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Cairns vs Moreton Bay - South

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 1,285 km apart · Cairns profile · Moreton Bay - South profile

Cairns Moreton Bay - South

Cairns and Moreton Bay - South are two distinct Queensland regions with very different social and physical layouts. Moreton Bay - South is a wealthier area where the typical household earns $2,017 a week, compared to $1,445 in Cairns. It is also more walkable and urban, with 78.8% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport, while Cairns sits at 48.7%. In contrast, Cairns has a much stronger First Nations presence, with 10.6% of the population identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 22.9% speaking a First Nations language.

Since 2011, the gaps between these two places have generally widened. This is seen in the typical age of residents, with the gap growing to five years as Cairns becomes noticeably older. The difference in school completion and household income has also increased over the last decade. Despite these diverging trends, the two areas remain similar in some ways, such as their unemployment rates and the same number of people per bedroom in their homes.

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Where they differ most

3+ bedrooms: 19.7 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South Unpaid child care: 8.8 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South No car: 3.0 pts higher in Cairns Household size: 0.4 larger in Moreton Bay - South Year 12: 13.8 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +36,048 larger in Cairns gap narrowing

253,748 59th pct 217,700 51st pct

Median age in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +5 yrs older in Cairns gap widening

41 yrs 57th pct 36 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

25.1% Young adults (25–44) +3.1 pts ▸ 28.2%

27.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.9 pts 24.4%

18.5% Children (0–14) +3.3 pts ▸ 21.8%

18.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.2 pts 12.8%

11.0% Youth (15–24) +1.7 pts ▸ 12.7%

Marital status

41.1% Married +8.7 pts ▸ 49.8%

39.5% Never married ◂ +4.7 pts 34.8%

10.7% Divorced ◂ +2.3 pts 8.4%

4.9% Widowed ◂ +1.3 pts 3.6%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Cairns Moreton Bay - South

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

70.7% Australia +2.9 pts ▸ 73.6%

2.6% New Zealand +2.2 pts ▸ 4.8%

3.6% England +0.8 pts ▸ 4.4%

1.1% India +0.9 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.4% South Africa +1.3 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.1% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.6% Italy ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.4% China even 0.4%

0.2% Nepal even 0.2%

0.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

34.1% English +6.6 pts ▸ 40.7%

30.8% Australian +5.9 pts ▸ 36.7%

10.5% Irish +0.7 pts ▸ 11.2%

9.3% Scottish +1.8 pts ▸ 11.0%

6.1% Italian ◂ +3.2 pts 2.9%

5.3% German +0.7 pts ▸ 5.9%

1.1% Indian +1.5 pts ▸ 2.6%

1.5% Dutch +0.3 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.6% Filipino +0.3 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.7% Chinese even 1.6%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

77.6% English only +7.5 pts ▸ 85.1%

0.8% Punjabi +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.8% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

0.1% Hindi +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Mandarin even 0.6%

0.4% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Arabic +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Cantonese even 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Greek even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.3% Christianity +2.3 pts ▸ 46.7%

40.7% No religion +2.7 pts ▸ 43.4%

11.1% Not stated ◂ +5.9 pts 5.3%

0.7% Hinduism +1.1 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.4% Buddhism ◂ +0.5 pts 0.8%

1.3% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.4% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +64 more in Cairns

109 52nd pct 45 9th pct

Schools/1k kids in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +1.37 more in Cairns

2.32 55th pct 0.95 0th pct

Students in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +14,978 more in Cairns

48,996 60th pct 34,018 40th pct

Avg size in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +306 larger in Moreton Bay - South

450 51st pct 756 100th pct

ICSEA in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +64 higher in Moreton Bay - South

967 18th pct 1,031 59th pct

Highest year of school

50.4% Year 12 +13.8 pts ▸ 64.2%

21.9% Year 10 ◂ +2.7 pts 19.2%

9.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.1 pts 5.9%

7.9% Year 11 ◂ +1.4 pts 6.5%

Highest qualification level

32.9% Certificate III / IV ◂ +0.7 pts 32.3%

19.1% Bachelor degree +5.6 pts ▸ 24.7%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +3.1 pts ▸ 17.8%

4.9% Postgraduate degree +1.9 pts ▸ 6.7%

3.1% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.9 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.5% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 2.4%

Field of qualification

14.4% Management & commerce +6.1 pts ▸ 20.5%

14.9% Engineering & related +0.1 pts ▸ 15.1%

11.0% Society & culture +1.8 pts ▸ 12.8%

10.7% Health +0.4 pts ▸ 11.0%

8.0% Education +0.4 pts ▸ 8.4%

6.4% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.7 pts 5.7%

5.7% Architecture & building +0.2 pts ▸ 5.9%

2.3% Creative arts +1.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.2% Information technology +2.1 pts ▸ 3.3%

2.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

2.2% Natural & physical sciences +0.1 pts ▸ 2.3%

Income

Personal income in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +$140 higher in Moreton Bay - South gap widening

$748 38th pct $888 72nd pct

Household income in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +$572 higher in Moreton Bay - South gap widening

$1,445 30th pct $2,017 77th pct

Family income in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +$432 higher in Moreton Bay - South gap narrowing

$1,806 29th pct $2,238 71st pct

Household income distribution

29.1% $1,500–$2,999 +5.5 pts ▸ 34.5%

29.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.8 pts 24.0%

17.5% Under $650 ◂ +7.4 pts 10.1%

8.2% $3,000–$3,999 +4.5 pts ▸ 12.7%

6.6% $4,000 or more +5.7 pts ▸ 12.3%

Personal income distribution

39.3% Under $650 ◂ +2.8 pts 36.5%

32.6% $650–$1,499 +1.9 pts ▸ 34.5%

14.5% $1,500–$2,999 +5.7 pts ▸ 20.3%

2.5% $3,000 or more +1.6 pts ▸ 4.1%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.7% Mental health +3.2 pts ▸ 10.9%

7.5% Other condition +1.8 pts ▸ 9.3%

6.4% Asthma +2.8 pts ▸ 9.2%

8.0% Arthritis ◂ +0.3 pts 7.7%

4.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.1 pts 4.3%

4.0% Heart disease ◂ +0.3 pts 3.7%

3.0% Cancer ◂ +0.2 pts 2.8%

1.9% Lung condition ◂ +0.2 pts 1.7%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

62.5% None +2.0 pts ▸ 64.5%

17.5% One condition +2.8 pts ▸ 20.3%

5.5% Two conditions +0.6 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.8% Three or more +0.1 pts ▸ 2.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +20,574 larger in Cairns

26,935 91st pct 6,361 58th pct

Median age in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +3 yrs older in Cairns

24 yrs 43rd pct 21 yrs 7th pct

Median income in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +$225 higher in Moreton Bay - South

$508 23rd pct $733 82nd pct

Household income in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +$595 higher in Moreton Bay - South

$1,347 23rd pct $1,942 86th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +0.4 larger in Moreton Bay - South gap steady

2.4 29th pct 2.8 89th pct

Family composition

50.6% Couples with children +11.6 pts ▸ 62.2%

30.1% Couples without children ◂ +7.2 pts 23.0%

18.0% One-parent families ◂ +4.0 pts 14.0%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

Household size

36.4% 2 people ◂ +3.8 pts 32.6%

27.5% 1 person ◂ +9.7 pts 17.8%

12.7% 4 people +7.0 pts ▸ 19.7%

14.7% 3 people +3.7 pts ▸ 18.4%

5.3% 5 people +2.5 pts ▸ 7.8%

3.4% 6 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 3.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +$75 higher in Moreton Bay - South gap narrowing

$310 35th pct $385 66th pct

Mortgage in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +$383 higher in Moreton Bay - South gap widening

$1,517 29th pct $1,900 57th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.4% Owned with a mortgage +11.1 pts ▸ 43.5%

32.8% Rented ◂ +2.7 pts 30.1%

31.1% Owned outright ◂ +7.0 pts 24.0%

2.1% Not stated ◂ +1.1 pts 1.0%

1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

Types of homes

77.5% Separate house +5.0 pts ▸ 82.6%

8.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +7.0 pts ▸ 15.4%

12.1% Flat or apartment ◂ +10.5 pts 1.6%

1.3% Other dwelling ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

26.9% 4 bedrooms +15.0 pts ▸ 41.9%

38.2% 3 bedrooms +0.7 pts ▸ 38.9%

20.6% 2 bedrooms ◂ +13.9 pts 6.7%

5.7% 5 or more +4.0 pts ▸ 9.7%

5.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.9 pts 1.8%

0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Weekly rent distribution

34.6% $350–$549 +29.3 pts ▸ 63.9%

42.1% $200–$349 ◂ +18.4 pts 23.6%

15.2% Under $200 ◂ +11.0 pts 4.3%

3.8% $550–$749 +1.0 pts ▸ 4.8%

0.7% $750 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.4% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +10.2 pts 31.2%

25.6% $1,800–$2,999 +14.1 pts ▸ 39.8%

19.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +8.1 pts 11.8%

7.3% $3,000 or more +5.1 pts ▸ 12.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +135 more in Moreton Bay - South

462 14th pct 597 23rd pct

Stops/1k in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +0.92 more in Moreton Bay - South

1.82 9th pct 2.74 14th pct

Departures/1k in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +50.0 more in Cairns

446.8 36th pct 396.8 33rd pct

PT routes in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +67 more in Moreton Bay - South

22 14th pct 89 62nd pct

How people get to work

58.9% Car (driver) ◂ +0.2 pts 58.7%

11.1% Worked at home +5.7 pts ▸ 16.8%

5.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.7 pts 3.8%

3.2% Walked ◂ +2.4 pts 0.8%

0.0% Train +2.7 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.3% Bus ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

1.0% Bicycle ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

38.0% 2 vehicles +5.1 pts ▸ 43.1%

37.3% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.7 pts 30.6%

12.4% 3 vehicles +2.5 pts ▸ 14.9%

6.2% 4 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 8.4%

6.1% No vehicle ◂ +3.0 pts 3.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.2 pts 16.1%

9.5% Retail trade +0.4 pts ▸ 9.9%

8.3% Construction +1.4 pts ▸ 9.7%

9.6% Accommodation & food ◂ +3.7 pts 5.9%

8.7% Education & training even 8.6%

7.0% Public administration & safety +0.5 pts ▸ 7.5%

4.3% Professional & technical +2.8 pts ▸ 7.0%

5.2% Transport & warehousing +0.5 pts ▸ 5.6%

5.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.1 pts 0.4%

4.1% Manufacturing +1.3 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.3% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 4.2%

3.6% Administrative & support ◂ +0.5 pts 3.1%

Occupations people work in

18.3% Professionals +3.1 pts ▸ 21.4%

11.4% Clerical & administrative +3.5 pts ▸ 14.9%

14.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.8 pts 13.9%

14.3% Community & personal service ◂ +1.6 pts 12.8%

12.0% Managers +0.3 pts ▸ 12.3%

12.1% Labourers ◂ +3.9 pts 8.2%

9.1% Sales workers ◂ +0.3 pts 8.8%

6.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.1 pts 6.1%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +32,449 higher in Cairns

271,408 48th pct 238,959 41st pct

Growth in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +2.3 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

5.6% 45th pct 7.9% 70th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +296 higher in Cairns

1,542 93rd pct 1,246 78th pct

Max temp in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +0.2 higher in Moreton Bay - South

26.8 78th pct 26.9 79th pct

Min temp in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +1.8 higher in Cairns

16.5 91st pct 14.7 85th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +1.3 higher in Moreton Bay - South

4.1 28th pct 5.4 56th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +1.2 more in Moreton Bay - South

4.0 25th pct 5.2 57th pct

15-min city in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +18.1 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

47.7% 28th pct 65.8% 60th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +17.8 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

49.6% 35th pct 67.4% 66th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +30.2 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

48.7% 21st pct 78.8% 52nd pct

Walk to school in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +24.8 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

48.7% 17th pct 73.5% 63rd pct

Walk to a park in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +14.4 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

77.8% 35th pct 92.2% 58th pct

Walk to health in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +17.4 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

34.4% 23rd pct 51.8% 67th pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +2.2 more in Cairns

13.1 25th pct 10.9 8th pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +33 higher in Moreton Bay - South

1 29th pct 34 63rd pct

Mean slope in Cairns in Moreton Bay - South +0.1 pts higher in Moreton Bay - South

5.9% 57th pct 6.0% 61st pct

Compare Cairns with nearby areas

Townsville Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday Queensland - Outback Central Queensland Wide Bay Darling Downs - Maranoa Moreton Bay - North Sunshine Coast Toowoomba Moreton Bay - South Ipswich Brisbane - North

Compare Moreton Bay - South with nearby areas

Brisbane - West Brisbane - North Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South Ipswich Brisbane - East Sunshine Coast Moreton Bay - North Logan - Beaudesert Gold Coast Toowoomba Richmond - Tweed

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns vs Moreton Bay - South [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/306/cairns/vs/314/moreton-bay-south