State Electorate · Area profile
Cairns
60 km²
A far higher proportion of renters live in Cairns than in most other similar areas, with 44.4% of households renting. This is a growing regional hub that has added about 10,000 people since 2011. It is a diverse community where 11.2% of residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure well above the national average. The area is very walkable, with most homes located within a short stroll of parks, shops, and public transport.
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The population is a little older than the national typical age of 38, with an average of 39 years. Notably, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has grown significantly, rising from 1.4% in 2011 to 11.2% in 2021.
About 25.9% of residents were born overseas, which is well above the Queensland average. English is the most common ancestry at 30.4%, followed by Australian at 25.1%.
Language diversity has increased, with 18.7% of people using another language at home, up 11 points since 2011. This is well above the state average, though it remains well below the national figure.
Christianity is the most common religion at 41.1%, while 39.4% of residents report no religion. The share of people with no religion rose 17 points since 2011.
Around 20.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is well below the national average of 26.3%. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 rose 6.1 points since 2011 to reach 53.9%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,396, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 14.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, a standing that is much lower than most similar areas.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most similar areas, with 24.5% reporting a long-term health condition, which is well below both the state and national figures.
Participation in unpaid housework and childcare is much lower than in most areas. However, the community has a higher rate of former Defence Force members (3.9%) than the national average.
Household structures are quite distinctive, with 35.2% of people living alone and 21.7% of families being one-parent households, both of which are among the highest rates for similar areas.
Homes here are smaller and less likely to be owned outright than in the rest of the state. Separate houses are far less common than the national average, and 44.4% of households rent.
While 11.2% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national average, the use of public transport for commuting has fallen to 1.2%.
Cairns is a highly mobile area, with 44.3% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 17.2% of the population, a figure higher than most similar areas.
The unemployment rate is 6.7%, which is a little above the national figure of 5.1%. Health care and social assistance is the largest employer, accounting for 19.6% of jobs.
The area is very walkable with a score of 6.7, well above the state average. Over 90% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport, and 98.5% are near a park.