Overall score
Cairns City
52.4/100
Cairns North
50.4/100
Cairns City vs Cairns North, QLD Suburb Comparison
Cairns City for retirees and families; Cairns North for investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityCairns North
Crime rate
Cairns City
236.8 / 1k
Cairns North
236.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
810
Cairns North
384
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Cairns North
5,334
Metric leadCairns City 6Cairns North 41 tiedacross 11 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesCairns City
- Best for familiesCairns City
- Best for beach lifestyleCairns City
- Best for investmentCairns North
- Best for best schoolsCairns City
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Cairns City | Cairns North |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 52.4/100 | 50.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.9/100 | 50.4/100 |
| Crime rate | 236.8 / 1k | 236.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 5 |
| Weather (desirability) | 11.8/100 | 11.8/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 7 |
| Walkability | 94.0/100 | 89.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 810 | 384 |
| Green cover | 5.3% | 9.8% |
| Population | 3,616 | 5,334 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 4/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, and Cairns North is a regional mid-sized suburb with local services and a more relaxed pace. Where Cairns City is shaped by the coast, Cairns North offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Cairns City pulls ahead on schools and education options, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities, whereas Cairns North is the better pick for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and parks and reserves. Cairns City generally means housing toward the upper end of the market, while Cairns North leans toward more sought-after housing.
Retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and households prioritising schools may find Cairns City the better fit, while investors are more likely to prefer Cairns North.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.