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Cairns - North vs Far North

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

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 201 km apart · Cairns - North profile · Far North profile

Cairns - North Far North

Cairns - North and Far North are distinct Queensland regions with very different profiles. Far North has a much larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (51.3%) and more people speak a First Nations language (60.3%). Residents in Cairns - North are far older, with a typical age of 41 compared to 33 in Far North. Higher education is more common in Cairns - North, where 23.7% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, compared to 8.8% in Far North. This gap in qualifications is consistent with higher typical incomes for First Nations residents in Cairns - North, which are $756 higher per week than those in Far North.

Everyday life in both places shares a similar housing style, as detached houses make up about 80% of homes in each area. However, other patterns are diverging; for example, the gap in typical weekly rent has widened to $250, with rent far higher in Cairns - North. Since 2011, the two areas have also grown more different in terms of tenure, as the share of renters is now 27.7 percentage points higher in Far North.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 46.5 pts higher in Far North Renting: 27.7 pts higher in Far North Other language: 23.5 pts higher in Far North No car: 17.4 pts higher in Far North Year 12: 21.2 pts higher in Cairns - North

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns - North in Far North +25,567 larger in Cairns - North gap widening

57,774 47th pct 32,207 24th pct

Median age in Cairns - North in Far North +8 yrs older in Cairns - North gap widening

41 yrs 62nd pct 33 yrs 7th pct

Age structure

29.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.9 pts 24.3%

25.1% Young adults (25–44) +3.3 pts ▸ 28.4%

19.4% Children (0–14) +4.3 pts ▸ 23.7%

15.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.1 pts 10.2%

11.0% Youth (15–24) +2.4 pts ▸ 13.4%

Marital status

36.5% Never married +21.3 pts ▸ 57.8%

45.1% Married ◂ +16.0 pts 29.2%

10.9% Divorced ◂ +4.5 pts 6.5%

3.8% Widowed ◂ +0.2 pts 3.6%

3.7% Separated ◂ +0.6 pts 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Cairns - North Far North

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

70.0% Australia +11.3 pts ▸ 81.3%

6.0% England ◂ +4.8 pts 1.2%

3.2% New Zealand ◂ +1.9 pts 1.4%

1.0% India ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%

0.9% South Africa ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

0.7% Philippines ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.5% China ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

40.1% English ◂ +23.3 pts 16.9%

32.0% Australian ◂ +13.7 pts 18.3%

11.7% Irish ◂ +6.5 pts 5.1%

11.0% Scottish ◂ +6.6 pts 4.5%

6.0% German ◂ +3.5 pts 2.5%

4.5% Italian ◂ +2.1 pts 2.5%

2.1% Dutch ◂ +1.4 pts 0.7%

1.7% Chinese ◂ +1.1 pts 0.7%

1.4% Indian ◂ +1.2 pts 0.3%

1.2% Filipino ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

82.6% English only ◂ +32.7 pts 49.9%

0.6% Mandarin ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.5% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.4% Punjabi ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% Cantonese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.2% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

41.0% Christianity +12.1 pts ▸ 53.1%

47.8% No religion ◂ +19.6 pts 28.2%

7.9% Not stated +9.6 pts ▸ 17.5%

1.4% Buddhism ◂ +1.0 pts 0.4%

0.7% Other religions ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.6% Hinduism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.4% Islam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.2% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Cairns - North in Far North +18 more in Far North

12 14th pct 30 56th pct

Schools/1k kids in Cairns - North in Far North +2.86 more in Far North

1.07 8th pct 3.93 79th pct

Students in Cairns - North in Far North +3,977 more in Cairns - North

9,134 44th pct 5,157 20th pct

Avg size in Cairns - North in Far North +589 larger in Cairns - North

761 88th pct 172 13th pct

ICSEA in Cairns - North in Far North +243 higher in Cairns - North

1,026 56th pct 783 0th pct

Highest year of school

60.7% Year 12 ◂ +21.2 pts 39.5%

18.8% Year 10 +6.2 pts ▸ 25.0%

5.4% Year 9 or below +6.6 pts ▸ 12.0%

8.4% Year 11 +1.0 pts ▸ 9.4%

Highest qualification level

30.6% Certificate III / IV +5.4 pts ▸ 36.0%

23.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +12.2 pts 11.8%

16.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +6.4 pts 10.5%

7.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.1 pts 2.2%

1.9% Certificate I / II +3.3 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.9 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

16.5% Management & commerce ◂ +5.7 pts 10.7%

14.8% Engineering & related ◂ +0.3 pts 14.5%

13.4% Health ◂ +5.2 pts 8.2%

12.3% Society & culture ◂ +4.2 pts 8.1%

9.0% Education ◂ +0.3 pts 8.7%

5.9% Architecture & building +0.6 pts ▸ 6.5%

6.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +2.2 pts 4.1%

1.9% Agriculture & environment +1.6 pts ▸ 3.5%

3.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.8 pts 1.2%

2.7% Creative arts ◂ +1.2 pts 1.5%

1.4% Information technology ◂ +1.0 pts 0.4%

Income

Personal income in Cairns - North in Far North +$286 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$884 69th pct $598 8th pct

Household income in Cairns - North in Far North +$454 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$1,819 60th pct $1,365 22nd pct

Family income in Cairns - North in Far North +$727 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$2,153 60th pct $1,426 6th pct

Household income distribution

32.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +8.2 pts 24.5%

25.5% $650–$1,499 +1.8 pts ▸ 27.2%

12.6% Under $650 +6.9 pts ▸ 19.5%

11.3% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.8 pts 7.6%

9.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.7 pts 7.1%

Personal income distribution

35.3% Under $650 +7.3 pts ▸ 42.5%

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +11.0 pts 22.5%

20.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.5 pts 12.9%

3.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 2.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.1% Other condition ◂ +3.9 pts 4.2%

8.0% Mental health ◂ +4.7 pts 3.3%

7.4% Arthritis ◂ +3.6 pts 3.7%

6.3% Asthma ◂ +2.4 pts 3.9%

3.1% Diabetes +2.3 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.3% Heart disease ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%

3.0% Cancer ◂ +1.6 pts 1.3%

1.6% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 1.0%

0.8% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.0% None ◂ +2.1 pts 64.9%

17.6% One condition ◂ +5.0 pts 12.6%

4.9% Two conditions ◂ +1.9 pts 3.0%

2.1% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 1.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Cairns - North in Far North +13,765 larger in Far North

2,769 72nd pct 16,534 100th pct

Median age in Cairns - North in Far North +3 yrs older in Far North

23 yrs 29th pct 26 yrs 64th pct

Median income in Cairns - North in Far North +$254 higher in Cairns - North

$683 69th pct $429 8th pct

Household income in Cairns - North in Far North +$756 higher in Cairns - North

$1,909 74th pct $1,153 9th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns - North in Far North +0.4 larger in Far North gap steady

2.5 57th pct 2.9 89th pct

Family composition

55.6% Couples with children ◂ +1.5 pts 54.1%

29.0% Couples without children ◂ +9.4 pts 19.6%

14.6% One-parent families +9.4 pts ▸ 24.0%

0.8% Other families +1.5 pts ▸ 2.3%

Household size

37.1% 2 people ◂ +8.9 pts 28.2%

22.4% 1 person +3.4 pts ▸ 25.8%

16.6% 3 people ◂ +2.4 pts 14.2%

16.0% 4 people ◂ +2.8 pts 13.1%

2.5% 6 or more +7.8 pts ▸ 10.3%

5.5% 5 people +3.0 pts ▸ 8.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns - North in Far North +$250 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$390 66th pct $140 0th pct

Mortgage in Cairns - North in Far North +$216 higher in Cairns - North gap narrowing

$1,733 43rd pct $1,517 29th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns - North in Far North +0.20 higher in Far North gap steady

0.80 29th pct 1.00 93rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

28.5% Rented +27.7 pts ▸ 56.3%

41.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +28.4 pts 12.7%

28.5% Owned outright ◂ +7.9 pts 20.6%

0.9% Other tenure +5.4 pts ▸ 6.3%

1.1% Not stated +3.1 pts ▸ 4.1%

Types of homes

80.1% Separate house +0.8 pts ▸ 80.9%

8.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.1 pts ▸ 10.6%

10.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +7.5 pts 2.5%

0.6% Other dwelling +3.6 pts ▸ 4.2%

Bedrooms per home

37.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +18.6 pts 19.1%

34.1% 3 bedrooms +2.6 pts ▸ 36.7%

16.9% 2 bedrooms +5.9 pts ▸ 22.7%

2.5% 1 bedroom +6.1 pts ▸ 8.7%

7.2% 5 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 6.7%

0.3% Studio / none +1.9 pts ▸ 2.2%

Weekly rent distribution

5.1% Under $200 +60.5 pts ▸ 65.6%

54.1% $350–$549 ◂ +48.3 pts 5.8%

26.8% $200–$349 ◂ +13.1 pts 13.7%

9.2% $550–$749 ◂ +4.3 pts 4.9%

1.4% $750 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

36.8% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +8.4 pts 28.4%

32.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +6.1 pts 26.8%

15.1% Under $1,000 +10.4 pts ▸ 25.5%

9.8% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 10.3%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Cairns - North in Far North +183 more in Cairns - North

183 34th pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Cairns - North in Far North +3.17 more in Cairns - North

3.17 27th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Cairns - North in Far North +591.7 more in Cairns - North

591.7 44th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Cairns - North in Far North +10 more in Cairns - North

10 20th pct 0 0th pct

Stop walk in Cairns - North in Far North

24 80th pct —

How people get to work

58.3% Car (driver) ◂ +11.7 pts 46.6%

1.5% Walked +16.0 pts ▸ 17.6%

13.8% Worked at home ◂ +6.1 pts 7.6%

4.2% Car (passenger) +3.7 pts ▸ 7.8%

0.8% Bus +0.6 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.7% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

42.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +15.1 pts 27.8%

35.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.5 pts 34.5%

2.9% No vehicle +17.4 pts ▸ 20.3%

13.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +2.5 pts 10.7%

6.1% 4 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 6.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +5.1 pts 13.5%

7.8% Public administration & safety +6.9 pts ▸ 14.7%

9.9% Education & training +1.4 pts ▸ 11.3%

1.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +9.1 pts ▸ 10.4%

1.9% Mining +7.9 pts ▸ 9.8%

9.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +3.5 pts 6.0%

9.2% Retail trade ◂ +2.6 pts 6.6%

8.9% Construction ◂ +2.8 pts 6.1%

5.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.3 pts 3.3%

5.3% Professional & technical ◂ +3.8 pts 1.5%

4.0% Other services ◂ +1.6 pts 2.4%

3.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.4 pts 3.0%

Occupations people work in

23.6% Professionals ◂ +7.4 pts 16.3%

12.3% Managers +2.7 pts ▸ 15.0%

14.4% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.9 pts 13.4%

14.3% Community & personal service ◂ +1.0 pts 13.3%

8.2% Labourers +4.7 pts ▸ 12.9%

11.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.1 pts 10.7%

4.5% Machinery operators & drivers +5.2 pts ▸ 9.7%

9.3% Sales workers ◂ +4.0 pts 5.3%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Cairns - North in Far North +29,442 higher in Cairns - North

63,376 47th pct 33,934 19th pct

Growth in Cairns - North in Far North +5.6 pts higher in Cairns - North

8.2% 72nd pct 2.7% 20th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Cairns - North in Far North +1,298 higher in Cairns - North

2,368 100th pct 1,069 66th pct

Max temp in Cairns - North in Far North +3.7 higher in Far North

29.9 91st pct 33.6 99th pct

Min temp in Cairns - North in Far North +1.5 higher in Cairns - North

21.1 100th pct 19.6 97th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns - North in Far North +3.0 higher in Cairns - North

4.8 47th pct 1.8 5th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns - North in Far North +2.2 more in Cairns - North

4.5 43rd pct 2.3 8th pct

15-min city in Cairns - North in Far North +32.3 pts higher in Cairns - North

55.7% 48th pct 23.4% 8th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns - North in Far North +24.7 pts higher in Cairns - North

55.9% 47th pct 31.3% 12th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns - North in Far North +77.7 pts higher in Cairns - North

77.7% 47th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Cairns - North in Far North +1.6 pts higher in Cairns - North

41.2% 19th pct 39.6% 17th pct

Walk to a park in Cairns - North in Far North +52.4 pts higher in Cairns - North

93.2% 55th pct 40.7% 4th pct

Walk to health in Cairns - North in Far North +7.2 pts higher in Cairns - North

30.0% 25th pct 22.8% 14th pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns - North in Far North +4.7 more in Far North

12.7 29th pct 17.4 63rd pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns - North in Far North +40 higher in Cairns - North

40 52nd pct 0 0th pct

Mean slope in Cairns - North in Far North +0.7 pts higher in Cairns - North

6.6% 70th pct 5.9% 57th pct

Compare Cairns - North with nearby areas

Cairns - South Port Douglas - Daintree Innisfail - Cassowary Coast Tablelands (East) - Kuranda Far North Townsville Charters Towers - Ayr - Ingham Whitsunday

Compare Far North with nearby areas

Port Douglas - Daintree Tablelands (East) - Kuranda Cairns - North Cairns - South Innisfail - Cassowary Coast Charters Towers - Ayr - Ingham Townsville Outback - North

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns - North vs Far North [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/30601/cairns-north/vs/31501/far-north