Cairns

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 9.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure. The typical resident is 39, and while the number of seniors has risen since 2011, the area remains younger than most with 19% of the population being children.

About 23.3% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than most similar areas. This diversity has grown since 2011, though the overall proportion of overseas-born residents remains well below the national average.

The use of languages other than English at home has risen to 14.7%, which is a little above the state average. Only 1.9% of people speak little or no English, though this is much higher than in most similar areas.

People with no religion now make up 42.4% of the community, a figure that has risen by 23 points since 2011. This is well above the national figure, while Christianity remains common at 42.5%.

The area is better qualified than most similar places, with 19.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is a rise of 8.2 points since 2011, alongside a similar increase in the number of people who completed Year 12.

Typical weekly household income is $1,575, which is slightly below the national figure. Personal incomes have fallen since 2011, and the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week is lower than in the rest of the state.

Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most other areas, with 24.6% affected, which is well below the national average. Only 5.4% of people need help with daily activities.

A higher number of people have served in the Defence Force compared to most areas. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011, and fewer people do significant amounts of unpaid housework than in other similar places.

One-parent families make up 18.8% of households, which is well above the national figure. This contributes to larger households, with 2.5 people per home, which is much higher than in most similar areas.

Renting is common, with 36.1% of households renting, which is well above the national average. Homes here are often smaller, with only 70.5% having three or more bedrooms, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

While 57.9% of people drive to work, 11.8% now work from home, a big increase since 2011. Very few people use public transport to commute, at just 1.1%.

The community is quite mobile, with 44.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is well above the national average. This is despite a fall in recent overseas arrivals since 2011.

More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas. Health care and social assistance is the biggest employer, and the unemployment rate of 5.8% is slightly above the state average.

The area is somewhat walkable, with 85.5% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport—far above the state average. Most residents can also reach a park, grocery store, or school within a 15-minute walk.