Compare

Cairns City vs Portsmith

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

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 3.9 km apart · Cairns City profile · Portsmith profile

Cairns City Portsmith

Cairns City and Portsmith are neighbouring areas with very different profiles. Cairns City is a more affluent hub where the typical weekly household income is $1,627, compared to $749 in Portsmith. It has a much higher proportion of university graduates (19.5% versus 6.4%) and people born overseas (26.3% versus 8.0%). In contrast, Portsmith has a much larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, at 26.1% compared to 3.2% in Cairns City, and a higher share of homeowners who own their place outright.

These two areas have tracked in different directions since 2011, though they still share some commonalities. Both have roughly the same number of people per home (1.9) and similar rates of people providing unpaid care. While Cairns City is dominated by flats and apartments, Portsmith is mostly made up of separate houses. The gap in housing and income remains significant, though both areas now sit well below the national figure for adults working or looking for work.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Separate houses: 54.7 pts higher in Portsmith First Nations: 23.0 pts higher in Portsmith Population: 3,302 larger in Cairns City Year 12: 19.5 pts higher in Cairns City PT commute: 1.8 pts higher in Cairns City

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns City in Portsmith +3,302 larger in Cairns City gap widening

3,616 86th pct 314 59th pct

Median age in Cairns City in Portsmith +9 yrs older in Cairns City gap widening

44 yrs 46th pct 35 yrs 14th pct

Age structure

35.5% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +12.2 pts 23.2%

29.0% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.6 pts 27.4%

9.7% Youth (15–24) +15.8 pts ▸ 25.5%

20.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +8.1 pts 12.4%

5.4% Children (0–14) +5.8 pts ▸ 11.1%

Marital status

50.1% Never married +11.7 pts ▸ 61.8%

30.2% Married ◂ +8.4 pts 21.8%

12.6% Divorced ◂ +2.9 pts 9.6%

3.6% Widowed +1.0 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.8% Separated ◂ +1.7 pts 2.1%

Age & sex structure

Cairns City Portsmith

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

35.9% Australia +14.4 pts ▸ 50.3%

4.1% England ◂ +1.9 pts 2.2%

2.3% New Zealand ◂ +1.4 pts 1.0%

1.0% China +0.9 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.9% Philippines +1.0 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.6% India ◂ +1.6 pts 0.0%

1.0% Italy ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

0.4% Vietnam ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.4% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.1% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

22.7% English ◂ +9.0 pts 13.7%

12.1% Australian ◂ +1.0 pts 11.1%

8.4% Irish ◂ +4.5 pts 3.8%

5.9% Scottish ◂ +1.7 pts 4.1%

4.2% Italian ◂ +3.2 pts 1.0%

3.7% German +0.4 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.1% Chinese ◂ +1.2 pts 1.9%

1.2% Filipino +1.3 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.9% Indian ◂ +1.9 pts 0.0%

0.7% Dutch +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Greek ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.5% Vietnamese ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

Language

Language used at home

45.5% English only ◂ +2.2 pts 43.3%

1.2% Mandarin ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%

1.2% Italian ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%

0.7% Punjabi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.6% Cantonese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

0.5% Arabic ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.4% Hindi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

39.2% Not stated +11.7 pts ▸ 51.0%

29.3% No religion +2.9 pts ▸ 32.2%

27.5% Christianity ◂ +10.7 pts 16.9%

1.1% Hinduism ◂ +1.1 pts 0.0%

1.1% Buddhism ◂ +1.1 pts 0.0%

0.9% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%

0.7% Islam ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.2% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Cairns City in Portsmith

5.13 59th pct —

Schools ≤3 km in Cairns City in Portsmith +6 more in Portsmith

13 83rd pct 19 86th pct

Avg size in Cairns City in Portsmith +138 larger in Cairns City

1,051 100th pct 913 100th pct

ICSEA in Cairns City in Portsmith +5 higher in Cairns City

985 47th pct 980 44th pct

Highest year of school

41.2% Year 12 ◂ +19.5 pts 21.7%

4.1% Year 9 or below +8.8 pts ▸ 12.9%

10.9% Year 10 ◂ +4.5 pts 6.5%

4.3% Year 11 +1.8 pts ▸ 6.1%

Highest qualification level

16.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +10.6 pts 6.3%

12.2% Certificate III / IV +1.4 pts ▸ 13.6%

9.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.4 pts 6.3%

5.7% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.2 pts 2.4%

2.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.2 pts 0.0%

0.9% Certificate I / II +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Field of qualification

11.7% Management & commerce ◂ +9.3 pts 2.4%

7.3% Engineering & related +2.4 pts ▸ 9.7%

8.6% Health ◂ +7.1 pts 1.5%

6.3% Society & culture ◂ +2.4 pts 3.9%

4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +4.5 pts 0.0%

3.5% Education ◂ +1.5 pts 1.9%

1.6% Natural & physical sciences +1.4 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.4% Architecture & building even 2.4%

1.6% Creative arts ◂ +1.6 pts 0.0%

0.8% Agriculture & environment +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.0% Information technology ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Cairns City in Portsmith +$416 higher in Cairns City gap widening

$907 73rd pct $491 11th pct

Household income in Cairns City in Portsmith +$878 higher in Cairns City gap widening

$1,627 56th pct $749 4th pct

Family income in Cairns City in Portsmith +$454 higher in Cairns City gap narrowing

$2,162 67th pct $1,708 38th pct

Household income distribution

15.5% Under $650 +27.3 pts ▸ 42.9%

27.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +15.8 pts 11.9%

27.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +20.4 pts 7.1%

12.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +12.8 pts 0.0%

9.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +9.1 pts 0.0%

Personal income distribution

21.9% Under $650 +11.3 pts ▸ 33.2%

22.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +11.4 pts 10.7%

12.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.8 pts 6.8%

4.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.2 pts 1.1%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

4.8% Other condition +8.9 pts ▸ 13.7%

4.1% Mental health +5.4 pts ▸ 9.6%

2.8% Diabetes +4.8 pts ▸ 7.6%

3.0% Heart disease +3.1 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.8% Arthritis ◂ +0.6 pts 4.1%

4.1% Asthma even 4.1%

0.3% Dementia +3.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.7% Stroke +2.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.2% Cancer ◂ +2.2 pts 0.0%

1.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

43.9% None ◂ +11.1 pts 32.8%

11.4% One condition ◂ +2.8 pts 8.6%

3.6% Two conditions +3.4 pts ▸ 7.0%

1.6% Three or more +4.1 pts ▸ 5.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Cairns City in Portsmith +32 larger in Cairns City

114 86th pct 82 84th pct

Median age in Cairns City in Portsmith +20 yrs older in Cairns City

37 yrs 75th pct 17 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Cairns City in Portsmith +$114 higher in Cairns City

$531 37th pct $417 19th pct

Household income in Cairns City in Portsmith +$316 higher in Cairns City

$1,041 20th pct $725 9th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns City in Portsmith even gap narrowing

1.9 11th pct 1.9 11th pct

Family composition

59.6% Couples without children +0.9 pts ▸ 60.5%

29.7% Couples with children +5.2 pts ▸ 34.9%

9.4% One-parent families +2.2 pts ▸ 11.6%

1.8% Other families ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%

Household size

43.2% 2 people ◂ +12.2 pts 31.0%

39.1% 1 person +3.7 pts ▸ 42.9%

10.8% 3 people +1.1 pts ▸ 11.9%

5.8% 4 people ◂ +5.8 pts 0.0%

1.3% 5 people ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns City in Portsmith +$133 higher in Cairns City gap widening

$413 84th pct $280 50th pct

Mortgage in Cairns City in Portsmith +$27 higher in Portsmith gap narrowing

$1,733 57th pct $1,760 59th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns City in Portsmith +0.10 higher in Portsmith gap steady

0.90 86th pct 1.00 89th pct

How homes are owned or rented

48.6% Rented ◂ +15.3 pts 33.3%

30.3% Owned outright +12.5 pts ▸ 42.9%

17.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +9.9 pts 7.1%

2.1% Not stated +12.2 pts ▸ 14.3%

1.2% Other tenure ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%

Types of homes

80.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +80.6 pts 0.0%

2.4% Separate house +54.7 pts ▸ 57.1%

3.7% Other dwelling +34.4 pts ▸ 38.1%

5.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.8 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

41.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +10.9 pts 31.0%

35.1% 3 bedrooms ◂ +23.2 pts 11.9%

16.0% 1 bedroom +12.6 pts ▸ 28.6%

1.3% Studio / none +10.6 pts ▸ 11.9%

2.1% 4 bedrooms +7.4 pts ▸ 9.5%

0.3% 5 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

24.3% $200–$349 +4.3 pts ▸ 28.6%

28.1% $350–$549 ◂ +28.1 pts 0.0%

25.0% $550–$749 ◂ +25.0 pts 0.0%

10.7% Under $200 ◂ +10.7 pts 0.0%

4.3% $750 or more ◂ +4.3 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

27.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +27.9 pts 0.0%

24.5% Under $1,000 ◂ +24.5 pts 0.0%

20.4% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +20.4 pts 0.0%

13.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +13.6 pts 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Cairns City in Portsmith +8 more in Cairns City

11 81st pct 3 72nd pct

Stops/1k in Cairns City in Portsmith +6.51 more in Portsmith

3.04 70th pct 9.55 87th pct

Departures/1k in Cairns City in Portsmith +2,852.1 more in Cairns City

3,925.3 100th pct 1,073.2 87th pct

PT routes in Cairns City in Portsmith +19 more in Cairns City

20 86th pct 1 71st pct

Stop walk in Cairns City in Portsmith +29 longer in Portsmith

3 21st pct 32 68th pct

How people get to work

31.8% Car (driver) ◂ +6.8 pts 25.0%

22.4% Walked ◂ +2.8 pts 19.6%

13.3% Worked at home ◂ +6.2 pts 7.1%

4.6% Car (passenger) +2.6 pts ▸ 7.1%

3.0% Bicycle ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%

1.2% Bus ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

56.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +20.4 pts 36.1%

20.9% 2 vehicles +6.9 pts ▸ 27.8%

16.7% No vehicle ◂ +5.6 pts 11.1%

4.7% 3 vehicles +9.1 pts ▸ 13.9%

1.9% 4 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

5.3% Public administration & safety +26.9 pts ▸ 32.1%

23.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +12.8 pts 10.7%

16.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +9.6 pts 7.1%

1.9% Manufacturing +12.4 pts ▸ 14.3%

7.5% Retail trade ◂ +7.5 pts 0.0%

5.7% Construction ◂ +5.7 pts 0.0%

5.5% Transport & warehousing ◂ +5.5 pts 0.0%

5.4% Professional & technical ◂ +5.4 pts 0.0%

3.7% Education & training +1.7 pts ▸ 5.4%

4.2% Administrative & support ◂ +4.2 pts 0.0%

3.3% Other services ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%

3.0% Rental & real estate ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%

Occupations people work in

10.0% Clerical & administrative +24.0 pts ▸ 33.9%

25.0% Professionals ◂ +16.1 pts 8.9%

11.9% Technicians & trades +9.5 pts ▸ 21.4%

16.8% Managers ◂ +11.5 pts 5.4%

14.2% Community & personal service ◂ +5.2 pts 8.9%

9.6% Labourers ◂ +4.3 pts 5.4%

7.5% Sales workers ◂ +7.5 pts 0.0%

3.7% Machinery operators & drivers +1.7 pts ▸ 5.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns City in Portsmith +5.1 higher in Cairns City

9.2 100th pct 4.1 78th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns City in Portsmith +4.1 more in Cairns City

8.0 100th pct 3.9 77th pct

15-min city in Cairns City in Portsmith +68.6 pts higher in Cairns City

99.9% 100th pct 31.3% 75th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns City in Portsmith +59.7 pts higher in Cairns City

99.9% 100th pct 40.2% 77th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns City in Portsmith +44.8 pts higher in Cairns City

99.8% 99th pct 55.0% 74th pct

Walk to school in Cairns City in Portsmith +80.1 pts higher in Cairns City

99.4% 100th pct 19.3% 64th pct

Walk to a park in Cairns City in Portsmith +17.5 pts higher in Cairns City

99.9% 97th pct 82.4% 76th pct

Walk to health in Cairns City in Portsmith +87.7 pts higher in Cairns City

99.9% 100th pct 12.2% 75th pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns City in Portsmith +20.6 more in Cairns City

49.2 81st pct 28.7 72nd pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns City in Portsmith +694 higher in Cairns City

717 100th pct 24 74th pct

Mean slope in Cairns City in Portsmith +1.8 pts higher in Cairns City

5.0% 42nd pct 3.2% 15th pct

Compare Cairns City with nearby areas

Parramatta Park Westcourt Bungalow Cairns North Manunda Portsmith Manoora Edge Hill

Compare Portsmith with nearby areas

White Rock Bungalow Cairns City Woree East Trinity Westcourt Parramatta Park Glen Boughton

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns City vs Portsmith [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL30478/cairns-city/vs/SAL32354/portsmith