Overall score
Cairns City
56.5/100
Cooktown
33.0/100
Cairns City vs Cooktown, QLD suburb comparison
Cairns City for retirees and families; Cooktown for investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityCooktown
Crime rate
Cairns City
145.8 / 1k
Cooktown
95.4 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
799
Cooktown
0
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Cooktown
2,746
Metric leadCairns City 7Cooktown 2across 9 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 investmentCooktown
- Best for best valueCairns City
- 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 | Cooktown |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 56.5/100 | 33.0/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.6/100 | 26.5/100 |
| Crime rate | 145.8 / 1k | 95.4 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 3 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 3 |
| Walkability | 95.5/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 799 | 0 |
| Population | 3,616 | 2,746 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 2/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, and Cooktown is a quieter mid-sized suburb with space and a country-town pace. Where Cairns City is shaped by the coast, Cooktown offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Cairns City tends to lead on parks and reserves and walkability, while Cooktown stands out for housing affordability and a quieter safety profile. On housing, Cairns City sits in a well priced band, compared with a affordable feel in Cooktown.
Choose Cairns City if you are weighing retirees and families; lean toward Cooktown for investors.