Cairns - City vs Yarrabah

Cairns - City and Yarrabah are nearby Queensland areas with very different layouts. Cairns - City is a walker's paradise where almost every home is within a short walk of groceries, health services, and schools. Yarrabah is car-dependent, with a much larger First Nations population and a far higher share of people who speak a First Nations language (79.7% compared to 33.3% in Cairns - City). Educational and income gaps are also wide, with Year 12 completion far higher in Cairns - City (45.1% versus 27.7%) and typical personal income for First Nations people far higher there too ($559 versus $331).

First Nations household income is a little higher in Yarrabah, which is one of the few measures where the two areas are nearly identical. Other gaps remain stark, such as the First Nations unemployment rate, which is far higher in Yarrabah at 38.4%. While First Nations residents are noticeably older in Cairns - City, with a typical age of 28, those in Yarrabah are typically 24.