Overall score
Cairns City
52.4/100
Whitsundays
41.9/100
Cairns City vs Whitsundays, QLD Suburb Comparison
Cairns City for retirees and families; Whitsundays for value and schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityWhitsundays
Crime rate
Cairns City
236.8 / 1k
Whitsundays
—
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
810
Whitsundays
90
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Whitsundays
2,281
Metric leadCairns City 6Whitsundays 3across 9 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 investmentCairns City
- Best for best valueWhitsundays
- Best for best schoolsWhitsundays
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 | 52.4/100 | 41.9/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.9/100 | 25.1/100 |
| Crime rate | 236.8 / 1k | — |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 11.8/100 | 26.4/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | — |
| Walkability | 94.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 810 | 90 |
| Planning activity | — | 1 |
| Green cover | 5.3% | 0.3% |
| 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, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities, whereas Whitsundays is the better pick for housing affordability and stronger socioeconomic advantage. On housing, Cairns City sits in a gently premium 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, families, investors, and value-focused buyers are more likely to prefer Whitsundays.
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.