Clifton Beach vs Kewarra Beach

Kewarra Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 48 in Clifton Beach. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Kewarra Beach, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Clifton Beach: a median of $965,000, against $870,000 in Kewarra Beach, though rent is higher in Kewarra Beach. On these figures, Clifton Beach tends to suit people living alone.

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

Kewarra Beach

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 59/100)

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

First-home buyers

Kewarra Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper houses ($870,000 vs $965,000)
  • But Clifton Beach has cheaper units ($500,000 vs $620,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Clifton Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $425/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kewarra Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 46/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1717.3 km vs 1719.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kewarra Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 59/100)
  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 46/100)
  • But Clifton Beach has more units and townhouses to downsize into (33% vs 8%)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Clifton Beach returns a higher gross yield on units (6.0% vs 5.3%)
  • Kewarra Beach is growing faster (8.5% vs 1.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
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.

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Walkability 46 / 64
Clifton Beach — Walkability: 46/100 Kewarra Beach — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 41 / 66
Clifton Beach — Safety: 41/100 Kewarra Beach — Safety: 66/100
Low fire risk 100 / 63
Clifton Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kewarra Beach — Low fire risk: 63/100

Demographics

Kewarra Beach has more residents (6,133 vs 3,192); Kewarra Beach has higher household incomes ($90,896 vs $76,960).

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Population 3,192 6,133
+92% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.5% +8.5%
Median age 48 43
Median household income $76,960/yr $90,896/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $365/wk $425/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
0-4 3.5% / 5.3%
Clifton Beach — 0-4: 3.5% Kewarra Beach — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 11.7% / 12.9%
Clifton Beach — 5-14: 11.7% Kewarra Beach — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 5.8% / 5.3%
Clifton Beach — 15-19: 5.8% Kewarra Beach — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.0% / 3.6%
Clifton Beach — 20-24: 4.0% Kewarra Beach — 20-24: 3.6%
25-34 8.6% / 10.7%
Clifton Beach — 25-34: 8.6% Kewarra Beach — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 11.3% / 14.0%
Clifton Beach — 35-44: 11.3% Kewarra Beach — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 16.2% / 15.2%
Clifton Beach — 45-54: 16.2% Kewarra Beach — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 17.5% / 15.0%
Clifton Beach — 55-64: 17.5% Kewarra Beach — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 14.0% / 11.3%
Clifton Beach — 65-74: 14.0% Kewarra Beach — 65-74: 11.3%
75-84 6.6% / 5.3%
Clifton Beach — 75-84: 6.6% Kewarra Beach — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 1.1% / 1.6%
Clifton Beach — 85+: 1.1% Kewarra Beach — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clifton Beach 36.0% couple families
Clifton Beach — Couple Families: 36.0% Clifton Beach — Lone Person: 39.3% Clifton Beach — One Parent Families: 18.9% Clifton Beach — Group Household: 4.9% Clifton Beach — Other Families: 0.9%
Kewarra Beach 45.0% couple families
Kewarra Beach — Couple Families: 45.0% Kewarra Beach — Lone Person: 29.2% Kewarra Beach — One Parent Families: 18.1% Kewarra Beach — Group Household: 6.3% Kewarra Beach — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Beach 35.5% renting
Clifton Beach — Owned Outright: 35.0% Clifton Beach — Mortgage: 29.4% Clifton Beach — Renting: 35.5%
Kewarra Beach 24.1% renting
Kewarra Beach — Owned Outright: 32.2% Kewarra Beach — Mortgage: 43.7% Kewarra Beach — Renting: 24.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Certificate III & IV 16.1% / 18.0%
Clifton Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.1% Kewarra Beach — Certificate III & IV: 18.0%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 11.7%
Clifton Beach — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Kewarra Beach — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.7%
Clifton Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Kewarra Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.0% / 3.6%
Clifton Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0% Kewarra Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.5%
Clifton Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Kewarra Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

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.

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
England 8.3% / 9.0%
Clifton Beach — England: 8.3% Kewarra Beach — England: 9.0%
New Zealand 3.7% / 3.4%
Clifton Beach — New Zealand: 3.7% Kewarra Beach — New Zealand: 3.4%
Germany 1.9% / 1.4%
Clifton Beach — Germany: 1.9% Kewarra Beach — Germany: 1.4%
South Africa 1.2% / 0.7%
Clifton Beach — South Africa: 1.2% Kewarra Beach — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.8%
Clifton Beach — Scotland: 1.0% Kewarra Beach — Scotland: 0.8%
Japan 0.7% / 0.8%
Clifton Beach — Japan: 0.7% Kewarra Beach — Japan: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Beach 66.8% houses
Clifton Beach — Houses: 66.8% Clifton Beach — Flats / Apartments: 29.1% Clifton Beach — Townhouses: 4.1%
Kewarra Beach 92.1% houses
Kewarra Beach — Houses: 92.1% Kewarra Beach — Flats / Apartments: 5.4% Kewarra Beach — Townhouses: 2.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Median house price $965,000 $870,000
Median unit price $500,000 $620,000
Median land price — $550,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 56 sales
 33 days
from 112 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.

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
2 bed $498K / $570K
Clifton Beach — 2 bed: $498K (40 sales) Kewarra Beach — 2 bed: $570K (11 sales)

40 vs 11 sales

3 bed $550K / $738K
Clifton Beach — 3 bed: $550K (10 sales) Kewarra Beach — 3 bed: $738K (8 sales)

10 vs 8 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.

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
3 bed $906K / $780K
Clifton Beach — 3 bed: $906K (28 sales) Kewarra Beach — 3 bed: $780K (73 sales)

28 vs 73 sales

4 bed $958K / $925K
Clifton Beach — 4 bed: $958K (50 sales) Kewarra Beach — 4 bed: $925K (97 sales)

50 vs 97 sales

5 bed $1.14M / $1.03M
Clifton Beach — 5 bed: $1.14M (11 sales) Kewarra Beach — 5 bed: $1.03M (18 sales)

11 vs 18 sales

Development activity

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
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.

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Houses 4.8%
$890/wk on $960K
 4.4%
$745/wk on $880K
Units 6.0%
$630/wk on $547K
 5.3%
$710/wk on $700K

Ranking within QLD

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 48% of QLD —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 81% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 73% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD

Liveability

Kewarra Beach is more walkable (64 vs 46).

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 53/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kewarra Beach carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0); Clifton Beach carries more crime risk (59 vs 34).

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
37/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Low
34/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
47/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 6.6 km
 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 4.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 0.8%

Schools in Clifton Beach

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Kewarra Beach

  • Northern Beaches Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary
  • Trinity Anglican School - Marlin Coast Campus Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 4 1
Parks & reserves 4 10
Childcare 1 3
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 11 7

Mobility

Clifton Beach sits further from the CBD (1719.5 km vs 1717.3 km).

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Walkability score 46/100 64/100
Distance to Brisbane 1719.5 km 1717.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1191 min 1190 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 73/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 24.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 4879
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 4879
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.

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Car (driver) 71.1% / 74.3%
Clifton Beach — Car (driver): 71.1% Kewarra Beach — Car (driver): 74.3%
Worked from Home 18.8% / 17.4%
Clifton Beach — Worked from Home: 18.8% Kewarra Beach — Worked from Home: 17.4%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 5.6%
Clifton Beach — Car (passenger): 4.7% Kewarra Beach — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Bus 1.9% / 1.3%
Clifton Beach — Bus: 1.9% Kewarra Beach — Bus: 1.3%
Walked Only 2.1% / 1.0%
Clifton Beach — Walked Only: 2.1% Kewarra Beach — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.3%).

Setting

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 731 m
1.6 km to a named beach
 1.3 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Connectivity score 69/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
1,813 premises
 48%
2,737 premises

Climate

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
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)

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Division Leichhardt
same for both
Member Matt Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Clifton Beach Kewarra Beach
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Clifton Beach

Coastal Parks River

Kewarra Beach

Coastal Large Blocks Parks River

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Kewarra Beach

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Full data on Clifton Beach Full data on Kewarra Beach
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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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