Overall score
Cairns City
56.5/100
Whitsundays
46.1/100
Cairns City vs Whitsundays, QLD suburb comparison
Cairns City for beach lifestyle and schools; Whitsundays for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityWhitsundays
Crime rate
Cairns City
145.8 / 1k
Whitsundays
—
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
799
Whitsundays
0
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Whitsundays
2,281
Metric leadCairns City 5Whitsundays 2across 7 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesWhitsundays
- Best for familiesWhitsundays
- Best for beach lifestyleCairns City
- Best for investmentWhitsundays
- Best for best valueWhitsundays
- 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 | Whitsundays |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 56.5/100 | 46.1/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.6/100 | 49.8/100 |
| Crime rate | 145.8 / 1k | — |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 1 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | — |
| Walkability | 95.5/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 799 | 0 |
| Planning activity | — | 1 |
| Population | 3,616 | 2,281 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 10/10 |
Comparison summary
Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, while Whitsundays is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm. Cairns City sits further into the wider countryside, whereas Whitsundays is on a more distant stretch of coast.
Cairns City pulls ahead on schools and education options and walkability, whereas Whitsundays is the better pick for housing affordability and stronger socioeconomic advantage. On housing, Cairns City sits in a well priced band, compared with a expensive feel in Whitsundays.
People chasing a beach lifestyle and households prioritising schools may find Cairns City the better fit, while retirees and families are more likely to prefer Whitsundays.