Cairns City
Statistical Area - sa2

Cairns City lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Cairns City's population was around 13,903 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 1,336 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,567. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,509 in June 2024 and an additional 278 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,238 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Cairns City's growth rate of 10.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (7.8%) and the SA3 area, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections are applied for each age cohort. By 2041, a significant population increase of 4,055 persons is forecast in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally, recording a total gain of 26.3% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Cairns City according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Cairns City averaged approximately 9 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 49 homes approved during this period. In FY26 up until now, there have been 40 dwellings approved. On average, around 12.5 new residents arrive per year for each dwelling constructed between FY21 and FY25.

This high demand relative to supply typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $319,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options. In this financial year alone, there have been $308.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. However, compared to the Rest of Qld, Cairns City has significantly less development activity, at 79.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new properties often strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

Nationally, this figure is also below average, which could reflect the area's maturity or possible planning constraints. New development in Cairns City consists predominantly of compact living options: 17.0% detached dwellings and 83.0% townhouses or apartments. This skew towards compact living provides affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. Future projections indicate that Cairns City is expected to add approximately 3,661 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Cairns City has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 68 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Cairns Health and Innovation Centre (CHIC), Cairns Hospital Expansion Project, Cairns Smart Green Economy Initiative, and Esplanade Waterfront Apartment Towers. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Cairns City has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Cairns City has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 4.9%.

In comparison to Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%, Cairns City's unemployment rate is 1.0% higher. Workforce participation in Cairns City is somewhat below standard at 54.8%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment among residents is concentrated in accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Notably, employment levels in accommodation & food are at 2.6 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction has limited presence with 5.2% employment compared to 10.1% regionally. As of the Census, there are 1.9 workers for every resident, indicating that Cairns City functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 1.5% while employment declined by 2.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.0 percentage points in Cairns City. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.8%, labour force grow by 2.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Cairns City's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Cairns City's median income among taxpayers was $52,262 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $64,999 during the same period. These figures compare to Rest of Qld's median and average incomes of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, estimated median income as of September 2025 is approximately $59,573, with average income estimated at $74,092. According to census data, personal income ranks at the 57th percentile ($838 weekly), and household income sits at the 26th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 30.7% of residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (4,268 residents). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 23rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Cairns City features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Cairns City's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 19.2% houses and 80.8% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 68.4% houses and 31.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cairns City was 18.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.1% and rented dwellings at 62.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Cairns City was $330, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $315. Nationally, Cairns City's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Cairns City features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 47.2% of all households, including 11.7% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 52.8%, with lone person households at 43.4% and group households comprising 9.4%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Cairns City shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Cairns City is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 36% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 21.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 37.9% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 14.5% and certificates at 23.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 38.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.3% in secondary education, 9.3% in tertiary education, and 7.7% pursuing primary education. Cairns City operates a robust network of 7 schools educating approximately 4285 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1028) and balanced educational opportunities. The mix includes 3 primary, 3 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. School capacity exceeds residential needs at 31.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 22.5, indicating Cairns City serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of public transport in Cairns City shows that there are currently 32 active transport stops operating within the city. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 20 individual routes providing service to these locations. Together, these routes facilitate 1,856 weekly passenger trips across the city.

The accessibility of public transport is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 254 meters from their nearest transport stop. On average, there are 265 trips per day across all routes, which equates to around 58 weekly trips per individual stop.

Cairns City's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Cairns City with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~7,215 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 7.9 and 5.8% of residents respectively. A total of 74.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 71.7% across Rest of Qld. As of 2016, the area has 14.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,954 people), which is lower than the 15.7% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Cairns City is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Cairns City has a significant cultural diversity, with 29.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 41.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Cairns City, comprising 41.5% of people. However, there is an overrepresentation in the 'Other' religious category, which makes up 2.4% of the population compared to 1.5% across the rest of Queensland.

The top three ancestry groups in Cairns City are English at 22.3%, Other at 19.2%, and Australian at 15.1%, notably lower than the regional average of 21.9%. There are notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: French is overrepresented at 1.0% compared to 0.5% regionally, Spanish at 1.0% compared to 0.4%, and Korean at 1.4% compared to 0.4%.

Cairns City's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Cairns City's median age is 36, which is lower than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and Australia's 38 years. The 25-34 age group is notably over-represented in Cairns City at 27.9%, compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 5.9%. This concentration of the 25-34 cohort is well above the national figure of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, younger residents have shifted the median age down by 1.5 years to 36. During this period, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 23.8% to 27.9%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 10.9% and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 12.5% to 11.1%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Cairns City, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 39%, reaching 5,390 people from 3,884. In contrast, the 15 to 24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 5% (84 people).