Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Babinda
40 km²
Typical weekly household incomes in Babinda are much lower than the national figure, reflecting a community with significant economic challenges. The town is far older than most Australian areas, with a large proportion of seniors and a notable First Nations population. This creates a distinct social character where many residents live alone or in detached houses, though a high unemployment rate persists. It is a small, residential hub in the Cairns region with a strong presence of healthcare and education workers.
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Babinda is far older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 48 and over a quarter of the population aged 65 or over. The community is also diverse, with a First Nations population of 13.9%, which is well above the Queensland figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas ancestry are predominantly English, Irish, or Italian. Only 13.4% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national average.
English is the main language for 84.6% of residents. While 6.3% of people use another language at home—a higher rate than many similar areas—this is still far below the national figure.
Over half of the community identifies as Christian. Those reporting no religion make up 36.4%, which is a little below the national average.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 34.4% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%, and only 9.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are much lower than in most of Australia, with the typical weekly household earning $1,048. This is far below the national figure of $1,746, and very few households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Residents experience more health challenges than the national average, with 32.2% having a long-term condition. This is reflected in the 7.8% of people who need help with daily activities, which is much higher than most areas.
Volunteering is a strong point here, with 19.9% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. There is also a higher rate of people providing unpaid care compared to the rest of the country.
The First Nations community is large but faces significant hardship, with an unemployment rate of 22.4% and a typical personal income of $432, both of which are well below national averages.
Many people live alone here—32.6% of households—which is well above the national figure. This contributes to a lower-than-average number of people per home.
The town is dominated by separate houses, with 94% of homes being detached. While typical weekly rents are far below the national figure at $230, a high 29.8% of households are renting.
Cars are essential for most, as 56% of workers drive to work and only 1.9% use public transport. This dependence is clear, as there are no public transport stops in the area.
The population is relatively stable, with 32.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
The unemployment rate is 9.3%, which is well above the national average. Many of those who do work are employed in health care, social assistance, or education.
Babinda is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score well below the Queensland average. While many homes are within a short walk of a school or health service, almost no one is within walking distance of public transport.