Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Cairns Council
Babinda, 4861
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,331
Growth (1 yr)
+1.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.8%
Median age
48
Median income
$1,048/wk
Employment rate
43.4%
Languages at home
6.9%non-English
Most common: Italian, Australian Indigenous languages
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- Café precinct
- Heritage area
- National parks
Suburb profile
Babinda sits in Cairns Council as a regional smaller community that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Local eateries and coffee spots give the area a friendly, everyday social rhythm.
Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Buses and trains link the suburb to surrounding neighbourhoods. Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Desirability sits around average overall, with community and employment the main drag compared with similar regional towns.
At a glance
Babinda snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
1,331
+1.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
12.5%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#67
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
72nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
56th
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
15th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 46.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 39% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 2743rd in Australia
- State rank
- 592nd in QLD
- Peer rank
- #67 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #225 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 77%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
1,331(June 2025)
+1.3% annual · +4.8% over 5 years · 56th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.3%
- 5-year growth
- +4.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +17
- Change in 5 years
- +61
- Growth rank in QLD
- 56th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~1,400), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,287
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,048
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 71 of 569
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,108
- Employment rate
- 43.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 467 / 21 / 0 (+ 11 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
- 79
- Against the person
- 16
- Against property
- 33
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 59.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 80 residents
- State safety percentile
- 71.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +29.5%
Most common offence types
- Drug Offences19
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)18
- Unlawful Entry13
- Good Order Offences8
- Traffic And Related Offences15
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 915.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 15th
School list
- St Rita's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 900 · 11th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 27 students · Top SEA quarter 0% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Babinda State SchoolCombined · Government · ICSEA 931 · 18th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 280 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Babinda Day CarePollard Roadkindergarten
- Babinda Kindergarternkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Amenities
61 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 pubs · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 1 bakeries · 1 libraries · 3 places of worship · 1 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 3 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 50/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 3.11
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.33
Food & drink(4)
- Babinda BakeryBakery
Munro Street, Babinda
- Kool Spot CafeFast food
103 Munro Street, Babinda
- Babinda State HotelPub
Munro Street, Babinda
- Pub
Shopping(3)
- Tootie's ButchersButcher
Munro Street, Babinda
- SparSupermarket
Community(5)
- Babinda Presbyterian Church HallCommunity centre
School Street, Babinda
- Babinda QCWACommunity centre
- Babinda KindergarternKindergarten
- Babinda LibraryLibrary
- Social Centre
Health & services(4)
- Babinda Multi-Purpose Health ServiceClinic
- Babinda DoctorsMedical clinic
- Mamu Aboriginal HealthcareMedical clinic
- Babinda PharmacyPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(10)
- Babinda Golf CourseGolf course
Hospital Street, Babinda
- Anzac ParkPark
- Bill Wakeham ParkPark
- Picnic area
- Cairns Regional CouncilPlayground
- Babinda PoolSports centre
Church Street, Babinda
- Babinda Skate ParkSports field
- Sports field
- The OvalSports field
- Swimming pool
Entertainment(1)
- Babinda Munro Picture TheaterCinema
Transport(2)
1 bus stops · 1 train stations
Other(29)
- Bendigo BankATM
- Bendigo BankBank
- Babinda Rest AreaCamp Site
- Babinda AutomotiveCar repair
34 Munro Street, Babinda
- Car repair
- Caravan Site
- Cootharinga BabindaClothes
42 Munro Street, Babinda
- Joy's Crystal ShopEsoteric
- Babinda RSL ClubEvents Venue
School Street, Babinda
- Fitness Station
- Fountain
- Babinda Pony ClubHorse Riding
- Information
- Roddo's NewsagencyNewsagent
- Parking (4)
- Babinda Presbyterian ChurchPlace of worship
- Holy Cross Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
Church Street, Babinda
- St Rita's churchPlace of worship
Church Street
- Babinda PolicePolice
10 Munro Street, Babinda
- Australia PostPost office
Munro Street, Babinda
- Public toilets
- Sanitary Dump Station
- Shelter (2)
- Shower
- Abbeyfeild HouseSocial Facility
Hospital Street, Babinda
- Queensland HealthSocial Facility
- Babinda Creek Swimming HoleSwimming Area
- Babinda BMX TrackTrack
- The Kingsbury BuildingYes
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Anzac ParkPark
- Bill Wakeham ParkPark
- Hardwood Drive ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Babinda Presbyterian Church
- Holy Cross Anglican Church
Church Street, Babinda
- St Rita's church
Church Street
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 3
- Nearest hospital
- Innisfail Hospital (22.6 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Babinda DoctorsDoctor
- Babinda Multi-Purpose Health ServiceClinic
- Mamu Aboriginal HealthcareDoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 26
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 19.5
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 31° / 25°
- Rainfall
- 1,038 mm · ~90 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 29° / 24°
- Rainfall
- 925 mm · ~92 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 164 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 28° / 22°
- Rainfall
- 188 mm · ~24 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Heritage
2 heritage places
- Babinda Air Raid ShelterState heritage place
- Babinda HotelState heritage place
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Kennedy
- Member of Parliament
- Bob KATTER (Katter's Australian Party (KAP))
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 123,696
- Turnout (2025)
- 83.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.3%Labor 40.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 24.6 km away).
Coalition 56.9%Labor 43.1%
2.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.6 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- BabindaLabor 43.9% · Coalition 56.1% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- MirriwinniLabor 34.9% · Coalition 65.1% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
- GarradungaLabor 29.7% · Coalition 70.3% TPP (2025)15.5 km away
- Mcdonnell CreekLabor 34.4% · Coalition 65.6% TPP (2025)15.8 km away
- GoondiLabor 43.3% · Coalition 56.7% TPP (2025)22.6 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Cairns Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.