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Cairns - South vs Far North

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

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 204 km apart · Cairns - South profile · Far North profile

Cairns - South Far North

Cairns - South and Far North are two distinct Queensland regions with very different footprints. Far North is a vast, sparsely populated area where First Nations identity is much more prominent; 51.3% of residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander compared to 12.4% in Cairns - South. This is reflected in language use, with 60.3% of people in Far North speaking a First Nations language, which is far higher than the 22.8% in Cairns - South. Living costs also differ sharply, with typical weekly rents far higher in Cairns - South at $315, while Far North is just $140.

Both areas sit close to the national figure for the share of people who have served in the Defence Force. They also share very similar typical weekly household incomes, around $1,400. However, their trends are diverging in some ways; the gap in the proportion of people born overseas has widened since 2011, as Cairns - South has seen a higher share of arrivals. At the same time, the gap in the share of people who use another language at home has narrowed.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 38.9 pts higher in Far North Other language: 19.0 pts higher in Far North Population: 73,282 larger in Cairns - South Renting: 17.2 pts higher in Far North People / bedroom: 0.20 higher in Far North

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns - South in Far North +73,282 larger in Cairns - South gap widening

105,489 78th pct 32,207 24th pct

Median age in Cairns - South in Far North +5 yrs older in Cairns - South gap widening

38 yrs 36th pct 33 yrs 7th pct

Age structure

28.1% Young adults (25–44) +0.3 pts ▸ 28.4%

25.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.3 pts 24.3%

19.0% Children (0–14) +4.7 pts ▸ 23.7%

15.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.0 pts 10.2%

12.1% Youth (15–24) +1.3 pts ▸ 13.4%

Marital status

44.1% Never married +13.7 pts ▸ 57.8%

36.7% Married ◂ +7.5 pts 29.2%

10.5% Divorced ◂ +4.1 pts 6.5%

4.7% Widowed ◂ +1.2 pts 3.6%

3.9% Separated ◂ +0.9 pts 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Cairns - South Far North

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.3% Australia +13.0 pts ▸ 81.3%

2.8% England ◂ +1.7 pts 1.2%

2.6% New Zealand ◂ +1.2 pts 1.4%

1.6% Philippines ◂ +1.2 pts 0.4%

1.2% India ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

0.6% China ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.5% Nepal ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.3% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.3% Vietnam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

31.1% English ◂ +14.3 pts 16.9%

28.8% Australian ◂ +10.5 pts 18.3%

9.7% Irish ◂ +4.6 pts 5.1%

8.3% Scottish ◂ +3.9 pts 4.5%

5.0% Italian ◂ +2.6 pts 2.5%

4.7% German ◂ +2.2 pts 2.5%

2.4% Filipino ◂ +1.7 pts 0.7%

2.2% Chinese ◂ +1.6 pts 0.7%

1.4% Dutch ◂ +0.7 pts 0.7%

1.3% Indian ◂ +1.0 pts 0.3%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

73.3% English only ◂ +23.3 pts 49.9%

0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

0.7% Mandarin ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.7% Tagalog ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.6% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.4% Cantonese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

43.7% Christianity +9.4 pts ▸ 53.1%

39.3% No religion ◂ +11.1 pts 28.2%

12.1% Not stated +5.4 pts ▸ 17.5%

1.8% Buddhism ◂ +1.4 pts 0.4%

1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

1.1% Hinduism ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

0.5% Islam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Cairns - South in Far North +2 more in Cairns - South

32 61st pct 30 56th pct

Schools/1k kids in Cairns - South in Far North +2.33 more in Far North

1.60 27th pct 3.93 79th pct

Students in Cairns - South in Far North +20,114 more in Cairns - South

25,271 87th pct 5,157 20th pct

Avg size in Cairns - South in Far North +618 larger in Cairns - South

790 89th pct 172 13th pct

ICSEA in Cairns - South in Far North +183 higher in Cairns - South

965 23rd pct 783 0th pct

Highest year of school

52.0% Year 12 ◂ +12.5 pts 39.5%

19.9% Year 10 +5.1 pts ▸ 25.0%

8.5% Year 9 or below +3.5 pts ▸ 12.0%

7.5% Year 11 +1.9 pts ▸ 9.4%

Highest qualification level

32.2% Certificate III / IV +3.8 pts ▸ 36.0%

19.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +7.5 pts 11.8%

14.5% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +4.0 pts 10.5%

2.7% Certificate I / II +2.5 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.4 pts 2.2%

3.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.0 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

15.3% Management & commerce ◂ +4.6 pts 10.7%

14.1% Engineering & related +0.3 pts ▸ 14.5%

11.7% Society & culture ◂ +3.6 pts 8.1%

10.4% Health ◂ +2.2 pts 8.2%

7.2% Education +1.5 pts ▸ 8.7%

6.7% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +2.6 pts 4.1%

5.3% Architecture & building +1.2 pts ▸ 6.5%

1.7% Agriculture & environment +1.8 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.3% Creative arts ◂ +0.8 pts 1.5%

1.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

1.4% Information technology ◂ +1.0 pts 0.4%

Income

Personal income in Cairns - South in Far North +$181 higher in Cairns - South gap steady

$779 47th pct $598 8th pct

Household income in Cairns - South in Far North +$104 higher in Cairns - South gap widening

$1,469 31st pct $1,365 22nd pct

Family income in Cairns - South in Far North +$411 higher in Cairns - South gap widening

$1,837 34th pct $1,426 6th pct

Household income distribution

30.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.6 pts 24.5%

29.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.6 pts 27.2%

17.0% Under $650 +2.6 pts ▸ 19.5%

8.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.6 pts 7.6%

6.5% $4,000 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 7.1%

Personal income distribution

37.4% Under $650 +5.2 pts ▸ 42.5%

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +11.1 pts 22.5%

14.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.8 pts 12.9%

2.4% $3,000 or more even 2.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.9% Mental health ◂ +4.6 pts 3.3%

7.5% Other condition ◂ +3.3 pts 4.2%

7.0% Arthritis ◂ +3.2 pts 3.7%

6.5% Asthma ◂ +2.6 pts 3.9%

4.5% Diabetes +0.9 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.6 pts 3.0%

2.7% Cancer ◂ +1.3 pts 1.3%

1.8% Lung condition ◂ +0.8 pts 1.0%

0.9% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

62.4% None +2.5 pts ▸ 64.9%

16.8% One condition ◂ +4.2 pts 12.6%

5.2% Two conditions ◂ +2.2 pts 3.0%

2.6% Three or more ◂ +1.2 pts 1.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Cairns - South in Far North +3,465 larger in Far North

13,069 96th pct 16,534 100th pct

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

23 yrs 29th pct 26 yrs 64th pct

Median income in Cairns - South in Far North +$132 higher in Cairns - South

$561 34th pct $429 8th pct

Household income in Cairns - South in Far North +$194 higher in Cairns - South

$1,347 25th pct $1,153 9th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns - South in Far North +0.5 larger in Far North gap steady

2.4 29th pct 2.9 89th pct

Family composition

50.6% Couples with children +3.4 pts ▸ 54.1%

26.9% Couples without children ◂ +7.2 pts 19.6%

21.0% One-parent families +3.0 pts ▸ 24.0%

1.5% Other families +0.8 pts ▸ 2.3%

Household size

33.6% 2 people ◂ +5.4 pts 28.2%

29.6% 1 person ◂ +3.8 pts 25.8%

15.3% 3 people ◂ +1.1 pts 14.2%

12.5% 4 people +0.6 pts ▸ 13.1%

3.7% 6 or more +6.7 pts ▸ 10.3%

5.3% 5 people +3.1 pts ▸ 8.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns - South in Far North +$175 higher in Cairns - South gap widening

$315 34th pct $140 0th pct

Mortgage in Cairns - South in Far North even gap narrowing

$1,517 29th pct $1,517 29th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns - South 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

39.1% Rented +17.2 pts ▸ 56.3%

32.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +20.1 pts 12.7%

24.5% Owned outright ◂ +3.9 pts 20.6%

1.5% Other tenure +4.8 pts ▸ 6.3%

2.1% Not stated +2.1 pts ▸ 4.1%

Types of homes

68.0% Separate house +12.9 pts ▸ 80.9%

19.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +17.0 pts 2.5%

11.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.5 pts 10.6%

0.8% Other dwelling +3.4 pts ▸ 4.2%

Bedrooms per home

36.0% 3 bedrooms +0.7 pts ▸ 36.7%

25.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +6.0 pts 19.1%

23.1% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.4 pts 22.7%

7.0% 1 bedroom +1.7 pts ▸ 8.7%

5.7% 5 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 6.7%

0.9% Studio / none +1.3 pts ▸ 2.2%

Weekly rent distribution

14.1% Under $200 +51.6 pts ▸ 65.6%

42.1% $200–$349 ◂ +28.4 pts 13.7%

36.7% $350–$549 ◂ +30.9 pts 5.8%

3.2% $550–$749 +1.7 pts ▸ 4.9%

0.6% $750 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 2.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

44.6% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +16.2 pts 28.4%

23.9% $1,800–$2,999 +2.9 pts ▸ 26.8%

19.4% Under $1,000 +6.1 pts ▸ 25.5%

6.4% $3,000 or more +3.9 pts ▸ 10.3%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Cairns - South in Far North +279 more in Cairns - South

279 51st pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Cairns - South in Far North +2.64 more in Cairns - South

2.64 21st pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Cairns - South in Far North +750.7 more in Cairns - South

750.7 49th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Cairns - South in Far North +20 more in Cairns - South

20 38th pct 0 0th pct

Stop walk in Cairns - South in Far North

31 85th pct —

How people get to work

58.1% Car (driver) ◂ +11.5 pts 46.6%

3.0% Walked +14.6 pts ▸ 17.6%

10.5% Worked at home ◂ +2.8 pts 7.6%

5.5% Car (passenger) +2.3 pts ▸ 7.8%

1.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

1.1% Bus +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.9 pts 34.5%

35.5% 2 vehicles ◂ +7.7 pts 27.8%

8.5% No vehicle +11.8 pts ▸ 20.3%

11.1% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.5 pts 10.7%

5.5% 4 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 6.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.9% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.4 pts 13.5%

7.1% Public administration & safety +7.6 pts ▸ 14.7%

8.2% Education & training +3.1 pts ▸ 11.3%

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

10.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +4.3 pts 6.0%

10.0% Retail trade ◂ +3.5 pts 6.6%

1.5% Mining +8.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

8.5% Construction ◂ +2.3 pts 6.1%

5.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.3 pts 3.3%

4.9% Other services ◂ +2.6 pts 2.4%

4.4% Professional & technical ◂ +3.0 pts 1.5%

3.8% Administrative & support ◂ +0.8 pts 3.0%

Occupations people work in

18.6% Professionals ◂ +2.3 pts 16.3%

15.4% Community & personal service ◂ +2.1 pts 13.3%

15.3% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.9 pts 13.4%

10.1% Managers +4.9 pts ▸ 15.0%

10.8% Labourers +2.0 pts ▸ 12.9%

12.1% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.4 pts 10.7%

6.2% Machinery operators & drivers +3.5 pts ▸ 9.7%

9.6% Sales workers ◂ +4.3 pts 5.3%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Cairns - South in Far North +78,258 higher in Cairns - South

112,192 75th pct 33,934 19th pct

Growth in Cairns - South in Far North +2.2 pts higher in Cairns - South

4.9% 42nd pct 2.7% 20th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Cairns - South in Far North +1,204 higher in Cairns - South

2,274 100th pct 1,069 66th pct

Max temp in Cairns - South in Far North +3.8 higher in Far North

29.8 91st pct 33.6 99th pct

Min temp in Cairns - South in Far North +0.8 higher in Cairns - South

20.4 99th pct 19.6 97th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns - South in Far North +4.0 higher in Cairns - South

5.9 62nd pct 1.8 5th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns - South in Far North +3.3 more in Cairns - South

5.6 61st pct 2.3 8th pct

15-min city in Cairns - South in Far North +44.9 pts higher in Cairns - South

68.3% 61st pct 23.4% 8th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns - South in Far North +39.7 pts higher in Cairns - South

71.0% 63rd pct 31.3% 12th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns - South in Far North +85.7 pts higher in Cairns - South

85.7% 54th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Cairns - South in Far North +34.2 pts higher in Cairns - South

73.8% 60th pct 39.6% 17th pct

Walk to a park in Cairns - South in Far North +53.3 pts higher in Cairns - South

94.1% 56th pct 40.7% 4th pct

Walk to health in Cairns - South in Far North +27.4 pts higher in Cairns - South

50.1% 59th pct 22.8% 14th pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns - South in Far North +4.5 more in Far North

12.8 30th pct 17.4 63rd pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns - South in Far North +18 higher in Cairns - South

18 44th pct 0 0th pct

Mean slope in Cairns - South in Far North +0.8 pts higher in Far North

5.1% 42nd pct 5.9% 57th pct

Compare Cairns - South with nearby areas

Cairns - North Innisfail - Cassowary Coast Port Douglas - Daintree 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 - South vs Far North [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/30602/cairns-south/vs/31501/far-north