Cairns North

Population growth drivers in Cairns North are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of Nov 2025, Cairns North's estimated population is around 6,052. This reflects an increase of 718 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,334. The current resident population estimate by AreaSearch is 5,855, following examination of latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,192 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Cairns North's growth rate of 13.5% since the 2021 census exceeded SA3 area (8.0%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.0% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch adopts 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 from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied for each age cohort. Considering projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecasted for the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas. The Cairns North SA2 is expected to grow by 1,690 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 22.6% over the 17 years.

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

Cairns North had an average of three approvals per year for residential developments between 2016 and 2020, resulting in 17 dwellings over this five-year period. This low development activity reflects the rural nature of the area, with housing needs primarily driven by local requirements rather than broader market demand. The small sample size means that individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics.

Compared to the rest of Queensland and national averages, Cairns North has much lower development activity. New developments consist of 14% standalone homes and 86% medium to high-density housing, providing more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. By 2041, Cairns North is projected to gain 1,366 residents, based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep up with population growth, potentially intensifying competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Looking ahead, Cairns North is expected to grow by 1,366 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Cairns North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 49 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include the Cairns Hospital Expansion Project, Esplanade Waterfront Apartment Towers, Cairns Smart Green Economy Initiative, and another Cairns Hospital Expansion project. 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 North has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Cairns North has an educated workforce with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 5.2% as of AreaSearch data aggregation.

As of September 2025, employment stood at 3442 residents with a 6.3% unemployment rate compared to Rest of Qld's 5.2%. Workforce participation was similar to the regional level at 59.1%. Key industries were health care & social assistance (27%), accommodation & food (20.8%), and retail trade (14%). The area had a strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level.

Construction had limited presence at 4.8% compared to the regional 10.1%. There was one worker per resident as of the Census, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.3%, with employment down by 2.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.4 percentage points. State-level data to November 25 showed QLD employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1210 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%. National forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Cairns North's employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.8% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Cairns North had a median taxpayer income of $54,444 and an average income of $67,713 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is comparable to national averages, whereas Rest of Qld's median was $53,146 with an average of $66,593. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91%, estimated incomes are approximately $59,839 (median) and $74,423 (average). Census 2021 data shows personal income ranks at the 63rd percentile ($873 weekly), with household income at the 29th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 32.6% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually (1,972 individuals). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Cairns North's dwelling structure in its latest Census data showed 14.4% houses and 85.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Non-Metro Qld's 68.4% houses and 31.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cairns North was at 16.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 18.2% and rented at 65.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Cairns North was $340, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $315. Nationally, Cairns North's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,300 versus Australia's $1,863, and rents were less at $340 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 45.1% of all households, including 12.7% couples with children, 21.0% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 54.9%, with lone person households at 45.6% and group households comprising 9.2%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

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

Cairns North's residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (37.2%) compared to the Rest of Qld (20.6%) and the SA4 region (21.1%). Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 36.5% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (14.2%) and certificates (22.3%). Educational participation is high, with 35.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes tertiary education (10.0%), secondary education (8.2%), and primary education (7.4%).

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 North shows that there are 16 active transport stops currently operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 11 individual routes providing service to the area. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 1,045.

The accessibility of public transport in Cairns North is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 198 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 149 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 65 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance across Cairns North, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is approximately 54%, comprising around 3,269 people, compared to 50.9% in the rest of Queensland.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 8.5% and 5.6% of residents respectively. A total of 75.4% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, higher than the 71.7% reported across the rest of Queensland. The area has 12.7% of residents aged 65 and over, which amounts to 768 people, lower than the 15.7% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, aligning with the general population's health profile.

Cairns North was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Cairns North has a significant level of cultural diversity, with 28.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home, and 39.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Cairns North, representing 41.3% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 2.7% of the population, which is higher than the 1.5% average across the rest of Queensland.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (21.9%), Other (19.8%), and Australian (15.1%). This latter figure is lower than the regional average of 21.9%. Some ethnic groups show notable variations in representation: Spanish at 0.9% compared to 0.4% regionally, Hungarian at 0.4% versus 0.2%, and Korean at 0.9% compared to 0.4%.

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

Cairns North's median age is 36, which is lower than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Cairns North at 26.3%, compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 6.9%. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national figure of 14.5%. Since 2021, younger residents have shifted the median age down by 1.5 years to 36. Specifically, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 21.9% to 26.3% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 11.0%, and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 12.2% to 10.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Cairns North, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to grow by 35% (560 people), reaching 2,152 from 1,591. In contrast, the 15 to 24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 2% (13 people).