Portsmith QLD 4870
Located in Queensland, Portsmith sits 1,697 km from Brisbane CBD, around 19 hours 30 minutes by car. The locality has 314 residents, a median age of 35, and a median household income of $38,948 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 20.8% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $280 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,760. The area shows high crime risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. Walkability is low.
This locality is too small to rate.
The Liveability Rating is calculated for suburbs of 500 residents or more, and this one has 314. Below that the school, census and safety figures behind the score cover too few people to rank fairly against the rest of the state. The individual measures further down this page are still shown.
How do you rate the liveability in Portsmith?
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Our score
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Median Unit Price
Public listings dataThe median unit sale price in Portsmith sits at $690,000, broadly flat year-on-year. That said, only four sales settled in the quarter, so the median is a noisy signal — treat it as a direction rather than a level.
$690,000
Based on only 4 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Rental Market
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025118 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 25% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4870.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Is Portsmith safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Portsmith sits in the high band, with 75 incidents recorded in 2025 — up roughly 74% on the prior year.
75 offences
74.4% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–202424 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 1 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Coastal Erosion
Shoreline Change Summary
1988–2025Nearest Eroding Coastline
- Distance
- 1.2 km
- Rate
- -0.06 m/yr
- Net Movement
- -3.7 m
- Certainty
- good
Data Quality
Schools
Walkability
Portsmith is very car-dependent on foot — at 6/100, nearly all errands require a car.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Portsmith.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 2.8 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 3.1 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 2.6 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 28 min
- Span of service
- 16.9 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Portsmith.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 93%
- Premises covered
- 956
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Cairns: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Portsmith is home to 314 residents, with a median age of 35, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $39,000 a year, with unemployment at 19.7%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
314
Median Age
35
Median Household Income
$38,948/yr
Census Median Rent
$280/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,760/mo
Avg Household Size
1.9
Median Personal Income
$25,532/yr
Unemployment Rate
19.7%
Unoccupied Dwellings
7.1%
Total Dwellings
42
Owner-Occupier Rate
60.0%
Houses
57.1%
Rental Stress
37.4%
Mortgage Stress
54.2%
Work From Home
12.1%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 50.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 43.3%
- Employment Rate
- 21%
- Completed Year 12
- 19.7%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,354 a year through Cairns based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Cairns
In the year to August 2026, 767 new dwellings were approved across Cairns. That mix is 681 houses and 86 units. Approvals are down 81.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Aboriginal party for this area is Gimuy Walubara Yidinji People.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. A native title claim over this area is registered with the Federal Court.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 5.6 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³). 2 days exceeded the daily threshold of 25 µg/m³.
PM10 averaged 18.6 µg/m³. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 4.
From the Woree (Cairns, Far North Queensland) monitoring station, 3.5 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Cairns Aero, 9.8 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- -5 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 1.2 km
- Near high-voltage lines
- 27.1% of addresses
- 277 within 100 m of an overhead line of 110 kV or more
- Annual rainfall
- 2,121 mm
- 120 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 31.9°C
- 4 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 18.1°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the locality centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
9 facilities within 5 km- 1.7 kmRail Passenger TransportTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds
- 2.1 km
- 2.4 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Total Nitrogen · Total Phosphorus · Ammonia (total)
- 2.6 kmPetroleum Product WholesalingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · n-Hexane · Toluene (methylbenzene)
- 2.8 kmIndustrial and Agricultural Chemical Product WholesalingTop reported: Fluoride compounds
EV adoption
In postcode 4870, 450 of 60,353 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 4.3% (2,614 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 5.1%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4870, 13,795 rooftop-solar systems totalling 116.4 MW have been installed since 2001, against 30,421 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 1,132 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$30,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
$30,000 for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023, with no end date. IT DID NOT REVERT TO $15,000: the tier was due to end 30 June 2026 and the 2026-27 Queensland Budget (23 June 2026) continued it for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. This file carried a "due to revert" note until 2026-09-18 — it was never true, and a note predicting a change is not the same as a change. Cap is "less than $750,000" including land and contract variations — less than, not up to. New homes only: "There are no home owner grants for established homes."
Mortgage repayments
51 mortgage brokers are registered in postcode 4870.
Transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Queensland Revenue Office
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $30,000 — see what qualifies with Queensland Revenue Office.
At $690,000 this is under the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $30,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with Queensland Revenue Office.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Bob Katter Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bob Katter | 40.7% | 59.3% | +0.8 |
| 2022 | Bob Katter | 39.8% | 60.2% | -4.3 |
| 2019 | Bob Katter | 35.5% | 64.5% | +7.8 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Terry James Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Terry James LNP | 52.7% |
| 2020 | Curtis Pitt ALP | 62.2% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Portsmith?
Every figure above is a locality average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 314 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Edmonton QLD 4869
Woree QLD 4868
White Rock QLD 4868
Parramatta Park QLD 4870
Cairns City QLD 4870
Bungalow QLD 4870
Compare Portsmith to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Portsmith
Is Portsmith a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Portsmith is high (99/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Portsmith?
Portsmith has no recorded bushfire history. These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
What is the population of Portsmith?
Portsmith, QLD had a population of 314 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Portsmith, QLD?
The postcode for Portsmith, QLD is 4870.
How far is Portsmith from Brisbane?
Portsmith is 1,697 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 1169 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Portsmith?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Portsmith was $38,948 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Portsmith?
There are too few current rental listings in Portsmith for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $280, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Portsmith?
The median age of residents in Portsmith was 35 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Portsmith walkable?
Portsmith scores 6/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the air quality in Portsmith?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Portsmith (Woree (Cairns, Far North Queensland)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 5.6 µg/m³ and PM10 of 18.6 µg/m³. That puts Portsmith below the Australian NEPM annual standard of 8 µg/m³ but above the stricter WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Portsmith?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Portsmith, Cairns Aero (9.8 km away), summer days average 31.9°C, winter nights 18.1°C, 2,121 mm of rain a year over 120 rainy days, and 4 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Portsmith?
First-home buyers in QLD may be eligible for $30,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by Queensland Revenue Office; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Portsmith belong to?
Portsmith sits within the Cairns local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Portsmith?
The average residential rates bill through Cairns is $1,354 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Portsmith?
Across Cairns, 767 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 81.0% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Portsmith in?
Portsmith sits within the federal Division of Kennedy, currently held by Bob Katter (Katter's Australian Party (KAP)).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2024
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.