QLD · Cairns Council

Edge Hill, 4870

Est. population · Jun 2025

4,911

Growth (1 yr)

-0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+0.4%

Median age

42

Median income

$1,674/wk

Employment rate

63.1%

Languages at home

13.1%non-English

Most common: Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

54/100
Average

Top 26% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 66% confidence

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

Suburb profile

Edge Hill is a regional mid-sized suburb in Cairns Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Brisbane. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street.

Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses linking the suburb to surrounding areas.

Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.

Desirability lands around average here: softer safety weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with schools and education, plus community and employment holding up better.

At a glance

Edge Hill snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

$520/wk

Population (ERP)

4,911

-0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

9.3%

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

#44

among Country & regional · Established

Safety

94th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

2nd

percentile in QLD

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

54th

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
54.0/100 — Average
State standing
Top 26% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
1677th in Australia
State rank
384th in QLD
Peer rank
#44 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#109 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
66%

Data sources & freshness

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

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$520

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

4,911(June 2025)

-0.0% annual · +0.4% over 5 years · 2th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.0%
5-year growth
+0.4%
Change in 1 year
-2
Change in 5 years
+20
Growth rank in QLD
2th 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 (~4,950), extrapolated at +0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
4,088
Median age
42
Median household income / week
$1,674
Dwelling vacancy
9.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
166 of 1,793
Median monthly mortgage
$1,618
Employment rate
63.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,137 / 102 / 385

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)
717
Against the person
186
Against property
326
Rate per 1,000 residents
146
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 22 residents
State safety percentile
94.3th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate, partial year)
+0.4%

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
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
1,016
Median ICSEA percentile
54th
School list
  • Edge Hill State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1016 · 54th percentile · LBOTE 43% · 864 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
  • Mother of Good Counsel SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1091 · 82th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 354 students · Top SEA quarter 37% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
  • Whitfield State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 974 · 35th percentile · LBOTE 32% · 774 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

159 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

4 restaurants · 7 cafes · 1 supermarkets · 1 bakeries · 2 places of worship · 3 playgrounds · 8 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
  • Great for outdoor family life15 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access12 public transport stops
  • Strong local sport and recreation13 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
67/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
1.71
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2.94
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.67
Food & drink(12)
  • Brumby's BakeriesBakery
  • Botanic Gardens Restaurant & CafeCafe

    Collins Avenue, Edge Hill

  • Eat St CafeCafe
  • Mucho Love CafeCafe
  • OzmosisCafe
  • Ozmosis Café TrattoriaCafe

    Unit 1 116 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill

  • Tank Sixty FourCafe
  • Teddy EspressoCafe

    120 Collins Avenue

  • Edge Hill Memorial Bowls ClubRestaurant

    181 Woodward Street

  • NOARestaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Spicy BiteRestaurant

    Pease Street, Edge Hill

Shopping(1)
  • Friendly GrocerSupermarket
Community(1)
  • Edge Hill State SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(28)
  • Cairns Chinese Frendship GardenPark
  • Crathern Close ParkPark
  • Jess Mitchell ParkPark
  • Jim Gould ParkPark
  • Mrs Morros ParkPark
  • Park (6)
  • Purbeck Place ParkPark

    Purbeck Place

  • Russell ParkPark
  • Russell Street ParkPark
  • Vessey ParkPark
  • Centenary Lakes Nature PlayPlayground
  • Playground (2)
  • Edge Hill Tennis ClubSports field
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (8)
Entertainment(1)
  • Viewpoint
Transport(12)

12 bus stops

Other(30)
  • LiquorlandAlcohol
  • Star LiquorAlcohol
  • Cairns Botanic GardensAttraction

    Collins Avenue, Edge Hill

  • BOQBank
  • Bbq (3)
  • Bench (22)
  • Bicycle Parking (4)
  • Drinking water (9)
  • Filtered WaterDrinking water
  • Aboriginal Plant Use GardenGarden
  • Fitzalan GardenGarden
  • Rainforest GullyGarden
  • Spice GardenGarden
  • Friends of Botanic Gardens HouseGift
  • A boggy worldInformation
  • BamboosInformation
  • Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor CentreInformation
  • Cannonball TreeInformation
  • Herb and Spice GardenInformation
  • Information (11)
  • Parking (13)
  • Parking Space (12)
  • Edge Hill Service StationPetrol station
  • Picnic Table (3)
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsPlace of worship

    147 Woodward Street

  • The Good Shepherd Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
  • Public toilets
  • Shelter (5)
  • Egan & Turner Travel AssociatesTravel Agency

    Unit 3 116 Collins Avenue

  • Waste Basket (2)

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

9 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Cairns Chinese Frendship GardenPark
  • Crathern Close ParkPark
  • Jess Mitchell ParkPark
  • Jim Gould ParkPark
  • Mrs Morros ParkPark
  • Purbeck Place ParkPark
  • Russell ParkPark
  • Russell Street ParkPark
  • Vessey ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
21
Parks (OSM)
15

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

Places of worship

2 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

    147 Woodward Street

  • The Good Shepherd Anglican Church

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Cairns North Community Health Facility (1.4 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)
102
Participants per 1,000 residents
20.8

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

Heritage

2 heritage places

  • Flecker Botanical GardensState heritage place
  • WWII RAN Fuel InstallationState heritage place

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState 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 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 3.3 km away).

Coalition 36.1%Labor 63.9%

7.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +10.1 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Edge HillLabor 64.3% · Coalition 35.7% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
  • WhitfieldLabor 59.4% · Coalition 40.6% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
  • Cairns WestLabor 67.2% · Coalition 32.9% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
  • ManundaLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
  • StratfordLabor 61.1% · Coalition 38.9% TPP (2025)3.0 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)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

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.