents (5,334 vs 4,262); Whitfield skews older (45 vs 37).

Cairns North Whitfield
Population 5,334
+20% vs other
 4,262
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% -0.3%
Median age 37 45
Median household income $72,904/yr $87,412/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cairns North Whitfield
0-4 3.9% / 3.6%
Cairns North — 0-4: 3.9% Whitfield — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 7.6% / 13.0%
Cairns North — 5-14: 7.6% Whitfield — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 4.0% / 5.7%
Cairns North — 15-19: 4.0% Whitfield — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 8.5% / 3.3%
Cairns North — 20-24: 8.5% Whitfield — 20-24: 3.3%
25-34 21.9% / 11.6%
Cairns North — 25-34: 21.9% Whitfield — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 16.2% / 12.1%
Cairns North — 35-44: 16.2% Whitfield — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 13.1% / 16.3%
Cairns North — 45-54: 13.1% Whitfield — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 12.2% / 13.0%
Cairns North — 55-64: 12.2% Whitfield — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 8.6% / 10.4%
Cairns North — 65-74: 8.6% Whitfield — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 3.1% / 6.7%
Cairns North — 75-84: 3.1% Whitfield — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 0.9% / 4.1%
Cairns North — 85+: 0.9% Whitfield — 85+: 4.1%

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%
Whitfield 42.0% lone person
Whitfield — Lone Person: 42.0% Whitfield — Couple Families: 34.2% Whitfield — One Parent Families: 16.9% Whitfield — Group Household: 6.1% Whitfield — Other Families: 0.7%
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%
Whitfield 31.0% renting
Whitfield — Owned Outright: 33.9% Whitfield — Mortgage: 35.2% Whitfield — Renting: 31.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cairns North Whitfield
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 16.3%
Cairns North — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Whitfield — Bachelor Degree: 16.3%
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 14.6%
Cairns North — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% Whitfield — Certificate III & IV: 14.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.5%
Cairns North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Whitfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.6% / 5.5%
Cairns North — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6% Whitfield — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.1%
Cairns North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Whitfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

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

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 Whitfield
England 3.7% / 4.5%
Cairns North — England: 3.7% Whitfield — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 2.9% / 2.6%
Cairns North — New Zealand: 2.9% Whitfield — New Zealand: 2.6%
India 3.6% / 1.0%
Cairns North — India: 3.6% Whitfield — India: 1.0%
Philippines 1.8% / 1.1%
Cairns North — Philippines: 1.8% Whitfield — Philippines: 1.1%
Japan 1.4% / 1.3%
Cairns North — Japan: 1.4% Whitfield — Japan: 1.3%
China 1.4% / —
Cairns North — China: 1.4% Whitfield — China: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cairns North 14.2% houses
Cairns North — Houses: 14.2% Cairns North — Flats / Apartments: 81.4% Cairns North — Townhouses: 4.4%
Whitfield 78.9% houses
Whitfield — Houses: 78.9% Whitfield — Flats / Apartments: 1.9% Whitfield — Townhouses: 19.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cairns North Whitfield
Median house price $750,000 $861,500
Median unit price $432,500 $520,000
Median land price — $517,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 17 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.

Cairns North Whitfield
2 bed $720K / $562K
Cairns North — 2 bed: $720K (12 sales) Whitfield — 2 bed: $562K (8 sales)

12 vs 8 sales

3 bed $735K / $800K
Cairns North — 3 bed: $735K (10 sales) Whitfield — 3 bed: $800K (19 sales)

10 vs 19 sales

Development activity

Cairns North 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.

Cairns North Whitfield
Houses 3.6%
$650/wk on $949K
 3.9%
$660/wk on $880K
Units 6.4%
$575/wk on $470K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Cairns North Whitfield
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 84% 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 96% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of QLD Higher than 48% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 93% of QLD —

Liveability

Cairns North is more walkable (82 vs 38).

Cairns North Whitfield
Grade C
same for both
Score 39/100 35/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Whitfield carries more bushfire risk (54 vs 0); Cairns North carries more crime risk (97 vs 78).

Cairns North Whitfield
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
54/100
Crime High
97/100
 High
78/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Cairns North Whitfield
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 9.1 km

Schools in Cairns North

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

Schools in Whitfield

  • Whitfield State School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cairns North Whitfield
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 14 1
Parks & reserves 8 9
Childcare 3 2
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Cairns North Whitfield
Walkability score 82/100 38/100
Distance to Brisbane 1700.9 km 1701.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1174 min 1177 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 57/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 132.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.0
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 Whitfield
Car (driver) 58.4% / 70.6%
Cairns North — Car (driver): 58.4% Whitfield — Car (driver): 70.6%
Worked from Home 13.9% / 18.7%
Cairns North — Worked from Home: 13.9% Whitfield — Worked from Home: 18.7%
Walked Only 13.1% / 1.2%
Cairns North — Walked Only: 13.1% Whitfield — Walked Only: 1.2%
Car (passenger) 7.7% / 5.8%
Cairns North — Car (passenger): 7.7% Whitfield — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Bicycle 4.0% / 2.7%
Cairns North — Bicycle: 4.0% Whitfield — Bicycle: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.6%).

Setting

Cairns North Whitfield
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 203 m 3.1 km

NBN connectivity

Cairns North Whitfield
Connectivity score 87/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 62%
3,866 premises
 82%
2,116 premises

Climate

Cairns North 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)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Cairns North Whitfield
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

Whitfield

Parks Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cairns North

Cairns North vs Manunda Cairns North vs Edge Hill Cairns North vs Parramatta Park Cairns North vs Cairns City Cairns North vs Aeroglen Cairns North vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Whitfield

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