Overall score
Cairns City
52.4/100
Innisfail
42.5/100
Cairns City vs Innisfail, QLD Suburb Comparison
Cairns City for retirees and families; Innisfail for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityInnisfail
Crime rate
Cairns City
236.8 / 1k
Innisfail
153.5 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
810
Innisfail
114
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Innisfail
1,091
Metric leadCairns City 7Innisfail 31 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 investmentInnisfail
- Best for best valueInnisfail
- 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 | Innisfail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 52.4/100 | 42.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.9/100 | 51.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 236.8 / 1k | 153.5 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 6 |
| Weather (desirability) | 11.8/100 | 9.6/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 6 |
| Walkability | 94.0/100 | 61.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 810 | 114 |
| Green cover | 5.3% | 4.1% |
| Population | 3,616 | 1,091 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 1/10 |
Comparison summary
Cairns City reads as a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone; Innisfail is a regional hub with its own identity and everyday convenience. Where Cairns City is shaped by the coast, Innisfail offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Cairns City tends to lead on walkability, nearby cafés and amenities, and overall desirability, while Innisfail stands out for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and parks and reserves. Cairns City generally means housing toward the upper end of the market, while Innisfail leans toward more approachable housing costs.
Retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and households prioritising schools may find Cairns City the better fit, while investors and value-focused buyers are more likely to prefer Innisfail.
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.