QLD · Cairns Council

Bungalow, 4870

Est. population · Jun 2025

2,486

Growth (1 yr)

+0.3%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.6%

Median age

38

Median income

$1,121/wk

Employment rate

51.5%

Languages at home

23.2%non-English

Most common: Japanese, Punjabi, Korean

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

39.5/100
Below average

820th in QLD

Verified 66% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Education hub
  • Café precinct
  • National parks
  • High desirability
What Bungalow is known for: Green suburb, Education hub, Café precinct, National parks, High desirability

Suburb profile

Away from the major hubs, Bungalow is a smaller community in Cairns Council with its own quieter rhythm. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Many residents were born overseas or speak a language other than English at home.

Families have many nearby school and early-learning options to choose from. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.

Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.

Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because community and employment trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Bungalow snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

$525/wk

Population (ERP)

2,486

+0.3% 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

#113

among Country & regional · Established

Safety

94th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

25th

percentile in QLD

Advantage (IRSAD)

1/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

36th

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
39.5/100 — Below average
National rank
3857th in Australia
State rank
820th in QLD
Peer rank
#113 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#389 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
66%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$525

Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

2,486(June 2025)

+0.3% annual · +2.6% over 5 years · 25th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.3%
5-year growth
+2.6%
Change in 1 year
+7
Change in 5 years
+63
Growth rank in QLD
25th 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 (~2,500), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
2,358
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$1,121
Dwelling vacancy
12.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
139 of 1,112
Median monthly mortgage
$1,371
Employment rate
51.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
405 / 124 / 421 (+ 14 other)

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian 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)
363
Against the person
94
Against property
165
Rate per 1,000 residents
146
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 25 residents
State safety percentile
94.2th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate, partial year)
+0.5%

Most common offence types

  • Assault1421
  • Drug Offences1831
  • Good Order Offences1465
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)2862
  • Unlawful Entry1021

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime MapQueensland 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
7
Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
975
Median ICSEA percentile
36th
School list
  • Balaclava State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 797 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 44% · 381 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Parramatta State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 887 · 8th percentile · LBOTE 50% · 482 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
  • St Joseph's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1029 · 59th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 348 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
  • Trinity Bay State High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 908 · 12th percentile · LBOTE 54% · 1,784 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
  • Cairns School of Distance EducationCombined · Government · ICSEA 1024 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 3,692 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
  • St Augustine's CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1060 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 777 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
  • The BUSY SchoolSecondary · Independent · ICSEA 975 · 36th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 1,780 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

89 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

2 restaurants · 2 cafes · 1 fast food · 1 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations · 2 post offices

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life5 parks mapped in suburb
  • Reasonable bus and transport access8 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
22/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.85
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2.12
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.12
Food & drink(5)
  • Tattooed Sailor Coffee RoastersCafe
  • Zarraffa's CoffeeCafe
  • SubwayFast food
  • German Club CairnsRestaurant

    57 Winkworth Street

  • Sushi MomijiRestaurant

    111 Aumuller Street

Sport & outdoors(7)
  • Iron strength power and performanceGym

    268 Spence Street

  • Etta Green ParkPark
  • Park (4)
  • Swimming pool
Transport(8)

8 bus stops

Other(29)
  • The Battery StoreBatteries

    Unit 2 365 Mulgrave Road, Bungalow

  • Battery WorldBattery
  • Bench
  • Bills MarineBoat
  • Voca Group Pty Ltd Cabinet MakerBuilders And Cabinet Maker

    10 Franzmann Street, Bungalow

  • Buffalo MotorsCar
  • A1 Mechanical servicing and repairsCar repair

    57 Morehead Street

  • Car repair
  • TNQ MechanicalCar repair

    Unit 3 128-130 Lyons Street, Bungalow

  • Lifeline ShopCharity

    188 Aumuller Street

  • VinniesCharity
  • Totally WorkwearClothes
  • Brilliant TechnologyComputer

    151 Mulgrave Road

  • The Good GuysElectronics

    285 Mulgrave Road

  • Tropic DaysHostel

    28 Bunting Street, Bungalow

  • BCFOutdoor

    175 Buchan Street

  • Bills MarineParking
  • Parking (21)
  • Parking Space (21)
  • Cash ConvertersPawnbroker
  • BPPetrol station
  • Reece PlumbingPlumbing
  • Australia Post BungalowPost office
  • Australia Post business CentrePost office
  • Public toilets
  • JaycarRadiotechnics

    153 Mulgrave Road

  • North Queensland Recycling AgentsRecycling

    27 Federation Street, Bungalow

  • Your Space on McCoombeStorage Rental
  • TelstraTelephone

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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Etta Green ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
8
Parks (OSM)
5

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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Medicare Centre (2.5 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
85
Participants per 1,000 residents
34.2

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

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 normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Leichhardt
Member of Parliament
Matt SMITH (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
122,757
Turnout (2025)
83.0%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+9.5 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 43.9%Labor 56.1%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.7 km away).

Coalition 36.5%Labor 63.5%

7.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +11.6 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • MoorooboolLabor 61.0% · Coalition 39.0% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
  • Parramatta ParkLabor 65.2% · Coalition 34.8% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
  • ManundaLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
  • Cairns WestLabor 67.2% · Coalition 32.9% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
  • EarlvilleLabor 54.6% · Coalition 45.4% TPP (2025)2.2 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

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

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.