Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Cairns North suburb profile
Cairns North, QLD · Postcode 4870
This Cairns North suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Cairns North, QLD (postcode 4870). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Cairns North with nearby suburbs.
Cairns North at a glance
Population
5,334
Median rent
$340/wk
Household income
$1,402/wk
Median age
37
Cairns North trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+20% over 10 years
Population
5,334
was 5,191 in 2016
+143 · +2.8%
Median rent
$340/wk
was $300/wk in 2016
+$40 · +13.3%
Household income
$1,402/wk
was $1,166/wk in 2016
+$236 · +20.2%
Median age
37
was 35 in 2016
+2 · +5.7%
Dig deeper: Cairns North population growth · Cairns North then and now
Cairns North vs nearby & QLD
Median Census 2021 figures for Cairns North, nearby suburbs (8), and the QLD state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-8.1% vs area
- Cairns North$340/wk
- Nearby$320/wk
- QLD$370/wk
Household income
-18.4% vs area
- Cairns North$1,402/wk
- Nearby$1,584.5/wk
- QLD$1,719/wk
Median age
-5.1% vs area
- Cairns North37
- Nearby40
- QLD39
Personal income
+10.4% vs area
- Cairns North$873/wk
- Nearby$810.5/wk
- QLD$791/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD.
Socio-economic profile
How Cairns North compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Cairns North sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2947.6
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 4965.2
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1845.5
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 81,033.3
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Cairns North on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Cairns North, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Cairns North people
- Population
- 5,334
- Median age
- 37
- Born overseas
- 33.1%
- Average household size
- 1.9
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Cairns North income
- Median household income
- $1,402/wk
- Median personal income
- $873/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Cairns North housing
- Median rent
- $340/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,300/mo
- Separate houses
- 11%
- Flats & apartments
- 62%
- Owned outright
- 12.5%
- Mortgaged
- 13.8%
- Rented
- 49.5%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 22.1%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Cairns North work
- Employment to population
- 55.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 7.3%
- Year 12 or above
- 58.1%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4870)
Compare Cairns North with nearby suburbs
Cairns North in numbers
Cairns North had 5,334 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 327th most populous suburb or locality in QLD out of 3,110. The median age is 37, 7% below the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 1.9 people. 33.1% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 12.5% own their home outright, 13.8% are paying a mortgage, 49.5% rent. Flats and apartments make up 62% of dwellings, with 11% separate houses. Median rent was $340/wk, 3% below the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $1,402/wk, 17% below the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 7.3%. 58.1% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 2.8% (from 5,191 to 5,334). Median rent moved from $300/wk to $340/wk (+13.3%).
Cairns North suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Cairns North, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Cairns North was $340/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Cairns North, QLD?
- Cairns North had 5,334 residents at the 2021 Census, up 2.8% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Cairns North?
- Median household income in Cairns North was $1,402/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Cairns North?
- 49.5% of occupied homes in Cairns North were rented, 12.5% were owned outright and 13.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Cairns North suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Cairns North. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology