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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Cairns City has an estimated 13,609 residents, up from 12,567 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,042 people, or 8.3%. Growth has averaged 1.0% a year over five years. 298 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 96.1% of that increase. That puts 2,192 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Cairns City stands at approximately 13,609 as of Aug 2026. Compared to the 12,567 people recorded during the 2021 Census, this represents an expansion of 1,042 people (8.3%). This shift has been calculated using the ABS estimated resident population figure of 13,599 as of June 2025 alongside 298 validated new addresses registered following the Census date. With 2,191 persons per square kilometer, the local population density exceeds the nationwide benchmark across locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Outpacing both the SA3 area (6.9%) and the broader SA4 region, Cairns City's 8.3% increase establishes it as a regional growth leader.
The primary driver of this demographic expansion has been overseas migration, accounting for roughly 96.1% of recent net population additions. Projections for each SA2 area released by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 using 2022 as the base year are utilised by AreaSearch. For intervals beyond 2032 or locations absent from this series, Queensland State Government SA2 area projections issued in 2023 from 2021 data are incorporated. Because these state figures omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings derived from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, based on 2022 data) across individual cohorts. Looking ahead, future population projections position the locality within the upper quartile of regional areas across the nation, with an anticipated gain of 3,635 persons to 2041 relative to current annual ERP figures, translating to total growth of 26.6% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
96 new dwellings have been approved in Cairns City over the past five years, an average of 19 a year. That places the area in the 50th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 1 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 22 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 9% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals across Cairns City have averaged roughly 19 new homes per year, amounting to 96 homes over the past 5 financial years. Between FY-22 and FY-26 over the past 5 financial years, the area added an average of 6.8 new residents per year per dwelling completed, indicating that residential construction is trailing demand considerably. This dynamic typically fuels buyer competition and upward pricing pressure, with newly built residences averaging $501,000 in expected construction value in line with wider regional development trends. Furthermore, commercial building approvals reached $308.0 million this financial year, underscoring substantial local commercial investment.
Dwelling construction in Cairns City remains notably subdued compared to Rest of Qld, trailing the regional per-capita benchmark by 67.0%. While building activity has gained momentum in recent years, this relative undersupply generally reinforces demand and valuations for established properties. Activity is similarly below the national average, reflecting the established character of the precinct and potential planning constraints. The composition of new residential development stands at 9.0% detached houses and 91.0% townhouses or apartments. Emphasising higher-density formats provides more accessible price thresholds suitable for downsizers, first-home buyers, and investors. Long-term demographic forecasts indicate that Cairns City is on track to add 3,625 residents through to 2041 based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If residential construction volumes remain at current rates, housing creation could fail to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening competition among purchasers and sustaining property value appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cairns City
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 50 current infrastructure and development projects inside Cairns City, worth an estimated $7.59 billion. A further 51 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $12.1 billion. 21 are already under construction and 44 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Infrastructure upgrades, major capital works, and planning developments serve as fundamental drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 64 projects poised to impact the locality. Prominent works include the Cairns Smart Green Economy Initiative, Far North Private Hospital, Cairns Hospital Expansion Project, and Cairns Hospital Master Plan - Stage 1 Expansion, alongside key initiatives outlined below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Cairns Smart Green Economy Initiative
A multi-stage strategic initiative by Cairns Regional Council to position Cairns and Far North Queensland as a leader in the Smart Green Economy. The flagship sub-project, the $472 million Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1), reached construction milestones and is advancing toward delivery[cite: 1]. Jointly funded by the Australian Government ($195 million), Queensland Government ($195 million) and Council, CWSS1 is being constructed by John Holland Queensland to deliver 60 megalitres of treated water per day[cite: 1].Other active initiatives include renewable energy transitions, EV charging infrastructure, circular economy activations, and carbon and biodiversity market development[cite: 1].
Barlow Park Upgrade
The Barlow Park Upgrade is a key regional sports infrastructure investment being delivered ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to host Olympic football matches. The project delivers a new, climate-appropriate shaded western grandstand increasing permanent seating from 1,700 to 5,000, upgraded broadcast lighting, competitor amenities, and improved accessibility across the Cairns Major Events Precinct. Led by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) and Cairns Regional Council with architects Architectus and HKS, construction is scheduled to commence in late 2026.
Cairns Hospital Expansion Project
The Cairns Hospital Expansion Project, guided by a $1 billion Campus Master Plan, delivers a long-term modernization of Far North Queensland health services. Current works include a $181 million refurbishment and expansion program to deliver additional beds, an expanded emergency department, and an integrated Health Innovation and Surgical Centre.
Far North Private Hospital
A new private hospital to be developed by locally owned Integrated Medical Services (IMS) Group within the Dugurrdja Precinct in Cairns CBD, adjacent to Cairns Hospital. IMS won a competitive tender process run by James Cook University (JCU) in October 2024 to finance, design and construct the facility, expanding its existing Far North Day Hospital into a full private hospital with overnight and short-stay capabilities. The hospital will co-locate with JCU's Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service to create the first integrated health, education and research precinct in Northern Australia.Services will include oncology, surgical, and specialist care. The building was expected to be finalised by end of 2026, with the broader Dugurrdja precinct to be completed over three to four years.
Cairns Hospital Master Plan - Stage 1 Expansion
More than $1 billion staged expansion and modernisation of Cairns Hospital under a 30-year campus master plan. Stage 1 includes a new Health Innovation and Surgical Centre with operating theatres, day surgery spaces, 40 overnight inpatient beds, specialist outpatient, clinical trials, simulation and collaboration spaces, plus a Health Management Hub, staff multi-storey car park of about 950 spaces, new helipad and support works. Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service lists Stage 1B as in planning, with Stage 1 building works expected to start in late 2026 and facilities operational in 2031.
Cairns Hospital Campus Master Plan - Stage 1
A $1 billion investment to modernize Cairns Hospital, featuring a new Health Innovation and Surgical Centre, a Health Management Hub, and a 950-space staff car park. The project aims to transition the campus into a tertiary-level health and innovation precinct to meet growing demand in Far North Queensland.
Cairns Health and Innovation Centre (CHIC)
The Cairns Health and Innovation Centre (CHIC) is a centerpiece of the Cairns Hospital Campus Master Plan Stage 1, representing a 250 million AUD investment in health, education, and research infrastructure. The project includes the Health Innovation and Surgical Centre (HISC), featuring 4 new operating theatres, 16 day-surgery spaces, and 40 overnight beds, alongside clinical trials and simulation labs. It also encompasses the Health Management Hub, co-located with James Cook University's Dugurrdja development, to consolidate administrative functions and foster a knowledge economy in Far North Queensland.Construction is scheduled to commence in late 2026, with facilities expected to be commissioned by 2031.
The Yeinie Building
The Yeinie Building, formerly the Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre, is JCU's completed four-storey, 3500 sqm mass-timber health, teaching and research facility in the Dugurrdja Precinct beside Cairns Hospital. It brings together clinical teaching, service delivery, nursing and medicine training, clinic consulting rooms, a demonstration ward, a 10-bed hospital ward, and research spaces supporting tropical health, health innovation, digital technology and data science for Far North Queensland.
7,965 residents of Cairns City are employed, from a labour force of 8,485. Unemployment sits at 6.1%, with participation at 68.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 21,977, about 161% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
A well-educated talent pool and strong representation across essential services characterize Cairns City, where the unemployment rate sits at 6.1%. As of March 2026, 7,965 residents are employed. The jobless rate sits 2.2% higher than the 3.9% recorded for Regional Qld, while the labour force participation rate stands at a standard 68.5% compared to 64.2% across Regional Qld. Census data showed only 12.8% of workers performing their roles from home, a metric that may have been influenced by Covid-19 lockdown measures. The primary employment sectors for local residents include accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.
Specialisation is exceptionally pronounced in accommodation & food, where the proportion of the workforce is 2.6 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, construction is comparatively under-represented, employing just 5.2% of workers in Cairns City compared to 10.1% across Regional Qld. With 1.9 workers for every resident as at the Census, the locality serves as a major employment center that draws in personnel from neighbouring districts and contains more jobs than resident workers. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM figures indicates that during the 12 months to March 2026, Cairns City experienced a 2.0% contraction in the labour force and a 4.1% reduction in total employment, elevating unemployment by 2.1 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1%, the labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment increase by 0.1 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide additional context for prospective demand across Cairns City over five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, total employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories vary by industry. Aligning these sector projections with the local economic structure indicates Cairns City employment could rise by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years (note that this is an illustrative weighting model and excludes local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cairns City is $1,375 a week (about $72,000 a year), with median personal income at $838 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $54,489 a year against an average of $67,723. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's compilation of ATO statistics for financial year 2023, taxpayer earnings across the Cairns City SA2 align closely with national averages. The median income among taxpayers is $54,489 alongside an average income of $67,723, compared to $53,146 and $66,593 respectively in Regional Qld. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated figures reach an estimated $60,679 (median) and $75,416 (average) as of March 2026. In the Census 2021 data, individual earnings sat at the 57th percentile ($838 weekly) while household earnings placed at the 26th percentile.
A notable 30.7% of residents (4,177 individuals) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the broader area where 31.7% fall into this bracket. Elevated housing costs leave residents with only 80.9% of disposable income (22nd percentile), positioning the precinct in the 4th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cairns City had 4,288 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 19% detached houses and 57% apartments. 19% are owned with a mortgage, 62% rented and 19% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $330 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 24.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the latest Census, the housing mix in Cairns City consisted of 19.2% houses alongside 80.8% other dwellings (comprising apartments, semi-detached, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional Qld where houses formed 76.4% and other dwellings accounted for 23.6%. Home ownership rates in Cairns City trailed the broader region at 18.8%, with remaining properties occupied under a mortgage (19.1%) or rented (62.1%). Monthly median mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Regional Qld benchmark of $1,655 at $1,300, while median weekly rent stood at $330 compared to $345 in Regional Qld.
Relative to national figures, Cairns City displays mortgage commitments well under the Australian average of $1,863 and rents markedly below the $375 national benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cairns City counted 4,288 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,644 today, averaging 2.0 people each. 12% are couples with children, fewer than in 96% of areas nationally, against 24% couples without children. 43% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 47.2% of households locally, made up of couples without children (24.2%), couples with children (11.7%), and single parent families (10.1%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 52.8%, with lone person households representing 43.4% and group households comprising 9.4%. The median household size of 2.0 people sits below the Regional Qld standard of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
36.0% of adults in Cairns City hold a university qualification, including 25.2% with a bachelor degree and 7.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 75% of areas nationally. A further 23.4% hold a vocational qualification. 7 schools serve the area, with 4,285 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,028 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Attainment levels among Cairns City residents comfortably exceed regional standards, with 36.0% of individuals aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees compared to 20.6% in Rest of Qld and 21.1% in the SA4 region. This educational profile provides strong footing for knowledge-intensive sectors. Bachelor degrees represent 25.2%, postgraduate qualifications make up 7.6%, and graduate diplomas account for 3.2%. Technical and vocational credentials are also widespread, held by 37.9% of residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (14.5%) and certificates (23.4%). Participation in study is robust, with 38.4% of the population enrolled in formal education programs.
This cohort includes 9.3% attending secondary education, 9.3% in tertiary education, and 7.7% enrolled in primary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Cairns City reaches 32 stops on 20 routes, timetabled for about 1,900 services a week. The typical home sits about 250 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 0.7 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
An assessment of local transit options identifies 32 active transport stops within Cairns City, comprising bus connections. These stops are served by 20 individual routes that deliver 1,856 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is favourable, with residents situated an average of 254 meters from the nearest stop. Because outward commuting is common for residents, personal vehicle use remains the leading travel method at 68%, followed by 18% walking and 5% cycling. Dwelling vehicle ownership averages 0.7, trailing regional levels, while a modest 12.8% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census (which may reflect conditions during COVID-19).
Across all transit routes, service frequency averages 265 trips per day, which translates to roughly 58 weekly trips for each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.7% of residents in Cairns City report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 75% of areas nationally. 3.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators across Cairns City reflect positive outcomes based on AreaSearch evaluations of chronic condition incidence and mortality rates. Across all age groups, common health ailments remain exceptionally low, while private health insurance coverage marginally outpaces the typical SA2 area at approximately 53% of the total population (~7,158 people). Mental health issues (7.9%) and arthritis (5.8%) represent the two most commonly reported conditions among residents, though 74.7% of the population reported no medical ailments whatsoever, outperforming the 67.6% recorded across Regional Qld. Health metrics for residents under 65 are particularly favourable.
Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 15.0% of the population (2,048 people), below the Regional Qld level of 20.3%, and display superior health outcomes that rank even higher nationally than the broader local community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
41.4% of Cairns City residents were born overseas and 29.5% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 80% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (22.3%) and Australian (15.1%). 4.4% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is pronounced in Cairns City, where 41.4% of community members were born overseas and 29.5% speak a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the predominant religious affiliation, encompassing 41.5% of residents. The most notable deviation from wider trends occurs in Other religions, representing 2.4% of the population compared to 0.8% in Regional Qld. Regarding ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the leading lineages in Cairns City are English at 22.3% (trailing the 29.6% regional benchmark), Other at 19.2% (considerably exceeding the 6.9% regional rate), and Australian at 15.1% (below the regional average of 26.5%).
Other distinct ethnic representations include Korean at 1.4% (against 0.2% regionally), Spanish at 1.0% (vs 0.3%), and French at 1.0% (vs 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cairns City is 36. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 40.4% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic profile of Cairns City is heavily weighted toward young adults residing without dependents. As of updated estimates to August 2026, young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) make up 42.1% of the community compared to 25.5% across Regional Qld, while children and young adults (0 - 24) represent only 21.2% versus 29.6% regionally. The estimated median age stands at 36 as at August 2026, down from 37 at the 2021 Census and 5 years younger than the Regional Qld median of 41 recorded at that time. Since the Census, the share of middle aged and young retiree cohorts (45 - 64) has dropped from 25.6% to an estimated 21.7%.
Looking ahead to 2041, young to middle aged adults are projected to drive the bulk of expansion, increasing by 2,017 residents (35%) to reach 7,749.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cairns City
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 50 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 298 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (12,567 at the 2021 Census → 13,609 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (306021145). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.