Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Brinsmead
5 km²
Families with children are a major part of life in Brinsmead, where the proportion of those under 15 is well above the national figure. This is a relatively affluent area of Cairns with a growing population and a high number of large, detached homes. Residents generally enjoy higher incomes than the state average, which helps explain why the community is largely home-owning and car-dependent. It is a place where many people are working or looking for work, contributing to its overall stability.
Brinsmead has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
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The community is younger than usual, with children under 15 making up 22.1% of the population. Meanwhile, seniors aged 65 and over represent only 11.8%, a figure well below the national average.
Most residents were born in Australia (75.5%), although the proportion of people born overseas rose to 21.0% since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 84.3% of the community, and the 11.4% who use another language at home is a little below the Queensland figure.
A growing number of residents report no religion, which rose 18 points since 2011 to reach 43.5%. This is well above the Australian figure.
The area is well-qualified, with 63.3% of residents completing Year 12, a figure well above the national average. Bachelor degrees or higher are held by 24.9% of adults.
Typical weekly household incomes are much higher than most areas, reaching $2,190. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more per week rose 17 points since 2011.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most other areas, with only 23.3% reporting a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities are also much fewer than average.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, at 18.6%. A high 33.0% of people also provide unpaid care for children.
First Nations people make up 5.8% of the population, and this group is noticeably more likely to have finished Year 12 compared to the national average.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per household. This is consistent with the high percentage of couples with children, who make up 61.9% of families.
Detached houses are the norm, making up 97.2% of dwellings, with 94.0% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Renting is far less common here than across Australia.
The area is very car-reliant, with only 0.4% of people commuting by public transport. Almost every home owns a vehicle, and 49.9% have two.
About 40.7% of residents moved in the last five years. However, the proportion of recent arrivals from overseas fell 11 points since 2011.
The workforce is very active, with 72.4% of adults working or looking for work, which is far above the national figure. Many work in health care and social assistance.
The area is quite advantaged, ranking higher than 70% of similar areas overall. It has a high score for access to money and resources.
The local climate is very wet and warm, with annual rainfall far above the Queensland average and minimum temperatures that are well above the state figure.
While most people live within a short walk of a park, the area is mostly car-dependent. There are no grocery stores or health services within a 15-minute walk.