Compare

Cairns vs Emerald

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 784 km apart · Cairns profile · Emerald profile

Cairns Emerald

Cairns and Emerald are far apart in Queensland and offer very different lifestyles. Emerald is a younger area where the typical resident is 32, and it has a much higher share of children under 15 at 25.2%. People there generally earn more, with a typical weekly household income of $2,190 and a far higher share of households earning $3,000 or more a week (27.6%). In contrast, Cairns is older, with a typical resident aged 39, and it is much more walkable; for example, 85.5% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport compared to none in Emerald.

These two places have seen their differences grow, particularly with the share of people born overseas, which is now well higher in Cairns. They do share some similarities, such as very similar rates of people who speak little or no English and almost identical typical monthly home-loan payments. While both areas sit above the national figure for those with a bachelor degree or higher, the gap between them has widened since 2011.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Population: 139,336 larger in Cairns 3+ bedrooms: 13.7 pts higher in Emerald One-parent: 6.0 pts higher in Cairns Unemployment: 2.5 pts higher in Cairns Work from home: 7.9 pts higher in Cairns

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns in Emerald +139,336 larger in Cairns gap widening

153,425 77th pct 14,089 14th pct

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

39 yrs 43rd pct 32 yrs 0th pct

Age structure

27.1% Young adults (25–44) +4.5 pts ▸ 31.6%

26.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.2 pts 22.7%

19.0% Children (0–14) +6.3 pts ▸ 25.2%

15.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +8.3 pts 7.0%

11.7% Youth (15–24) +1.7 pts ▸ 13.4%

Marital status

39.3% Married +7.7 pts ▸ 47.0%

41.7% Never married ◂ +2.4 pts 39.3%

10.8% Divorced ◂ +3.3 pts 7.4%

4.4% Widowed ◂ +1.8 pts 2.5%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.2 pts 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Cairns Emerald

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.2% Australia +8.7 pts ▸ 76.9%

2.9% New Zealand +1.2 pts ▸ 4.1%

4.0% England ◂ +2.9 pts 1.1%

1.3% Philippines +0.5 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.5% South Africa +0.9 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.2% India ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

0.6% China ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Ancestry

29.4% Australian +9.2 pts ▸ 38.6%

34.2% English +3.0 pts ▸ 37.2%

10.4% Irish +0.5 pts ▸ 11.0%

9.3% Scottish +1.6 pts ▸ 10.9%

5.2% German +1.2 pts ▸ 6.4%

4.7% Italian ◂ +2.7 pts 2.0%

2.1% Chinese ◂ +0.8 pts 1.3%

2.0% Filipino +0.1 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

1.3% Indian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

76.1% English only +7.0 pts ▸ 83.0%

0.7% Mandarin even 0.7%

0.5% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Punjabi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.6% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.4% Cantonese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Greek even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

42.5% Christianity +6.6 pts ▸ 49.1%

42.4% No religion ◂ +4.5 pts 38.0%

10.7% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 10.1%

1.7% Buddhism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.9%

1.1% Other religions ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%

1.0% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

0.5% Islam even 0.5%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

55.5% Year 12 ◂ +1.7 pts 53.8%

19.1% Year 10 +2.8 pts ▸ 21.9%

7.8% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 7.7%

7.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.2 pts 6.2%

Highest qualification level

31.0% Certificate III / IV +9.2 pts ▸ 40.2%

21.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.6 pts 16.7%

15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +4.0 pts 11.4%

5.8% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.2 pts 3.5%

2.4% Certificate I / II +1.3 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.4% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.5 pts 2.9%

Field of qualification

14.0% Engineering & related +9.9 pts ▸ 23.9%

15.8% Management & commerce ◂ +1.6 pts 14.2%

12.1% Society & culture ◂ +4.5 pts 7.6%

11.7% Health ◂ +4.4 pts 7.3%

7.8% Education +1.4 pts ▸ 9.2%

6.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.5 pts 6.1%

5.4% Architecture & building ◂ +1.1 pts 4.3%

1.7% Agriculture & environment +1.7 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.5% Creative arts ◂ +1.3 pts 1.1%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.0 pts 1.3%

1.4% Information technology ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

Income

Personal income in Cairns in Emerald +$221 higher in Emerald gap widening

$812 76th pct $1,033 93rd pct

Household income in Cairns in Emerald +$615 higher in Emerald gap widening

$1,575 65th pct $2,190 91st pct

Family income in Cairns in Emerald +$559 higher in Emerald gap widening

$1,951 63rd pct $2,510 91st pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 +2.4 pts ▸ 33.3%

28.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +8.5 pts 19.9%

15.6% Under $650 ◂ +7.5 pts 8.1%

7.7% $4,000 or more +6.4 pts ▸ 14.1%

9.1% $3,000–$3,999 +4.4 pts ▸ 13.5%

Personal income distribution

36.7% Under $650 ◂ +7.9 pts 28.8%

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.6 pts 30.9%

16.6% $1,500–$2,999 +5.7 pts ▸ 22.4%

2.9% $3,000 or more +4.5 pts ▸ 7.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.9% Mental health ◂ +0.4 pts 7.5%

6.3% Asthma +1.5 pts ▸ 7.9%

7.7% Other condition ◂ +2.0 pts 5.7%

7.1% Arthritis ◂ +2.6 pts 4.6%

4.0% Diabetes ◂ +1.0 pts 3.0%

3.5% Heart disease ◂ +1.3 pts 2.2%

2.8% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 1.8%

1.7% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

0.9% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.1% None +2.6 pts ▸ 66.6%

17.1% One condition ◂ +1.1 pts 16.0%

5.1% Two conditions ◂ +1.2 pts 3.9%

2.4% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

Community Participation

Family & Households

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

2.5 71st pct 2.7 93rd pct

Family composition

52.2% Couples with children +11.7 pts ▸ 64.0%

27.7% Couples without children ◂ +5.4 pts 22.3%

18.8% One-parent families ◂ +6.0 pts 12.8%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

Household size

34.8% 2 people ◂ +3.5 pts 31.3%

27.5% 1 person ◂ +4.1 pts 23.4%

13.6% 4 people +3.5 pts ▸ 17.1%

15.7% 3 people ◂ +0.6 pts 15.1%

5.3% 5 people +3.6 pts ▸ 8.8%

3.2% 6 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 4.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns in Emerald +$40 higher in Cairns gap widening

$340 68th pct $300 48th pct

Mortgage in Cairns in Emerald +$5 higher in Emerald gap narrowing

$1,595 59th pct $1,600 60th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns in Emerald even gap steady

0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.1% Rented +8.5 pts ▸ 44.7%

35.2% Owned with a mortgage +1.5 pts ▸ 36.7%

25.7% Owned outright ◂ +10.0 pts 15.7%

1.7% Not stated ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

1.2% Other tenure +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

Types of homes

71.0% Separate house +8.7 pts ▸ 79.6%

17.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +8.6 pts 8.4%

10.6% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.1 pts 10.5%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Bedrooms per home

29.1% 4 bedrooms +12.4 pts ▸ 41.6%

35.2% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.4 pts 34.8%

21.5% 2 bedrooms ◂ +10.4 pts 11.0%

6.2% 5 or more +1.7 pts ▸ 7.9%

5.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.3 pts 2.3%

0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

37.9% $200–$349 +4.1 pts ▸ 41.9%

41.8% $350–$549 ◂ +8.1 pts 33.7%

11.3% Under $200 +6.9 pts ▸ 18.2%

5.0% $550–$749 ◂ +3.1 pts 1.9%

0.9% $750 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.2% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +1.3 pts 39.8%

27.5% $1,800–$2,999 +1.9 pts ▸ 29.4%

17.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +1.3 pts 16.6%

7.8% $3,000 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 8.6%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

57.9% Car (driver) +8.9 pts ▸ 66.8%

11.8% Worked at home ◂ +7.9 pts 3.9%

5.1% Car (passenger) +1.6 pts ▸ 6.7%

1.0% Bus +3.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.4% Walked +0.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.2% Bicycle ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 2 vehicles +2.6 pts ▸ 40.5%

38.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.0 pts 32.5%

11.6% 3 vehicles +3.9 pts ▸ 15.4%

5.5% 4 or more +2.8 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.7% No vehicle ◂ +3.2 pts 3.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

1.7% Mining +17.0 pts ▸ 18.7%

18.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +10.6 pts 7.8%

9.8% Retail trade +1.0 pts ▸ 10.8%

10.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +3.2 pts 7.0%

8.8% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 9.1%

8.4% Construction ◂ +1.7 pts 6.7%

7.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.0 pts 5.3%

5.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.5 pts 4.3%

4.5% Other services +0.6 pts ▸ 5.1%

4.8% Professional & technical ◂ +1.6 pts 3.2%

1.1% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +3.3 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.7% Administrative & support ◂ +0.9 pts 2.8%

Occupations people work in

20.9% Professionals ◂ +6.9 pts 14.0%

14.7% Technicians & trades +3.8 pts ▸ 18.5%

15.1% Community & personal service ◂ +6.8 pts 8.4%

5.4% Machinery operators & drivers +9.5 pts ▸ 14.9%

11.9% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.0 pts 10.9%

9.8% Labourers +1.7 pts ▸ 11.5%

10.9% Managers ◂ +0.7 pts 10.2%

9.6% Sales workers +0.2 pts ▸ 9.7%

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns in Emerald +1.9 higher in Cairns

5.7 77th pct 3.8 21st pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns in Emerald +1.2 more in Cairns

5.4 74th pct 4.1 28th pct

15-min city in Cairns in Emerald +16.9 pts higher in Cairns

66.5% 76th pct 49.6% 40th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns in Emerald +21.6 pts higher in Cairns

68.3% 81st pct 46.7% 28th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns in Emerald +85.5 pts higher in Cairns

85.5% 60th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Cairns in Emerald +13.2 pts higher in Emerald

64.0% 50th pct 77.2% 83rd pct

Walk to a park in Cairns in Emerald +3.6 pts higher in Cairns

96.3% 90th pct 92.7% 70th pct

Walk to health in Cairns in Emerald +7.7 pts higher in Cairns

44.2% 62nd pct 36.5% 35th pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns in Emerald +2.0 more in Cairns

13.0 30th pct 11.0 14th pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns in Emerald +17 higher in Cairns

66 93rd pct 49 86th pct

Mean slope in Cairns in Emerald +2.6 pts higher in Cairns

5.6% 59th pct 3.0% 10th pct

Compare Cairns with nearby areas

Townsville Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Mackay Emerald Not in any Significant Urban Area Mount Isa Rockhampton Yeppoon Gladstone Bundaberg Hervey Bay Maryborough

Compare Emerald with nearby areas

Rockhampton Yeppoon Mackay Not in any Significant Urban Area Gladstone Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Bundaberg Townsville Kingaroy Maryborough Hervey Bay Gympie

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns vs Emerald [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3004/cairns/vs/3005/emerald