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Cairns vs Darwin

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 1,657 km apart · Cairns profile · Darwin profile

Cairns Darwin

Cairns and Darwin are both major northern hubs, but they offer very different lifestyles. Darwin is more walkable and urban, with 70.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries compared to 49.6% in Cairns. Darwin also has a much more qualified workforce, with 26% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, well above the 16.9% in Cairns. In contrast, Cairns is more residential and older; the typical resident is 41, which is seven years older than the typical resident in Darwin, and homes are far more likely to be owned outright (31.1% versus 17.3%).

Since 2011, the gaps between these two places have grown across almost every major measure. They have drifted apart in terms of age, income, and housing, though they remain very similar in their share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, which sits around 10% for both. While both areas have higher rental rates than the national figure, this is much more pronounced in Darwin, where 43.8% of households rent.

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Where they differ most

Unemployment: 1.7 pts higher in Cairns People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Darwin Separate houses: 14.2 pts higher in Cairns Median age: 7 yrs older in Cairns Household income: $764 higher in Darwin

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns in Darwin +113,846 larger in Cairns gap steady

253,748 59th pct 139,902 31st pct

Median age in Cairns in Darwin +7 yrs older in Cairns gap widening

41 yrs 57th pct 34 yrs 1st pct

Age structure

25.1% Young adults (25–44) +9.3 pts ▸ 34.3%

27.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.8 pts 23.6%

18.5% Children (0–14) +1.7 pts ▸ 20.2%

18.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +8.1 pts 9.9%

11.0% Youth (15–24) +0.9 pts ▸ 11.9%

Marital status

39.5% Never married +3.6 pts ▸ 43.1%

41.1% Married +1.1 pts ▸ 42.3%

10.7% Divorced ◂ +2.5 pts 8.2%

4.9% Widowed ◂ +2.0 pts 3.0%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Cairns Darwin

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

70.7% Australia ◂ +6.9 pts 63.8%

1.1% Philippines +2.7 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.6% England ◂ +0.9 pts 2.7%

1.1% India +1.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.8 pts 1.7%

0.2% Nepal +1.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.4% China +0.6 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.2% Vietnam +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.4% South Africa even 0.5%

Ancestry

34.1% English ◂ +6.4 pts 27.7%

30.8% Australian ◂ +1.9 pts 28.9%

10.5% Irish ◂ +2.0 pts 8.5%

9.3% Scottish ◂ +1.8 pts 7.5%

6.1% Italian ◂ +3.7 pts 2.3%

5.3% German ◂ +1.1 pts 4.1%

1.6% Filipino +3.3 pts ▸ 4.9%

1.7% Chinese +2.6 pts ▸ 4.3%

0.5% Greek +2.3 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.1% Indian +1.7 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.3%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

Language

Language used at home

77.6% English only ◂ +10.9 pts 66.7%

0.1% Greek +2.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.4% Tagalog +1.4 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.5% Mandarin +1.0 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.8% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

0.8% Punjabi even 0.8%

0.1% Hindi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% Cantonese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.3% Christianity ◂ +7.4 pts 36.9%

40.7% No religion +1.4 pts ▸ 42.1%

11.1% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 11.0%

0.7% Hinduism +3.0 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.4% Buddhism +1.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.4% Islam +1.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Cairns in Darwin +44 more in Cairns

109 52nd pct 65 14th pct

Schools/1k kids in Cairns in Darwin +0.02 more in Cairns

2.32 55th pct 2.30 54th pct

Students in Cairns in Darwin +24,429 more in Cairns

48,996 60th pct 24,567 20th pct

Avg size in Cairns in Darwin +72 larger in Cairns

450 51st pct 378 41st pct

ICSEA in Cairns in Darwin +18 higher in Darwin

967 18th pct 985 33rd pct

Highest year of school

50.4% Year 12 +7.5 pts ▸ 57.9%

21.9% Year 10 ◂ +6.8 pts 15.1%

7.9% Year 11 +2.5 pts ▸ 10.4%

9.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.3 pts 6.7%

Highest qualification level

32.9% Certificate III / IV ◂ +5.9 pts 27.0%

19.1% Bachelor degree +5.1 pts ▸ 24.2%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.5 pts 13.2%

4.9% Postgraduate degree +5.4 pts ▸ 10.3%

3.1% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.0 pts ▸ 4.1%

2.5% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.2 pts 2.3%

Field of qualification

14.4% Management & commerce +4.3 pts ▸ 18.7%

14.9% Engineering & related ◂ +0.3 pts 14.6%

11.0% Society & culture +0.9 pts ▸ 11.9%

10.7% Health +0.1 pts ▸ 10.8%

8.0% Education ◂ +0.6 pts 7.4%

6.4% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.7 pts 4.7%

5.7% Architecture & building ◂ +1.6 pts 4.2%

1.2% Information technology +1.8 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.3 pts 2.2%

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

2.3% Creative arts ◂ +0.1 pts 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Cairns in Darwin +$372 higher in Darwin gap widening

$748 38th pct $1,120 85th pct

Household income in Cairns in Darwin +$764 higher in Darwin gap widening

$1,445 30th pct $2,209 86th pct

Family income in Cairns in Darwin +$679 higher in Darwin gap narrowing

$1,806 29th pct $2,485 78th pct

Household income distribution

29.1% $1,500–$2,999 +3.7 pts ▸ 32.8%

29.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +11.4 pts 18.4%

17.5% Under $650 ◂ +8.0 pts 9.5%

6.6% $4,000 or more +8.6 pts ▸ 15.1%

8.2% $3,000–$3,999 +5.3 pts ▸ 13.4%

Personal income distribution

39.3% Under $650 ◂ +12.4 pts 27.0%

32.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.7 pts 31.9%

14.5% $1,500–$2,999 +11.1 pts ▸ 25.7%

2.5% $3,000 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 4.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.0% Arthritis ◂ +2.7 pts 5.3%

7.7% Mental health ◂ +1.8 pts 5.9%

7.5% Other condition ◂ +1.0 pts 6.5%

6.4% Asthma ◂ +0.4 pts 6.1%

4.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.7 pts 3.7%

4.0% Heart disease ◂ +1.6 pts 2.4%

3.0% Cancer ◂ +1.1 pts 1.9%

1.9% Lung condition ◂ +0.7 pts 1.2%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

62.5% None +5.8 pts ▸ 68.3%

17.5% One condition ◂ +2.7 pts 14.8%

5.5% Two conditions ◂ +1.7 pts 3.7%

2.8% Three or more ◂ +1.1 pts 1.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Cairns in Darwin +12,396 larger in Cairns

26,935 91st pct 14,539 83rd pct

Median age in Cairns in Darwin +1 yrs older in Darwin

24 yrs 43rd pct 25 yrs 64th pct

Median income in Cairns in Darwin +$191 higher in Darwin

$508 23rd pct $699 76th pct

Household income in Cairns in Darwin +$521 higher in Darwin

$1,347 23rd pct $1,868 80th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns in Darwin +0.2 larger in Darwin gap steady

2.4 29th pct 2.6 71st pct

Family composition

50.6% Couples with children +8.6 pts ▸ 59.2%

30.1% Couples without children ◂ +5.1 pts 25.0%

18.0% One-parent families ◂ +3.4 pts 14.6%

1.2% Other families even 1.2%

Household size

36.4% 2 people ◂ +4.5 pts 31.9%

27.5% 1 person ◂ +4.2 pts 23.4%

14.7% 3 people +3.5 pts ▸ 18.1%

12.7% 4 people +3.3 pts ▸ 15.9%

5.3% 5 people +1.5 pts ▸ 6.8%

3.4% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns in Darwin +$75 higher in Darwin gap narrowing

$310 35th pct $385 66th pct

Mortgage in Cairns in Darwin +$583 higher in Darwin gap widening

$1,517 29th pct $2,100 78th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns in Darwin +0.10 higher in Darwin gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.8% Rented +11.1 pts ▸ 43.8%

32.4% Owned with a mortgage +3.3 pts ▸ 35.7%

31.1% Owned outright ◂ +13.8 pts 17.3%

2.1% Not stated ◂ +0.4 pts 1.7%

1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

77.5% Separate house ◂ +14.2 pts 63.3%

12.1% Flat or apartment +12.9 pts ▸ 25.0%

8.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.1 pts ▸ 10.5%

1.3% Other dwelling ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

38.2% 3 bedrooms +2.7 pts ▸ 40.9%

26.9% 4 bedrooms ◂ +5.1 pts 21.8%

20.6% 2 bedrooms +2.2 pts ▸ 22.8%

5.6% 1 bedroom +0.4 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.7% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 5.7%

0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Weekly rent distribution

42.1% $200–$349 ◂ +14.9 pts 27.2%

34.6% $350–$549 +6.1 pts ▸ 40.7%

15.2% Under $200 ◂ +5.0 pts 10.3%

3.8% $550–$749 +10.2 pts ▸ 14.0%

0.7% $750 or more +2.5 pts ▸ 3.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.4% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +15.7 pts 25.7%

25.6% $1,800–$2,999 +14.3 pts ▸ 39.9%

19.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +9.4 pts 10.4%

7.3% $3,000 or more +11.6 pts ▸ 18.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Cairns in Darwin +207 more in Darwin

462 14th pct 669 28th pct

Stops/1k in Cairns in Darwin +2.96 more in Darwin

1.82 9th pct 4.78 57th pct

Departures/1k in Cairns in Darwin +354.3 more in Darwin

446.8 36th pct 801.1 49th pct

PT routes in Cairns in Darwin +53 more in Darwin

22 14th pct 75 48th pct

How people get to work

58.9% Car (driver) +9.0 pts ▸ 67.8%

11.1% Worked at home ◂ +6.8 pts 4.3%

5.5% Car (passenger) +0.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

3.2% Walked +0.5 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.3% Bus +1.0 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.0% Bicycle +0.7 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

38.0% 2 vehicles +1.5 pts ▸ 39.5%

37.3% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.3 pts 34.0%

12.4% 3 vehicles +1.2 pts ▸ 13.6%

6.2% 4 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 7.4%

6.1% No vehicle ◂ +0.6 pts 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

7.0% Public administration & safety +11.7 pts ▸ 18.7%

16.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.6 pts 13.6%

9.6% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.0 pts 7.7%

9.5% Retail trade ◂ +2.2 pts 7.3%

8.3% Construction +0.5 pts ▸ 8.8%

8.7% Education & training ◂ +0.3 pts 8.3%

4.3% Professional & technical +1.3 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +4.3 pts 1.2%

5.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.7 pts 4.4%

4.3% Other services ◂ +0.4 pts 3.9%

4.1% Manufacturing ◂ +1.6 pts 2.6%

3.6% Administrative & support ◂ +0.5 pts 3.1%

Occupations people work in

18.3% Professionals +3.4 pts ▸ 21.7%

14.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.3 pts 14.5%

14.3% Community & personal service +0.3 pts ▸ 14.7%

11.4% Clerical & administrative +2.8 pts ▸ 14.2%

12.0% Managers +0.9 pts ▸ 13.0%

12.1% Labourers ◂ +4.3 pts 7.8%

9.1% Sales workers ◂ +2.1 pts 7.0%

6.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.8 pts 5.4%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Cairns in Darwin +112,124 higher in Cairns

271,408 48th pct 159,284 21st pct

Growth in Cairns in Darwin +2.1 pts higher in Darwin

5.6% 45th pct 7.6% 68th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Cairns in Darwin +111 higher in Darwin

1,542 93rd pct 1,652 98th pct

Max temp in Cairns in Darwin +7.6 higher in Darwin

26.8 78th pct 34.4 100th pct

Min temp in Cairns in Darwin +5.6 higher in Darwin

16.5 91st pct 22.1 100th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns in Darwin +1.8 higher in Darwin

4.1 28th pct 5.9 66th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns in Darwin +1.5 more in Darwin

4.0 25th pct 5.5 63rd pct

15-min city in Cairns in Darwin +23.2 pts higher in Darwin

47.7% 28th pct 70.9% 67th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns in Darwin +20.4 pts higher in Darwin

49.6% 35th pct 70.0% 71st pct

Walk to transit in Cairns in Darwin +36.7 pts higher in Darwin

48.7% 21st pct 85.3% 57th pct

Walk to school in Cairns in Darwin +23.7 pts higher in Darwin

48.7% 17th pct 72.5% 61st pct

Walk to a park in Cairns in Darwin +7.5 pts higher in Darwin

77.8% 35th pct 85.2% 47th pct

Walk to health in Cairns in Darwin +19.5 pts higher in Darwin

34.4% 23rd pct 53.9% 71st pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns in Darwin +8.9 more in Darwin

13.1 25th pct 22.0 86th pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns in Darwin +6 higher in Darwin

1 29th pct 8 44th pct

Mean slope in Cairns in Darwin +2.0 pts higher in Cairns

5.9% 57th pct 3.9% 14th 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 Darwin with nearby areas

Northern Territory - Outback Western Australia - Outback (North) Queensland - Outback Cairns Townsville Western Australia - Outback (South) South Australia - Outback Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday Central Queensland Barossa - Yorke - Mid North Far West and Orana Western Australia - Wheat Belt

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns vs Darwin [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/306/cairns/vs/701/darwin