Overall score
Cairns City
52.4/100
Port Douglas
44.5/100
Cairns City vs Port Douglas, QLD Suburb Comparison
Cairns City for retirees and beach lifestyle; Port Douglas for families and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityPort Douglas
Crime rate
Cairns City
236.8 / 1k
Port Douglas
66.4 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
810
Port Douglas
58
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Port Douglas
3,650
Metric leadCairns City 6Port Douglas 5across 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 familiesPort Douglas
- Best for beach lifestyleCairns City
- Best for best valuePort Douglas
- 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 | Port Douglas |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 52.4/100 | 44.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.9/100 | 52.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 236.8 / 1k | 66.4 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 11.8/100 | 7.6/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 7 |
| Walkability | 94.0/100 | 2.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 810 | 58 |
| Green cover | 5.3% | 7.7% |
| Population | 3,616 | 3,650 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 5/10 |
Comparison summary
Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, while Port Douglas is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone.
On the data, Cairns City is stronger for schools and education options, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities; Port Douglas answers with housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and parks and reserves. On housing, Cairns City sits in a gently premium band, compared with a expensive feel in Port Douglas.
Choose Cairns City if you are weighing families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and households prioritising schools; lean toward Port Douglas for retirees, 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.