Overall score
Cairns City
52.4/100
Mareeba
34.7/100
Cairns City vs Mareeba, QLD Suburb Comparison
Cairns City for retirees and families; Mareeba for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityMareeba
Crime rate
Cairns City
236.8 / 1k
Mareeba
150.3 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
810
Mareeba
17
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Mareeba
11,825
Metric leadCairns City 5Mareeba 51 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 investmentMareeba
- Best for best valueMareeba
- 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 | Mareeba |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 52.4/100 | 34.7/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.9/100 | 54.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 236.8 / 1k | 150.3 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 4 |
| Weather (desirability) | 11.8/100 | 11.8/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 14 |
| Walkability | 94.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 810 | 17 |
| Green cover | 5.3% | 20.0% |
| Population | 3,616 | 11,825 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 2/10 |
Comparison summary
Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, while Mareeba is a regional established suburb that feels self-contained without feeling remote. Cairns City leans into coastal living, while Mareeba feels more inland and suburban in character.
Cairns City pulls ahead on schools and education options, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities, whereas Mareeba is the better pick for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and parks and reserves. On housing, Cairns City sits in a gently premium band, compared with a affordable feel in Mareeba.
Cairns City suits retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and households prioritising schools more clearly, whereas Mareeba is the stronger match for investors and value-focused buyers.
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.