Clifton Beach vs Palm Cove

Clifton Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 53 in Palm Cove. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Palm Cove, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Palm Cove: a median of $1.21 million, against $965,000 in Clifton Beach. On these figures, Clifton Beach tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Palm Cove suits 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

Clifton Beach

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 75/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (55% vs 45%)

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

First-home buyers

Clifton Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($965,000 vs $1,205,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Clifton Beach

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (46/100 vs 33/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (1191 min vs 1196 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1719.5 km vs 1723.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Clifton Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (46/100 vs 33/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 75/100)
  • But Palm Cove has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 22%)

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

Investors

Palm Cove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (19.0% vs 1.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Clifton Beach and Palm Cove 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 Palm Cove
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 Palm Cove
Walkability 46 / 33
Clifton Beach — Walkability: 46/100 Palm Cove — Walkability: 33/100
Safety 41 / 25
Clifton Beach — Safety: 41/100 Palm Cove — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 61
Clifton Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Palm Cove — Low fire risk: 61/100

Demographics

Clifton Beach has more residents (3,192 vs 2,450); Palm Cove skews older (53 vs 48).

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Population 3,192
+23% vs other
 2,450
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.5% +19.0%
Median age 48 53
Median household income $76,960/yr $79,404/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $365/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
0-4 3.5% / 2.5%
Clifton Beach — 0-4: 3.5% Palm Cove — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 11.7% / 8.6%
Clifton Beach — 5-14: 11.7% Palm Cove — 5-14: 8.6%
15-19 5.8% / 3.8%
Clifton Beach — 15-19: 5.8% Palm Cove — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 4.0% / 2.9%
Clifton Beach — 20-24: 4.0% Palm Cove — 20-24: 2.9%
25-34 8.6% / 7.3%
Clifton Beach — 25-34: 8.6% Palm Cove — 25-34: 7.3%
35-44 11.3% / 10.9%
Clifton Beach — 35-44: 11.3% Palm Cove — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 16.2% / 16.7%
Clifton Beach — 45-54: 16.2% Palm Cove — 45-54: 16.7%
55-64 17.5% / 20.2%
Clifton Beach — 55-64: 17.5% Palm Cove — 55-64: 20.2%
65-74 14.0% / 19.3%
Clifton Beach — 65-74: 14.0% Palm Cove — 65-74: 19.3%
75-84 6.6% / 7.5%
Clifton Beach — 75-84: 6.6% Palm Cove — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 1.1% / 0.9%
Clifton Beach — 85+: 1.1% Palm Cove — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clifton Beach 39.3% lone person
Clifton Beach — Lone Person: 39.3% Clifton Beach — Couple Families: 36.0% Clifton Beach — One Parent Families: 18.9% Clifton Beach — Group Household: 4.9% Clifton Beach — Other Families: 0.9%
Palm Cove 49.6% lone person
Palm Cove — Lone Person: 49.6% Palm Cove — Couple Families: 33.3% Palm Cove — One Parent Families: 11.3% Palm Cove — Group Household: 3.9% Palm Cove — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Palm Cove 31.1% renting
Palm Cove — Owned Outright: 41.2% Palm Cove — Mortgage: 27.7% Palm Cove — Renting: 31.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Palm Cove
England 8.3% / 12.1%
Clifton Beach — England: 8.3% Palm Cove — England: 12.1%
New Zealand 3.7% / 4.0%
Clifton Beach — New Zealand: 3.7% Palm Cove — New Zealand: 4.0%
Germany 1.9% / 1.5%
Clifton Beach — Germany: 1.9% Palm Cove — Germany: 1.5%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.0%
Clifton Beach — South Africa: 1.2% Palm Cove — South Africa: 1.0%
Scotland 1.0% / 1.2%
Clifton Beach — Scotland: 1.0% Palm Cove — Scotland: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.1%).

Qualifications

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

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Certificate III & IV 16.1% / 15.1%
Clifton Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.1% Palm Cove — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 12.7%
Clifton Beach — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Palm Cove — Bachelor Degree: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 10.9%
Clifton Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Palm Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.9%
Postgraduate Degree 6.0% / 5.8%
Clifton Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0% Palm Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.5%
Clifton Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Palm Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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%
Palm Cove 65.8% houses
Palm Cove — Houses: 65.8% Palm Cove — Flats / Apartments: 22.3% Palm Cove — Townhouses: 11.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Median house price $965,000 $1,205,000
Median unit price $500,000 $455,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 56 sales
 40 days
from 34 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 Palm Cove
3 bed $906K / $1.24M
Clifton Beach — 3 bed: $906K (28 sales) Palm Cove — 3 bed: $1.24M (26 sales)

28 vs 26 sales

4 bed $958K / $1.2M
Clifton Beach — 4 bed: $958K (50 sales) Palm Cove — 4 bed: $1.2M (32 sales)

50 vs 32 sales

5 bed $1.14M / $1.46M
Clifton Beach — 5 bed: $1.14M (11 sales) Palm Cove — 5 bed: $1.46M (5 sales)

11 vs 5 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 Palm Cove
1 bed $450K / $395K
Clifton Beach — 1 bed: $450K (9 sales) Palm Cove — 1 bed: $395K (24 sales)

9 vs 24 sales

2 bed $498K / $535K
Clifton Beach — 2 bed: $498K (40 sales) Palm Cove — 2 bed: $535K (40 sales)

40 vs 40 sales

3 bed $550K / $790K
Clifton Beach — 3 bed: $550K (10 sales) Palm Cove — 3 bed: $790K (10 sales)

10 vs 10 sales

Development activity

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
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 Palm Cove
Houses 4.8%
$890/wk on $960K
 4.4%
$1,000/wk on $1.19M
Units 6.0%
$630/wk on $547K
 6.3%
$600/wk on $495K

Ranking within QLD

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 48% of QLD Higher than 50% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 83% 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 72% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD

Liveability

Clifton Beach scores higher overall (56 vs 35); Clifton Beach is more walkable (46 vs 33).

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Grade B C
Score 56/100 35/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Palm Cove carries more bushfire risk (39 vs 0); Palm Cove carries more crime risk (75 vs 59).

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
39/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 High
75/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
57/100
 Low
18/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
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, 9.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 0.8%

Amenities in the suburb

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 25
Parks & reserves 4
same for both
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 11 7

Mobility

Palm Cove sits further from the CBD (1723.2 km vs 1719.5 km).

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Walkability score 46/100 33/100
Distance to Brisbane 1719.5 km 1723.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1191 min 1196 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 71/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 22.2
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 Palm Cove
Car (driver) 71.1% / 62.7%
Clifton Beach — Car (driver): 71.1% Palm Cove — Car (driver): 62.7%
Worked from Home 18.8% / 22.9%
Clifton Beach — Worked from Home: 18.8% Palm Cove — Worked from Home: 22.9%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.9%
Clifton Beach — Car (passenger): 4.7% Palm Cove — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Walked Only 2.1% / 6.8%
Clifton Beach — Walked Only: 2.1% Palm Cove — Walked Only: 6.8%
Bus 1.9% / 2.1%
Clifton Beach — Bus: 1.9% Palm Cove — Bus: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.1%).

Setting

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 731 m
1.6 km to a named beach
 122 m
948 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
Connectivity score 69/100 60/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
1,813 premises
 27%
2,092 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Clifton Beach Palm Cove
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

Palm Cove

Affordable Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Retirees River

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Clifton Beach vs Kewarra Beach Clifton Beach vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Palm Cove

Palm Cove vs Coral Sea
Full data on Clifton Beach Full data on Palm Cove
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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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