Overall score
Cairns City
52.4/100
Yorkeys Knob
39.8/100
Cairns City vs Yorkeys Knob, QLD Suburb Comparison
Cairns City for retirees and families; Yorkeys Knob for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityYorkeys Knob
Crime rate
Cairns City
236.8 / 1k
Yorkeys Knob
82.7 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
810
Yorkeys Knob
11
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Yorkeys Knob
2,794
Metric leadCairns City 8Yorkeys Knob 21 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 investmentYorkeys Knob
- Best for best valueYorkeys Knob
- 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 | Yorkeys Knob |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 52.4/100 | 39.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.9/100 | 64.2/100 |
| Crime rate | 236.8 / 1k | 82.7 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 11.8/100 | 11.8/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 4 |
| Walkability | 94.0/100 | 3.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 810 | 11 |
| Planning activity | — | 1 |
| Green cover | 5.3% | 3.9% |
| Population | 3,616 | 2,794 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 3/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, and Yorkeys Knob is a quieter mid-sized suburb with space and a country-town pace. Where Cairns City is shaped by the coast, Yorkeys Knob offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Cairns City tends to lead on schools and education options, parks and reserves, and walkability, while Yorkeys Knob stands out for housing affordability and a quieter safety profile. Cairns City generally means housing toward the upper end of the market, while Yorkeys Knob leans toward more approachable housing costs.
Cairns City suits families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and households prioritising schools more clearly, whereas Yorkeys Knob 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.