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Cairns vs Tablelands

Name: Cairns vs Tablelands — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 109 km apart · Cairns profile · Tablelands profile

Cairns Tablelands

Cairns and Tablelands are two distinct Queensland regions with different demographic profiles. Tablelands is far older, with a typical resident aged 49 compared to 39 in Cairns, and a far higher share of seniors at 26.4%. This older population is reflected in housing, where 44.7% of Tablelands homes are owned outright, while Cairns has a far higher rental rate of 35.0%. Cairns is more urban and connected, with far more public transport stops and 62.0% of homes within a 15-minute walk of amenities, whereas only 26.3% of Tablelands homes have that access.

Everyday life shares some common ground, as both areas have similar unemployment rates and about the same proportion of people working from home. They also have an identical typical age for First Nations residents at 23. While Cairns has far higher rates of Year 12 completion and a more qualified workforce, these gaps have remained little changed since 2016. Both regions have grown at a similar pace recently, with population increases of around 6% and 5% respectively.

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Where they differ most

Population: 140,699 larger in Cairns Owned outright: 18.4 pts higher in Tablelands Separate houses: 18.0 pts higher in Tablelands Median age: 10 yrs older in Tablelands Housework 15h+: 7.3 pts higher in Tablelands

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns in Tablelands +140,699 larger in Cairns gap steady

166,943 87th pct 26,244 63rd pct

Median age in Cairns in Tablelands +10 yrs older in Tablelands gap steady

39 yrs 33rd pct 49 yrs 82nd pct

Age structure

26.9% Older adults (45–64) +1.7 pts ▸ 28.6%

26.9% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +8.2 pts 18.7%

15.5% Seniors (65+) +11.0 pts ▸ 26.4%

19.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.1 pts 17.0%

11.7% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.3 pts 9.4%

Marital status

39.9% Married +5.8 pts ▸ 45.7%

41.2% Never married ◂ +9.0 pts 32.2%

10.7% Divorced +1.1 pts ▸ 11.7%

4.4% Widowed +2.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.2 pts 3.6%

Age & sex structure

Cairns Tablelands

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

69.1% Australia +7.3 pts ▸ 76.3%

3.9% England ◂ +0.7 pts 3.2%

2.8% New Zealand ◂ +0.7 pts 2.1%

1.3% Philippines ◂ +0.7 pts 0.5%

1.1% India ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%

0.4% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.5% China ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

34.4% English +3.9 pts ▸ 38.3%

30.0% Australian +7.1 pts ▸ 37.1%

10.5% Irish +2.0 pts ▸ 12.5%

9.3% Scottish +1.4 pts ▸ 10.7%

5.2% German +0.9 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.0% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.0% Chinese ◂ +1.2 pts 0.8%

1.9% Filipino ◂ +1.3 pts 0.7%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

1.3% Indian ◂ +1.0 pts 0.3%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

76.8% English only +8.3 pts ▸ 85.1%

0.7% Mandarin ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.6% Punjabi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.6% Italian even 0.6%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.3% Cantonese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

42.9% Christianity +3.1 pts ▸ 46.0%

42.2% No religion ◂ +2.0 pts 40.1%

10.7% Not stated +1.6 pts ▸ 12.2%

1.7% Buddhism ◂ +1.0 pts 0.7%

1.1% Other religions ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

0.9% Hinduism ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.5% Islam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Cairns in Tablelands +34 more in Cairns

51 86th pct 17 69th pct

Schools/1k kids in Cairns in Tablelands +2.22 more in Tablelands

1.60 11th pct 3.82 50th pct

Students in Cairns in Tablelands +30,132 more in Cairns

34,820 87th pct 4,688 64th pct

Avg size in Cairns in Tablelands +407 larger in Cairns

683 96th pct 276 57th pct

ICSEA in Cairns in Tablelands +16 higher in Cairns

981 56th pct 965 45th pct

Highest year of school

54.7% Year 12 ◂ +12.5 pts 42.2%

19.8% Year 10 +7.8 pts ▸ 27.6%

7.5% Year 9 or below +3.5 pts ▸ 11.1%

7.8% Year 11 ◂ +0.5 pts 7.3%

Highest qualification level

31.8% Certificate III / IV +3.3 pts ▸ 35.1%

20.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.6 pts 16.2%

15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.6 pts 13.7%

5.5% Postgraduate degree ◂ +1.7 pts 3.8%

3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.4 pts 2.9%

2.4% Certificate I / II even 2.4%

Field of qualification

14.5% Engineering & related +1.5 pts ▸ 16.0%

15.6% Management & commerce ◂ +4.4 pts 11.2%

11.9% Society & culture ◂ +2.6 pts 9.2%

11.5% Health ◂ +1.2 pts 10.2%

7.9% Education +1.8 pts ▸ 9.7%

6.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.6 pts 4.9%

5.5% Architecture & building +0.5 pts ▸ 6.0%

1.8% Agriculture & environment +2.2 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.4% Creative arts ◂ +0.5 pts 1.9%

2.2% Natural & physical sciences +0.2 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.4% Information technology ◂ +0.6 pts 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Cairns in Tablelands +$184 higher in Cairns gap steady

$809 65th pct $625 22nd pct

Household income in Cairns in Tablelands +$411 higher in Cairns gap widening

$1,578 64th pct $1,167 21st pct

Family income in Cairns in Tablelands +$472 higher in Cairns gap widening

$1,950 63rd pct $1,478 22nd pct

Household income distribution

28.3% $650–$1,499 +3.5 pts ▸ 31.9%

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.2 pts 23.8%

15.5% Under $650 +7.2 pts ▸ 22.8%

9.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.2 pts 6.0%

7.6% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.9 pts 4.8%

Personal income distribution

36.8% Under $650 +8.4 pts ▸ 45.2%

33.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.4 pts 29.0%

16.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.4 pts 11.2%

2.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 2.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.2% Arthritis +2.8 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.9% Mental health +0.1 pts ▸ 8.0%

7.7% Other condition +0.1 pts ▸ 7.8%

6.4% Asthma +0.6 pts ▸ 7.0%

3.5% Heart disease +1.8 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.0% Diabetes +0.9 pts ▸ 4.9%

2.8% Cancer +0.9 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.7% Lung condition +0.7 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.9% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.7% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.9% None ◂ +6.0 pts 58.0%

17.2% One condition +2.6 pts ▸ 19.8%

5.1% Two conditions +1.4 pts ▸ 6.5%

2.4% Three or more +0.9 pts ▸ 3.3%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Cairns in Tablelands +14,091 larger in Cairns

16,153 95th pct 2,062 79th pct

Median age in Cairns in Tablelands even

23 yrs 29th pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Cairns in Tablelands +$85 higher in Cairns

$576 56th pct $491 32nd pct

Household income in Cairns in Tablelands +$249 higher in Cairns

$1,435 57th pct $1,186 29th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns in Tablelands +0.2 larger in Cairns gap widening

2.5 71st pct 2.3 29th pct

Family composition

52.5% Couples with children ◂ +6.9 pts 45.6%

27.9% Couples without children +9.1 pts ▸ 37.0%

18.5% One-parent families ◂ +2.2 pts 16.3%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

Household size

35.0% 2 people +5.3 pts ▸ 40.2%

27.0% 1 person +2.2 pts ▸ 29.3%

15.7% 3 people ◂ +3.3 pts 12.4%

13.7% 4 people ◂ +3.8 pts 10.0%

5.4% 5 people ◂ +0.4 pts 5.0%

3.2% 6 or more even 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns in Tablelands +$80 higher in Cairns gap widening

$340 74th pct $260 50th pct

Mortgage in Cairns in Tablelands +$236 higher in Cairns gap narrowing

$1,588 62nd pct $1,352 46th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns in Tablelands even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

26.4% Owned outright +18.4 pts ▸ 44.7%

35.6% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +9.8 pts 25.9%

35.0% Rented ◂ +10.8 pts 24.2%

1.7% Not stated +0.9 pts ▸ 2.6%

1.3% Other tenure +1.2 pts ▸ 2.5%

Types of homes

72.9% Separate house +18.0 pts ▸ 90.9%

15.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +12.7 pts 3.0%

10.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +6.6 pts 3.4%

0.8% Other dwelling +1.2 pts ▸ 1.9%

Bedrooms per home

35.6% 3 bedrooms +7.9 pts ▸ 43.5%

29.5% 4 bedrooms ◂ +7.1 pts 22.3%

20.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.1 pts 18.7%

5.4% 1 bedroom +1.0 pts ▸ 6.4%

6.3% 5 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 5.3%

0.7% Studio / none +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%

Weekly rent distribution

37.9% $200–$349 +17.4 pts ▸ 55.3%

41.2% $350–$549 ◂ +23.4 pts 17.8%

11.7% Under $200 +9.6 pts ▸ 21.3%

4.9% $550–$749 ◂ +4.4 pts 0.6%

0.8% $750 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.3% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.5 pts 40.8%

27.4% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +7.2 pts 20.2%

17.8% Under $1,000 +8.5 pts ▸ 26.3%

7.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.5 pts 6.3%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Cairns in Tablelands +462 more in Cairns

462 82nd pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Cairns in Tablelands +2.77 more in Cairns

2.77 44th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Cairns in Tablelands +679.1 more in Cairns

679.1 75th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Cairns in Tablelands +22 more in Cairns

22 72nd pct 0 0th pct

Stop walk in Cairns in Tablelands

64 88th pct —

How people get to work

58.1% Car (driver) +2.8 pts ▸ 60.9%

11.8% Worked at home ◂ +0.7 pts 11.1%

5.0% Car (passenger) +0.7 pts ▸ 5.7%

2.5% Walked +2.3 pts ▸ 4.8%

1.0% Bus +0.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.1% Bicycle ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

38.2% 2 vehicles +0.3 pts ▸ 38.5%

37.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.5 pts 35.2%

11.9% 3 vehicles +2.4 pts ▸ 14.3%

5.8% 4 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 7.8%

6.4% No vehicle ◂ +2.2 pts 4.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.4 pts 13.6%

1.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +12.3 pts ▸ 13.9%

9.9% Accommodation & food ◂ +3.5 pts 6.4%

9.7% Retail trade +0.2 pts ▸ 9.8%

8.9% Education & training +0.7 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.7% Construction ◂ +0.4 pts 8.3%

7.3% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.1 pts 6.2%

5.6% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.5 pts 3.2%

4.7% Professional & technical ◂ +1.0 pts 3.7%

4.5% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%

3.6% Manufacturing +0.5 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.6% Administrative & support ◂ +1.0 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

20.4% Professionals ◂ +4.9 pts 15.4%

11.1% Managers +4.2 pts ▸ 15.3%

15.0% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.3 pts 13.7%

14.9% Community & personal service ◂ +1.9 pts 13.0%

9.9% Labourers +4.5 pts ▸ 14.4%

12.0% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.5 pts 10.4%

9.4% Sales workers ◂ +1.2 pts 8.3%

5.6% Machinery operators & drivers +1.5 pts ▸ 7.2%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Cairns in Tablelands +4 higher in Cairns

7 64th pct 3 29th pct

IRSD decile in Cairns in Tablelands +2 higher in Cairns

6 57th pct 4 36th pct

IER decile in Cairns in Tablelands even

4 36th pct 4 36th pct

IEO decile in Cairns in Tablelands +3 higher in Cairns

7 64th pct 4 36th pct

IRSAD score in Cairns in Tablelands +40 higher in Cairns

966 60th pct 926 29th pct

ERP in Cairns in Tablelands +151,432 higher in Cairns

179,334 86th pct 27,902 62nd pct

Growth in Cairns in Tablelands +0.6 pts higher in Cairns

6.0% 70th pct 5.3% 65th pct

Businesses in Cairns in Tablelands +12,236 higher in Cairns

15,166 86th pct 2,930 63rd pct

Approvals in Cairns in Tablelands +565 higher in Cairns

699 86th pct 134 63rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Cairns in Tablelands +1,946 higher in Cairns

2,830 100th pct 885 72nd pct

Max temp in Cairns in Tablelands +0.5 higher in Tablelands

28.0 77th pct 28.5 79th pct

Min temp in Cairns in Tablelands +1.8 higher in Cairns

18.7 91st pct 17.0 87th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Cairns in Tablelands +7,852 higher in Cairns

20,712 87th pct 12,860 75th pct

Assault/100k in Cairns in Tablelands +1,163 higher in Cairns

2,398 86th pct 1,235 64th pct

Sexual/100k in Cairns in Tablelands +98 higher in Cairns

327 68th pct 229 44th pct

Robbery/100k in Cairns in Tablelands +62 higher in Cairns

123 95th pct 61 86th pct

Burglary/100k in Cairns in Tablelands +501 higher in Cairns

1,880 93rd pct 1,379 88th pct

Theft/100k in Cairns in Tablelands +2,044 higher in Cairns

4,025 97th pct 1,981 74th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Cairns in Tablelands +211 higher in Cairns

653 78th pct 442 61st pct

Property damage/100k in Cairns in Tablelands +504 higher in Cairns

1,544 86th pct 1,040 72nd pct

Drugs/100k in Cairns in Tablelands +785 higher in Cairns

2,230 88th pct 1,444 82nd pct

5-yr change in Cairns in Tablelands +34.4 pts higher in Tablelands

47.0% 88th pct 81.4% 97th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns in Tablelands +3.4 higher in Cairns

5.4 76th pct 2.0 12th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns in Tablelands +2.7 more in Cairns

5.0 73rd pct 2.3 13th pct

15-min city in Cairns in Tablelands +35.8 pts higher in Cairns

62.0% 73rd pct 26.3% 14th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns in Tablelands +38.7 pts higher in Cairns

63.8% 74th pct 25.1% 14th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns in Tablelands +79.7 pts higher in Cairns

79.7% 75th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Cairns in Tablelands +24.1 pts higher in Cairns

61.0% 61st pct 36.9% 22nd pct

Walk to a park in Cairns in Tablelands +45.0 pts higher in Cairns

91.0% 75th pct 45.9% 16th pct

Walk to health in Cairns in Tablelands +21.1 pts higher in Cairns

42.1% 58th pct 21.0% 20th pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns in Tablelands +0.8 more in Cairns

12.8 22nd pct 12.0 16th pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns in Tablelands +10 higher in Cairns

11 72nd pct 0 30th pct

Mean slope in Cairns in Tablelands +2.1 pts higher in Tablelands

5.6% 65th pct 7.8% 86th pct

Compare Cairns with nearby areas

Yarrabah Cassowary Coast Tablelands Douglas Wujal Wujal Hinchinbrook Palm Island Hope Vale

Compare Tablelands with nearby areas

Cassowary Coast Cairns Hinchinbrook Yarrabah Palm Island Etheridge Douglas Mareeba

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns vs Tablelands [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA32080/cairns/vs/LGA36820/tablelands