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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/

Urban Area comparison ≈ 1,656 km apart · Cairns profile · Darwin profile

Cairns Darwin

Cairns and Darwin are both large regional hubs, but they differ in wealth and demographics. Darwin is much more expensive and affluent, with a typical household income of $2,199 per week compared to $1,575 in Cairns. Renting is far more common in Darwin, where 46.4% of homes are rented. Darwin also has a more diverse population; 25.4% of residents use another language at home, which is far higher than the 14.7% in Cairns. In contrast, Cairns is older, with a typical resident aged 39, while the typical person in Darwin is 34.

Everyday life shares many similarities in both places, such as having a similar proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents (around 10%) and nearly the same number of people per home. While Darwin is generally more walkable, with more homes within a 15-minute walk of schools and health services, the gap in home ownership has shifted. Since 2011, the difference in people owning their homes outright has grown, with Cairns now well higher than Darwin.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 7.7 pts higher in Cairns Unemployment: 1.7 pts higher in Cairns One-parent: 3.8 pts higher in Cairns People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Darwin Separate houses: 10.7 pts higher in Cairns

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns in Darwin +26,210 larger in Cairns gap narrowing

153,425 77th pct 127,215 75th pct

Median age in Cairns in Darwin +5 yrs older in Cairns gap widening

39 yrs 43rd pct 34 yrs 7th pct

Age structure

27.1% Young adults (25–44) +8.1 pts ▸ 35.2%

26.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.0 pts 22.9%

19.0% Children (0–14) +1.2 pts ▸ 20.2%

15.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.6 pts 9.7%

11.7% Youth (15–24) +0.4 pts ▸ 12.1%

Marital status

41.7% Never married +1.7 pts ▸ 43.4%

39.3% Married +2.8 pts ▸ 42.1%

10.8% Divorced ◂ +2.7 pts 8.1%

4.4% Widowed ◂ +1.4 pts 3.0%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.5 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

68.2% Australia ◂ +5.6 pts 62.6%

1.3% Philippines +2.8 pts ▸ 4.1%

4.0% England ◂ +1.4 pts 2.6%

1.2% India +1.8 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.9% New Zealand ◂ +1.2 pts 1.7%

0.4% Nepal +1.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.6% China +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% Vietnam +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Ancestry

34.2% English ◂ +7.3 pts 26.9%

29.4% Australian ◂ +1.8 pts 27.6%

10.4% Irish ◂ +2.0 pts 8.4%

9.3% Scottish ◂ +2.1 pts 7.3%

2.0% Filipino +3.3 pts ▸ 5.3%

5.2% German ◂ +1.2 pts 4.0%

4.7% Italian ◂ +2.4 pts 2.3%

2.1% Chinese +2.4 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.6% Greek +2.6 pts ▸ 3.1%

1.3% Indian +1.8 pts ▸ 3.1%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

0.3% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%

Language

Language used at home

76.1% English only ◂ +11.1 pts 65.0%

0.1% Greek +2.4 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.5% Tagalog +1.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.7% Mandarin +0.9 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.3% Vietnamese +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.6% Punjabi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.2% Hindi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

42.5% Christianity ◂ +5.3 pts 37.2%

42.4% No religion ◂ +1.1 pts 41.3%

10.7% Not stated +0.2 pts ▸ 10.8%

1.0% Hinduism +3.1 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.7% Buddhism +1.3 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.5% Islam +1.8 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.1% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

55.5% Year 12 +4.1 pts ▸ 59.6%

19.1% Year 10 ◂ +4.9 pts 14.2%

7.8% Year 11 +2.3 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.9 pts 6.5%

Highest qualification level

31.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +5.4 pts 25.6%

21.3% Bachelor degree +4.0 pts ▸ 25.3%

15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.2 pts 13.2%

5.8% Postgraduate degree +5.3 pts ▸ 11.0%

3.4% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.8 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.4% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.2 pts 2.2%

Field of qualification

15.8% Management & commerce +3.4 pts ▸ 19.2%

14.0% Engineering & related ◂ +0.1 pts 13.9%

12.1% Society & culture +0.3 pts ▸ 12.3%

11.7% Health ◂ +0.6 pts 11.1%

7.8% Education ◂ +0.4 pts 7.5%

6.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.9 pts 4.7%

5.4% Architecture & building ◂ +1.5 pts 3.9%

1.4% Information technology +1.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

2.5% Creative arts ◂ +0.2 pts 2.3%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences +0.2 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.7% Agriculture & environment +0.2 pts ▸ 2.0%

Income

Personal income in Cairns in Darwin +$310 higher in Darwin gap widening

$812 76th pct $1,122 97th pct

Household income in Cairns in Darwin +$624 higher in Darwin gap widening

$1,575 65th pct $2,199 91st pct

Family income in Cairns in Darwin +$521 higher in Darwin gap widening

$1,951 63rd pct $2,472 90th pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 +2.5 pts ▸ 33.4%

28.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +9.9 pts 18.5%

15.6% Under $650 ◂ +6.0 pts 9.6%

7.7% $4,000 or more +7.2 pts ▸ 14.9%

9.1% $3,000–$3,999 +4.2 pts ▸ 13.3%

Personal income distribution

36.7% Under $650 ◂ +9.9 pts 26.7%

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.2 pts 32.3%

16.6% $1,500–$2,999 +9.0 pts ▸ 25.7%

2.9% $3,000 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 4.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.9% Mental health ◂ +2.1 pts 5.9%

7.7% Other condition ◂ +1.3 pts 6.5%

7.1% Arthritis ◂ +1.9 pts 5.2%

6.3% Asthma ◂ +0.3 pts 6.0%

4.0% Diabetes ◂ +0.2 pts 3.7%

3.5% Heart disease ◂ +1.0 pts 2.4%

2.8% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 1.9%

1.7% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

0.9% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.1% None +4.5 pts ▸ 68.6%

17.1% One condition ◂ +2.4 pts 14.7%

5.1% Two conditions ◂ +1.4 pts 3.7%

2.4% Three or more ◂ +0.8 pts 1.6%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns in Darwin +0.1 larger in Darwin gap narrowing

2.5 71st pct 2.6 86th pct

Family composition

52.2% Couples with children +6.6 pts ▸ 58.9%

27.7% Couples without children ◂ +2.9 pts 24.9%

18.8% One-parent families ◂ +3.8 pts 15.0%

1.2% Other families even 1.3%

Household size

34.8% 2 people ◂ +2.9 pts 31.9%

27.5% 1 person ◂ +3.7 pts 23.8%

15.7% 3 people +2.5 pts ▸ 18.3%

13.6% 4 people +2.1 pts ▸ 15.7%

5.3% 5 people +1.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.2% 6 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 3.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns in Darwin +$45 higher in Darwin gap narrowing

$340 68th pct $385 86th pct

Mortgage in Cairns in Darwin +$459 higher in Darwin gap widening

$1,595 59th pct $2,054 91st pct

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

0.80 57th pct 0.90 100th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.1% Rented +10.3 pts ▸ 46.4%

35.2% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.3 pts 33.9%

25.7% Owned outright ◂ +9.1 pts 16.6%

1.7% Not stated even 1.7%

1.2% Other tenure +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

Types of homes

71.0% Separate house ◂ +10.7 pts 60.3%

17.0% Flat or apartment +10.3 pts ▸ 27.3%

10.6% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.7 pts ▸ 11.3%

0.8% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

35.2% 3 bedrooms +6.2 pts ▸ 41.4%

29.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +7.5 pts 21.6%

21.5% 2 bedrooms +1.8 pts ▸ 23.3%

6.2% 5 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 5.3%

5.6% 1 bedroom +0.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

0.7% Studio / none even 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

41.8% $350–$549 ◂ +1.1 pts 40.7%

37.9% $200–$349 ◂ +10.6 pts 27.3%

5.0% $550–$749 +9.0 pts ▸ 14.0%

11.3% Under $200 ◂ +0.9 pts 10.3%

0.9% $750 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 3.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.2% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +14.7 pts 26.5%

27.5% $1,800–$2,999 +12.0 pts ▸ 39.6%

7.8% $3,000 or more +10.4 pts ▸ 18.2%

17.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +7.3 pts 10.6%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

57.9% Car (driver) +9.8 pts ▸ 67.7%

11.8% Worked at home ◂ +7.7 pts 4.1%

5.1% Car (passenger) +1.0 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.4% Walked +1.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.0% Bus +1.4 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.2% Bicycle +0.7 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 2 vehicles +1.8 pts ▸ 39.7%

38.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.2 pts 35.2%

11.6% 3 vehicles +1.3 pts ▸ 12.9%

6.7% No vehicle ◂ +0.7 pts 5.9%

5.5% 4 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 6.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

7.4% Public administration & safety +11.7 pts ▸ 19.1%

18.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.2 pts 14.2%

10.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.3 pts 8.0%

9.8% Retail trade ◂ +2.4 pts 7.4%

8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.4 pts 8.4%

8.4% Construction ◂ +0.3 pts 8.1%

5.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.4 pts 4.4%

4.8% Professional & technical +0.9 pts ▸ 5.7%

4.5% Other services ◂ +0.7 pts 3.8%

3.7% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 3.1%

3.4% Manufacturing ◂ +0.9 pts 2.4%

2.0% Wholesale trade ◂ +0.4 pts 1.6%

Occupations people work in

20.9% Professionals +1.6 pts ▸ 22.5%

15.1% Community & personal service even 15.2%

14.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.8 pts 13.9%

11.9% Clerical & administrative +2.1 pts ▸ 14.0%

10.9% Managers +1.9 pts ▸ 12.8%

9.8% Labourers ◂ +2.1 pts 7.6%

9.6% Sales workers ◂ +2.5 pts 7.1%

5.4% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.4 pts 5.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns in Darwin +0.7 higher in Darwin

5.7 77th pct 6.4 92nd pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns in Darwin +0.6 more in Darwin

5.4 74th pct 6.0 89th pct

15-min city in Cairns in Darwin +11.0 pts higher in Darwin

66.5% 76th pct 77.5% 92nd pct

Walk to shops in Cairns in Darwin +7.9 pts higher in Darwin

68.3% 81st pct 76.2% 92nd pct

Walk to transit in Cairns in Darwin +7.2 pts higher in Darwin

85.5% 60th pct 92.7% 87th pct

Walk to school in Cairns in Darwin +14.8 pts higher in Darwin

64.0% 50th pct 78.8% 86th pct

Walk to a park in Cairns in Darwin +3.3 pts higher in Cairns

96.3% 90th pct 93.0% 72nd pct

Walk to health in Cairns in Darwin +14.7 pts higher in Darwin

44.2% 62nd pct 58.9% 90th pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns in Darwin +10.5 more in Darwin

13.0 30th pct 23.5 85th pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns in Darwin +8 higher in Cairns

66 93rd pct 58 90th pct

Mean slope in Cairns in Darwin +1.6 pts higher in Cairns

5.6% 59th pct 3.9% 27th 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 Darwin with nearby areas

Not in any Significant Urban Area Broome Alice Springs Mount Isa Port Hedland Cairns Karratha Not in any Significant Urban Area Townsville Not in any Significant Urban Area Not in any Significant Urban Area Airlie Beach - Cannonvale

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/sua/3004/cairns/vs/7002/darwin