Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
White Rock
10 km²
Daily life in White Rock is shaped by a young population and a strong First Nations presence, with 18.5% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. This community in the Cairns region has grown by nearly 10% since 2011 and is notably family-oriented, with a high proportion of children and one-parent households. While typical incomes are well below the national figure, the area is defined by its accessibility to parks and public transport. It is a residential hub where many people live in larger, multi-bedroom homes.
White Rock's schools draw a more advantaged community than the area overall.
13 schools within reach make White Rock convenient for families.
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The community is younger than most, with a typical age of 37 and a high 22% of residents under 15. People in de facto relationships are much more common here than in other similar areas, and the population has aged slightly since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the proportion of people born overseas is well below the national figure. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, totaling about 60% of the population.
About 13.5% of people use a language other than English at home, which is about the same as the Queensland average. Very few residents speak little or no English, at just 1.7%.
The number of people with no religion has risen sharply by 18 points since 2011 to reach 39.7%. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 45.2%.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 10.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree and 45.6% completing Year 12, both far below the national figures.
Incomes are significantly lower than the national average, with the typical household earning $1,396 a week. Only 9.1% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen since 2011.
People needing help with daily activities are much more common here than in most areas, at 7.6%. Long-term health conditions are reported at 27.6%, which is about the same as the national figure.
Volunteer rates are much lower than in most areas, at 10.6%. However, there is a higher rate of people who have served in the Defence Force compared to the national average.
The First Nations community is a significant part of the area, with 20% speaking a traditional language. Unemployment is much higher here than the state average at 19.6%, though Year 12 completion is far above the national figure.
One-parent families are very common, making up 24.5% of households, which is far above the national figure. This helps explain why there are more people per home than usual.
Renters are more common than in most areas, and home ownership outright is much lower than the national average. Typical weekly rents are $340, which is a little below the national figure.
Most people rely on cars, and only 8% of the workforce works from home, which is far below the national figure. While many homes are near public transport, only 1.5% of people use it to commute.
The area is relatively stable, with 39% of people moving in the last five years, which is lower than the Queensland average. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen since 2011.
The unemployment rate is 7.7%, which is a little above the national average. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, or retail trade.
The area is ranked low for overall advantage, as well as for job skills and access to resources, placing it among the bottom 20% of similar areas.
The local climate is very wet and warm, with annual rainfall far above the Queensland average and minimum temperatures well above the state figure.
While almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park or public transport, the area is mostly car-dependent because groceries and health services are far away.