Overall score
Cairns City
56.5/100
Edge Hill
54.0/100
Cairns City for families and beach lifestyle; Edge Hill for retirees and investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Cairns City
56.5/100
Edge Hill
54.0/100
Crime rate
Cairns City
145.8 / 1k
Edge Hill
146.0 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
799
Edge Hill
159
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Edge Hill
4,088
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Cairns City | Edge Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 56.5/100 | 54.0/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.6/100 | 59.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 145.8 / 1k | 146.0 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 3 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 9 |
| Walkability | 95.5/100 | 67.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 799 | 159 |
| Population | 3,616 | 4,088 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, while Edge Hill is a regional mid-sized suburb with local services and a more relaxed pace. Cairns City leans into coastal living, while Edge Hill feels more inland and suburban in character.
Cairns City pulls ahead on a quieter safety profile and schools and education options, whereas Edge Hill is the better pick for housing affordability and parks and reserves.
Choose Cairns City if you are weighing families and people chasing a beach lifestyle; lean toward Edge Hill for retirees and investors.