White Rock vs Portsmith

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Portsmith, most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Portsmith: a median of $690,000, against $482,000 in White Rock, though rent is higher in White Rock. On these figures, White Rock tends to suit families with children 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

White Rock

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (57% vs 12%)

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

First-home buyers

White Rock

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 54%)
  • has cheaper units ($482,000 vs $690,000)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • White Rock leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 37%)
  • Portsmith has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $340/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

White Rock

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (25/100 vs 6/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (1164 min vs 1169 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1691.8 km vs 1697.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

White Rock

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (25/100 vs 6/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 99/100)
  • But Portsmith has more units and townhouses to downsize into (43% vs 26%)

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 4.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

White Rock 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.

White Rock 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.

White Rock Portsmith
Walkability 25 / 6
White Rock — Walkability: 25/100 Portsmith — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 71 / 1
White Rock — Safety: 71/100 Portsmith — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
White Rock — Low fire risk: 100/100 Portsmith — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

White Rock has more residents (4,918 vs 314); White Rock has higher household incomes ($72,592 vs $38,948).

White Rock Portsmith
Population 4,918
+94% vs other
 314
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.0% +20.8%
Median age 37 35
Median household income $72,592/yr
+46% vs other
 $38,948/yr
Median weekly rent $340/wk
+18% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

White Rock Portsmith
0-4 7.0% / 2.9%
White Rock — 0-4: 7.0% Portsmith — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 15.0% / 9.6%
White Rock — 5-14: 15.0% Portsmith — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 6.3% / 8.9%
White Rock — 15-19: 6.3% Portsmith — 15-19: 8.9%
20-24 5.7% / 16.6%
White Rock — 20-24: 5.7% Portsmith — 20-24: 16.6%
25-34 13.1% / 14.3%
White Rock — 25-34: 13.1% Portsmith — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 13.1% / 9.9%
White Rock — 35-44: 13.1% Portsmith — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 12.3% / 15.6%
White Rock — 45-54: 12.3% Portsmith — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 10.5% / 12.7%
White Rock — 55-64: 10.5% Portsmith — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 9.9% / 8.6%
White Rock — 65-74: 9.9% Portsmith — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 5.1% / 4.1%
White Rock — 75-84: 5.1% Portsmith — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 2.0% / 1.6%
White Rock — 85+: 2.0% Portsmith — 85+: 1.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

White Rock 35.4% lone person
White Rock — Lone Person: 35.4% White Rock — Couple Families: 33.2% White Rock — Group Household: 5.2% White Rock — One Parent Families: 23.5% White Rock — Other Families: 2.7%
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.

White Rock 38.0% renting
White Rock — Owned Outright: 24.4% White Rock — Mortgage: 37.5% White Rock — Renting: 38.0%
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.

White Rock Portsmith
Certificate III & IV 17.9% / 8.9%
White Rock — Certificate III & IV: 17.9% Portsmith — Certificate III & IV: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 4.1%
White Rock — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Portsmith — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.1%
Bachelor Degree 6.3% / 4.1%
White Rock — Bachelor Degree: 6.3% Portsmith — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 1.6%
White Rock — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Portsmith — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / —
White Rock — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Portsmith — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

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.

White Rock Portsmith
England 2.6% / 2.2%
White Rock — England: 2.6% Portsmith — England: 2.2%
New Zealand 3.1% / 1.0%
White Rock — New Zealand: 3.1% Portsmith — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 1.7% / 1.9%
White Rock — Philippines: 1.7% Portsmith — Philippines: 1.9%
China — / 1.9%
White Rock — China: not among its largest Portsmith — China: 1.9%
Scotland — / 1.0%
White Rock — Scotland: not among its largest Portsmith — Scotland: 1.0%
Japan 0.8% / —
White Rock — Japan: 0.8% Portsmith — Japan: not among its largest
Germany 0.8% / —
White Rock — Germany: 0.8% Portsmith — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

White Rock 74.0% houses
White Rock — Houses: 74.0% White Rock — Flats / Apartments: 12.1% White Rock — Townhouses: 13.9%
Portsmith 57.1% houses
Portsmith — Houses: 57.1% Portsmith — Flats / Apartments: 42.9% Portsmith — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

White Rock Portsmith
Median house price $664,000 —
Median unit price $482,000 $690,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 52 sales
 —

Development activity

White Rock 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.

White Rock Portsmith
Houses 5.2%
$700/wk on $700K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

White Rock Portsmith
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 4% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 69% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 63% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 94% of QLD —

Liveability

White Rock is more walkable (25 vs 6).

White Rock Portsmith
Grade C —
Score 46/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Portsmith carries more crime risk (99 vs 29).

White Rock Portsmith
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
29/100
 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 5
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

White Rock Portsmith
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

Schools in White Rock

  • Trinity Anglican School Independent · Combined at peers
  • White Rock State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Portsmith

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

Amenities in the suburb

White Rock Portsmith
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 7 0
Childcare 6 0
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 15 2

Mobility

Portsmith sits further from the CBD (1697.2 km vs 1691.8 km).

White Rock Portsmith
Walkability score 25/100 6/100
Distance to Brisbane 1691.8 km 1697.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1164 min 1169 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.5
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 0.5%
postcode 4868
 0.7%
postcode 4870
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 4868
 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.

White Rock Portsmith
Car (driver) 78.4% / 42.4%
White Rock — Car (driver): 78.4% Portsmith — Car (driver): 42.4%
Walked Only 0.8% / 33.3%
White Rock — Walked Only: 0.8% Portsmith — Walked Only: 33.3%
Worked from Home 10.1% / 12.1%
White Rock — Worked from Home: 10.1% Portsmith — Worked from Home: 12.1%
Car (passenger) 7.6% / 12.1%
White Rock — Car (passenger): 7.6% Portsmith — Car (passenger): 12.1%
Bus 2.4% / —
White Rock — Bus: 2.4% Portsmith — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.4%).

Setting

White Rock Portsmith
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.4 km 1.2 km

NBN connectivity

White Rock Portsmith
Connectivity score 68/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
2,126 premises
 93%
956 premises

Climate

White Rock 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

White Rock Portsmith
Division Leichhardt Kennedy
Member Matt Smith Bob Katter
Party Australian Labor Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP)

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

White Rock

Family River

Portsmith

Coastal Multicultural Rural Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with White Rock

White Rock vs Edmonton White Rock vs Mount Sheridan White Rock vs Woree

Other comparisons with Portsmith

Portsmith vs Edmonton Portsmith vs Woree Portsmith vs Parramatta Park Portsmith vs Cairns City Portsmith vs Bungalow Portsmith vs East Trinity
Full data on White Rock Full data on Portsmith
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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