Wrights Creek vs Portsmith

Portsmith is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 41 in Wrights Creek. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Wrights Creek, most households are couple families. In Portsmith, most households are people living alone. On these figures, Wrights Creek tends to suit families with children and couples, while Portsmith suits young adults and 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

Wrights Creek

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (60% vs 12%)
  • carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 99/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 57%)

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

First-home buyers

Wrights Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (13% vs 54%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Wrights Creek leaves renters under less rental stress (12% vs 37%)
  • Portsmith has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wrights Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (1689.5 km vs 1697.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (1164 min vs 1169 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wrights Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 99/100)

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

Investors

Portsmith

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.8% vs 2.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Wrights Creek 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.

Wrights Creek 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.

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Walkability 0 / 6
Wrights Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Portsmith — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 44 / 1
Wrights Creek — Safety: 44/100 Portsmith — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Wrights Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100 Portsmith — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wrights Creek has higher household incomes ($135,564 vs $38,948); Portsmith has more residents (314 vs 160).

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Population 160 314
+96% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% +20.8%
Median age 41 35
Median household income $135,564/yr
+71% vs other
 $38,948/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+7% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wrights Creek Portsmith
0-4 8.8% / 2.9%
Wrights Creek — 0-4: 8.8% Portsmith — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 11.9% / 9.6%
Wrights Creek — 5-14: 11.9% Portsmith — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.6% / 8.9%
Wrights Creek — 15-19: 5.6% Portsmith — 15-19: 8.9%
20-24 4.4% / 16.6%
Wrights Creek — 20-24: 4.4% Portsmith — 20-24: 16.6%
25-34 10.0% / 14.3%
Wrights Creek — 25-34: 10.0% Portsmith — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 16.2% / 9.9%
Wrights Creek — 35-44: 16.2% Portsmith — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 13.8% / 15.6%
Wrights Creek — 45-54: 13.8% Portsmith — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 11.9% / 12.7%
Wrights Creek — 55-64: 11.9% Portsmith — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 10.0% / 8.6%
Wrights Creek — 65-74: 10.0% Portsmith — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 4.4% / 4.1%
Wrights Creek — 75-84: 4.4% Portsmith — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.9% / 1.6%
Wrights Creek — 85+: 1.9% Portsmith — 85+: 1.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wrights Creek 27.0% lone person
Wrights Creek — Lone Person: 27.0% Wrights Creek — Couple Families: 59.5% Wrights Creek — Group Household: 13.5%
Portsmith 69.2% lone person
Portsmith — Lone Person: 69.2% Portsmith — Couple Families: 11.5% Portsmith — Group Household: 19.2%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Wrights Creek 25.6% renting
Wrights Creek — Owned Outright: 41.9% Wrights Creek — Mortgage: 32.6% Wrights Creek — Renting: 25.6%
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.

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Certificate III & IV 16.2% / 8.9%
Wrights Creek — Certificate III & IV: 16.2% Portsmith — Certificate III & IV: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.6% / 4.1%
Wrights Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6% Portsmith — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.1%
Bachelor Degree 2.5% / 4.1%
Wrights Creek — Bachelor Degree: 2.5% Portsmith — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / —
Wrights Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Portsmith — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest
Postgraduate Degree — / 1.6%
Wrights Creek — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Portsmith — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

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.

Wrights Creek Portsmith
England 2.5% / 2.2%
Wrights Creek — England: 2.5% Portsmith — England: 2.2%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.0%
Wrights Creek — New Zealand: 1.9% Portsmith — New Zealand: 1.0%
Italy 1.9% / —
Wrights Creek — Italy: 1.9% Portsmith — Italy: not among its largest
China — / 1.9%
Wrights Creek — China: not among its largest Portsmith — China: 1.9%
Philippines — / 1.9%
Wrights Creek — Philippines: not among its largest Portsmith — Philippines: 1.9%
Scotland — / 1.0%
Wrights Creek — Scotland: not among its largest Portsmith — Scotland: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wrights Creek 100.0% houses
Wrights Creek — Houses: 100.0% Wrights Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Portsmith 57.1% houses
Portsmith — Houses: 57.1% Portsmith — Flats / Apartments: 42.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Median house price —
same for both
Median unit price — $690,000
Median land price —
same for both

Development activity

Wrights Creek Portsmith
New dwellings approved 767
across Cairns
same for both
Approvals change year on year -81%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Wrights Creek Portsmith
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 4% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 8% 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 50% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD

Liveability

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Portsmith carries more crime risk (99 vs 56).

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
56/100
 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

Wrights Creek 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

Amenities in the suburb

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 1 0
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

Portsmith sits further from the CBD (1697.2 km vs 1689.5 km).

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Walkability score 0/100 6/100
Distance to Brisbane 1689.5 km 1697.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1164 min 1169 min
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.

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Car (driver) 64.7% / 42.4%
Wrights Creek — Car (driver): 64.7% Portsmith — Car (driver): 42.4%
Walked Only 7.4% / 33.3%
Wrights Creek — Walked Only: 7.4% Portsmith — Walked Only: 33.3%
Worked from Home 23.5% / 12.1%
Wrights Creek — Worked from Home: 23.5% Portsmith — Worked from Home: 12.1%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 12.1%
Wrights Creek — Car (passenger): 4.4% Portsmith — Car (passenger): 12.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.7%).

Setting

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.1 km 1.2 km

NBN connectivity

Wrights Creek Portsmith
Connectivity score 30/100 97/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
76 premises
 93%
956 premises

Climate

Wrights Creek 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Wrights Creek 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

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

Tags

Wrights Creek

Rural Young Families

Portsmith

Coastal Multicultural Rural Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wrights Creek

Wrights Creek vs Edmonton Wrights Creek vs Gordonvale Wrights Creek vs Mount Peter Wrights Creek vs East Trinity Wrights Creek vs Packers Camp

Other comparisons with Portsmith

Portsmith vs Edmonton Portsmith vs Woree Portsmith vs White Rock Portsmith vs Parramatta Park Portsmith vs Cairns City Portsmith vs Bungalow
Full data on Wrights Creek 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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