Smithfield vs Trinity Beach

Smithfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 42 in Trinity Beach. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Smithfield, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Trinity Beach: a median of $890,000, against $815,000 in Smithfield, though rent is higher in Smithfield. On these figures, Trinity 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Smithfield has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • Trinity Beach has more parks and reserves (16 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

Smithfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($468,000 vs $525,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Trinity Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Smithfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (1188 min vs 1193 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1713.8 km vs 1717.4 km)
  • But Trinity Beach is more walkable (67/100 vs 59/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Trinity Beach

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 9%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 12%)
  • carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Smithfield has more GPs (4 vs 1)

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

Investors

Smithfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (25.7% vs 20.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.8% vs 5.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Smithfield and Trinity 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.

Smithfield Trinity 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.

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Walkability 59 / 67
Smithfield — Walkability: 59/100 Trinity Beach — Walkability: 67/100
Safety 19 / 38
Smithfield — Safety: 19/100 Trinity Beach — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 76 / 63
Smithfield — Low fire risk: 76/100 Trinity Beach — Low fire risk: 63/100

Demographics

Trinity Beach skews older (42 vs 34); Smithfield rents higher ($420/wk vs $380/wk).

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Population 6,664
+1% vs other
 6,594
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +25.7% +20.2%
Median age 34 42
Median household income $95,680/yr
+9% vs other
 $87,412/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+10% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Smithfield Trinity Beach
0-4 6.5% / 4.9%
Smithfield — 0-4: 6.5% Trinity Beach — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 13.1% / 13.4%
Smithfield — 5-14: 13.1% Trinity Beach — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 8.0% / 4.9%
Smithfield — 15-19: 8.0% Trinity Beach — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 7.9% / 4.7%
Smithfield — 20-24: 7.9% Trinity Beach — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 14.8% / 12.0%
Smithfield — 25-34: 14.8% Trinity Beach — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 14.8% / 13.1%
Smithfield — 35-44: 14.8% Trinity Beach — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 13.1% / 15.3%
Smithfield — 45-54: 13.1% Trinity Beach — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 10.1% / 15.0%
Smithfield — 55-64: 10.1% Trinity Beach — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 7.3% / 11.1%
Smithfield — 65-74: 7.3% Trinity Beach — 65-74: 11.1%
75-84 3.5% / 4.6%
Smithfield — 75-84: 3.5% Trinity Beach — 75-84: 4.6%
85+ 1.0% / 1.1%
Smithfield — 85+: 1.0% Trinity Beach — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Smithfield 46.2% couple families
Smithfield — Couple Families: 46.2% Smithfield — Lone Person: 26.8% Smithfield — One Parent Families: 17.2% Smithfield — Group Household: 8.0% Smithfield — Other Families: 1.8%
Trinity Beach 38.6% couple families
Trinity Beach — Couple Families: 38.6% Trinity Beach — Lone Person: 36.6% Trinity Beach — One Parent Families: 17.1% Trinity Beach — Group Household: 6.7% Trinity Beach — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Smithfield 33.0% renting
Smithfield — Owned Outright: 23.5% Smithfield — Mortgage: 43.5% Smithfield — Renting: 33.0%
Trinity Beach 31.6% renting
Trinity Beach — Owned Outright: 27.6% Trinity Beach — Mortgage: 40.8% Trinity Beach — Renting: 31.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 16.8%
Smithfield — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Trinity Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 12.2% / 12.8%
Smithfield — Bachelor Degree: 12.2% Trinity Beach — Bachelor Degree: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 9.8%
Smithfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Trinity Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 4.1%
Smithfield — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Trinity Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.3%
Smithfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Trinity Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

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.

Smithfield Trinity Beach
England 4.4% / 7.1%
Smithfield — England: 4.4% Trinity Beach — England: 7.1%
New Zealand 2.6% / 4.0%
Smithfield — New Zealand: 2.6% Trinity Beach — New Zealand: 4.0%
India 2.2% / 0.7%
Smithfield — India: 2.2% Trinity Beach — India: 0.7%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.1%
Smithfield — South Africa: 0.8% Trinity Beach — South Africa: 1.1%
Philippines 1.1% / 0.6%
Smithfield — Philippines: 1.1% Trinity Beach — Philippines: 0.6%
Germany 0.7% / 0.9%
Smithfield — Germany: 0.7% Trinity Beach — Germany: 0.9%
China 1.1% / —
Smithfield — China: 1.1% Trinity Beach — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Smithfield 91.0% houses
Smithfield — Houses: 91.0% Smithfield — Flats / Apartments: 6.3% Smithfield — Townhouses: 2.7%
Trinity Beach 68.5% houses
Trinity Beach — Houses: 68.5% Trinity Beach — Flats / Apartments: 18.5% Trinity Beach — Townhouses: 13.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Median house price $815,000 $890,000
Median unit price $468,000 $525,000
Median land price $875,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 92 sales
 26 days
from 95 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.

Smithfield Trinity Beach
2 bed $620K / $708K
Smithfield — 2 bed: $620K (5 sales) Trinity Beach — 2 bed: $708K (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

3 bed $740K / $782K
Smithfield — 3 bed: $740K (64 sales) Trinity Beach — 3 bed: $782K (56 sales)

64 vs 56 sales

4 bed $840K / $935K
Smithfield — 4 bed: $840K (109 sales) Trinity Beach — 4 bed: $935K (81 sales)

109 vs 81 sales

5 bed $960K / $1.5M
Smithfield — 5 bed: $960K (17 sales) Trinity Beach — 5 bed: $1.5M (13 sales)

17 vs 13 sales

Development activity

Smithfield Trinity 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.

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Houses 4.7%
$765/wk on $838K
 4.3%
$795/wk on $954K
Units 6.8%
$650/wk on $500K
 5.6%
$600/wk on $560K

Ranking within QLD

Smithfield Trinity Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 69% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD

Liveability

Trinity Beach is more walkable (67 vs 59).

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Grade C
same for both
Score 41/100 40/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Trinity Beach carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 24); Smithfield carries more crime risk (81 vs 62).

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Bushfire Low
24/100
 Low
37/100
Crime High
81/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
70/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 0.0 km
 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 3.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.1% 1.2%

Schools in Smithfield

  • Newman Catholic College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Tropical North Learning Academy - Smithfield State High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Trinity Beach

  • Tropical North Learning Academy - Trinity Beach State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 5 11
Parks & reserves 10 16
Childcare 4 5
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 4 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 20 5

Mobility

Trinity Beach sits further from the CBD (1717.4 km vs 1713.8 km).

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Walkability score 59/100 67/100
Distance to Brisbane 1713.8 km 1717.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1188 min 1193 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 61.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 42.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4878
 1.0%
postcode 4879
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 4878
 66
postcode 4879

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.

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Car (driver) 74.4% / 70.8%
Smithfield — Car (driver): 74.4% Trinity Beach — Car (driver): 70.8%
Worked from Home 15.3% / 19.4%
Smithfield — Worked from Home: 15.3% Trinity Beach — Worked from Home: 19.4%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 4.6%
Smithfield — Car (passenger): 5.5% Trinity Beach — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 2.1% / 2.5%
Smithfield — Walked Only: 2.1% Trinity Beach — Walked Only: 2.5%
Bus 1.5% / 1.9%
Smithfield — Bus: 1.5% Trinity Beach — Bus: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.4%).

Setting

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.4 km
4.6 km to a named beach
 587 m
818 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Connectivity score 76/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
2,904 premises
 44%
3,372 premises

Climate

Smithfield Trinity 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)

Smithfield Trinity Beach
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Smithfield Trinity Beach
Division Leichhardt
same for both
Member Matt Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Smithfield

Large Blocks

Trinity Beach

Beach Coastal Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Smithfield

Smithfield vs Kewarra Beach Smithfield vs Trinity Park Smithfield vs Yorkeys Knob Smithfield vs Caravonica Smithfield vs Barron

Other comparisons with Trinity Beach

Trinity Beach vs Kewarra Beach Trinity Beach vs Trinity Park Trinity Beach vs Coral Sea
Full data on Smithfield Full data on Trinity 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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