Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Brinsmead
5 km²
Almost entirely made up of detached houses, Brinsmead is a spacious residential area in Cairns with a strong presence of families. The community is notably affluent, with typical household incomes well above the state and national figures. It is a relatively young place where children under 15 make up 22.1% of the population, which is much higher than most areas. This family-focused character is reflected in the large homes and high number of residents caring for children.
Brinsmead has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
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The area is much younger than most, with a typical resident aged 39 and a high proportion of children. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 5.8% of the population, which is a little above the Queensland and Australian figures.
English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries. While 21.0% of people were born overseas—a figure much higher than most similar areas—this is still a little below the Queensland average.
Many residents use a language other than English at home (11.4%), though this is far below the national figure. Only 1.3% of the population speak little or no English.
A high proportion of the community reports no religion at 43.5%, which is well above the national figure. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation at 46.4%.
The community is well-qualified, with 63.3% of residents completing Year 12 and 24.9% holding a bachelor degree or higher, both of which are much higher than most similar areas.
Brinsmead is a wealthy area where typical weekly household income is $2,190, well above the state and national figures. About 27.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Residents enjoy better health than most, with long-term health conditions affecting 23.3% of people, which is well below the national figure. Only 3.6% need help with daily activities.
Unpaid childcare is very common here, with 33.0% of people caring for children, a rate well above the national average. There is also a strong history of service, with 4.6% having served in the Defence Force.
First Nations residents in the area are notably well-educated, with a Year 12 completion rate of 60.2% that is far above the national average. Many also speak a First Nations language, at 22.4%.
Homes are generally large and full, with 2.8 people per household and 61.9% being couples with children. Very few people live alone compared to most areas.
The area is dominated by large detached houses, with 94.0% having three or more bedrooms. Rent is a little above the national figure, with a typical weekly cost of $450.
Most people rely on cars, and 49.9% of homes have two vehicles. While there are more public transport stops than in many similar areas, only 0.4% of people use them to commute.
The population is quite mobile, with 40.7% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 6.6% of the community.
A high proportion of the community is working or looking for work at 72.4%, far above the national figure. Most professionals work in health care, education, or retail.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with no homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services. However, almost everyone lives within a short walk of a park.