Edmonton vs Portsmith

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Edmonton, about half of households are couple families. In Portsmith, most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Portsmith: a median of $690,000, against $236,000 in Edmonton, though rent is higher in Edmonton. On these figures, Edmonton tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Portsmith suits young adults, people living alone, and share households.

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

Edmonton

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Edmonton

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($236,000 vs $690,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 54%)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Edmonton leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 37%)
  • Portsmith has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Edmonton

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 6/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (1156 min vs 1169 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1686.1 km vs 1697.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Edmonton

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 6/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (88/100 vs 99/100)
  • But Portsmith has more units and townhouses to downsize into (43% vs 10%)

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

Investors

Portsmith

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.8% vs 6.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Edmonton Portsmith
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.

Edmonton Portsmith
Walkability 76 / 6
Edmonton — Walkability: 76/100 Portsmith — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 12 / 1
Edmonton — Safety: 12/100 Portsmith — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Edmonton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Portsmith — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Edmonton has more residents (11,409 vs 314); Edmonton has higher household incomes ($85,436 vs $38,948).

Edmonton Portsmith
Population 11,409
+97% vs other
 314
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% +20.8%
Median age 33 35
Median household income $85,436/yr
+54% vs other
 $38,948/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+20% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Edmonton Portsmith
0-4 7.6% / 2.9%
Edmonton — 0-4: 7.6% Portsmith — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 16.6% / 9.6%
Edmonton — 5-14: 16.6% Portsmith — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 7.0% / 8.9%
Edmonton — 15-19: 7.0% Portsmith — 15-19: 8.9%
20-24 6.1% / 16.6%
Edmonton — 20-24: 6.1% Portsmith — 20-24: 16.6%
25-34 14.5% / 14.3%
Edmonton — 25-34: 14.5% Portsmith — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 13.3% / 9.9%
Edmonton — 35-44: 13.3% Portsmith — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 13.6% / 15.6%
Edmonton — 45-54: 13.6% Portsmith — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 9.8% / 12.7%
Edmonton — 55-64: 9.8% Portsmith — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 7.2% / 8.6%
Edmonton — 65-74: 7.2% Portsmith — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 3.3% / 4.1%
Edmonton — 75-84: 3.3% Portsmith — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.2% / 1.6%
Edmonton — 85+: 1.2% Portsmith — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Edmonton 26.8% lone person
Edmonton — Lone Person: 26.8% Edmonton — Couple Families: 45.8% Edmonton — Group Household: 4.1% Edmonton — One Parent Families: 21.8% Edmonton — Other Families: 1.5%
Portsmith 69.2% lone person
Portsmith — Lone Person: 69.2% Portsmith — Couple Families: 11.5% Portsmith — Group Household: 19.2% Portsmith — One Parent Families: 0.0% Portsmith — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Edmonton 33.0% renting
Edmonton — Owned Outright: 22.9% Edmonton — Mortgage: 44.2% Edmonton — Renting: 33.0%
Portsmith 40.0% renting
Portsmith — Owned Outright: 51.4% Portsmith — Mortgage: 8.6% Portsmith — Renting: 40.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Edmonton Portsmith
Certificate III & IV 18.9% / 8.9%
Edmonton — Certificate III & IV: 18.9% Portsmith — Certificate III & IV: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 4.1%
Edmonton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Portsmith — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.1%
Bachelor Degree 5.7% / 4.1%
Edmonton — Bachelor Degree: 5.7% Portsmith — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 1.6%
Edmonton — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Portsmith — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / —
Edmonton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Portsmith — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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.

Edmonton Portsmith
England 1.9% / 2.2%
Edmonton — England: 1.9% Portsmith — England: 2.2%
New Zealand 2.2% / 1.0%
Edmonton — New Zealand: 2.2% Portsmith — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 1.2% / 1.9%
Edmonton — Philippines: 1.2% Portsmith — Philippines: 1.9%
China — / 1.9%
Edmonton — China: not among its largest Portsmith — China: 1.9%
Scotland — / 1.0%
Edmonton — Scotland: not among its largest Portsmith — Scotland: 1.0%
Thailand 0.6% / —
Edmonton — Thailand: 0.6% Portsmith — Thailand: not among its largest
India 0.6% / —
Edmonton — India: 0.6% Portsmith — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Edmonton 90.1% houses
Edmonton — Houses: 90.1% Edmonton — Flats / Apartments: 8.1% Edmonton — Townhouses: 1.8%
Portsmith 57.1% houses
Portsmith — Houses: 57.1% Portsmith — Flats / Apartments: 42.9% Portsmith — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Edmonton Portsmith
Median house price $712,500 —
Median unit price $236,000 $690,000
Median land price $542,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 90 sales
 —

Development activity

Edmonton Portsmith
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.

Edmonton Portsmith
Houses 4.7%
$700/wk on $772K
 —
Units 9.9%
$450/wk on $238K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Edmonton Portsmith
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 59% of QLD Higher than 4% of QLD
Schools Higher than 8% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 69% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 54% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 99% of QLD —

Liveability

Edmonton is more walkable (76 vs 6).

Edmonton Portsmith
Grade D —
Score 33/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Portsmith carries more crime risk (99 vs 88).

Edmonton Portsmith
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 High
99/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
48/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Edmonton Portsmith
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Edmonton

  • Hambledon State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Isabella State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Holy Spirit College - Edmonton Campus Catholic · Secondary
  • Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre - Edmonton Campus Independent · Primary · Special school
  • QCHS - Cairns Campus Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Portsmith

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

Amenities in the suburb

Edmonton Portsmith
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 6 2
Parks & reserves 15 0
Childcare 7 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 3
Waterways 18 2

Mobility

Portsmith sits further from the CBD (1697.2 km vs 1686.1 km).

Edmonton Portsmith
Walkability score 76/100 6/100
Distance to Brisbane 1686.1 km 1697.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1156 min 1169 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 61.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 28 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 4869
 0.7%
postcode 4870
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 4869
 45
postcode 4870

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.

Edmonton Portsmith
Car (driver) 78.8% / 42.4%
Edmonton — Car (driver): 78.8% Portsmith — Car (driver): 42.4%
Walked Only 1.0% / 33.3%
Edmonton — Walked Only: 1.0% Portsmith — Walked Only: 33.3%
Worked from Home 10.6% / 12.1%
Edmonton — Worked from Home: 10.6% Portsmith — Worked from Home: 12.1%
Car (passenger) 7.3% / 12.1%
Edmonton — Car (passenger): 7.3% Portsmith — Car (passenger): 12.1%
Bus 1.7% / —
Edmonton — Bus: 1.7% Portsmith — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.8%).

Setting

Edmonton Portsmith
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.0 km 1.2 km

NBN connectivity

Edmonton Portsmith
Connectivity score 73/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
4,773 premises
 93%
956 premises

Climate

Edmonton Portsmith
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)

Edmonton Portsmith
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Edmonton Portsmith
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Edmonton Portsmith
Division Kennedy
same for both
Member Bob Katter
same for both
Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Edmonton Portsmith
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Edmonton

Family Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre

Portsmith

Coastal Multicultural Rural Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Edmonton

Edmonton vs Mount Sheridan Edmonton vs Bentley Park Edmonton vs White Rock Edmonton vs Mount Peter Edmonton vs Wrights Creek

Other comparisons with Portsmith

Portsmith vs Woree Portsmith vs White Rock Portsmith vs Parramatta Park Portsmith vs Cairns City Portsmith vs Bungalow Portsmith vs East Trinity
Full data on Edmonton Full data on Portsmith
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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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