Cairns City at a glance
Median house
$660,000
Median unit
$380,000
Walk score
100
Walker's paradise
Population
3,616
Median age 44
The brief
What to know about Cairns City.
The postcode for Cairns City is 4870 (QLD).
The median house price in Cairns City is $660,000.
Cairns City (4870) sits in the Cairns region of Queensland. The median house here is $660,000, below the Queensland median of around $780K.
Cairns City has roughly 3,616 residents, with an established, older skew. Households are a roughly even mix of owners and renters. Day-to-day life here is very walkable, with most errands manageable on foot.
Side by side
Compare Cairns City with a nearby suburb.
Median, growth, schools, walkability, all in one view.
Day to day
What it’s like to live here.
Cairns City scores 100/100 on walkability, which makes it very walkable with limited public transport. Coffee, groceries and a meal out are mostly walking-distance, which keeps a household viable on one car.
Summer days here average around 32°C (warm), winter mornings around 17°C (mild). Annual rainfall lands at about 2065mm. Data comes from the Bureau of Meteorology's Cairns Aero station, 97.0km away.
Schooling within or near the suburb covers 6 government primary, 3 government secondary, 8 Catholic, 1 independent.
Who lives here
Demographics.
The 2021 Census put Cairns City's population at 3,616, with a median age of 44. That sits as an established, older skew. Households are a roughly even mix of owners and renters (47% own, 49% rent), which shapes everything from school catchment stability to how often properties turn over. Lone-person households are notable here (39%), often a marker of unit-heavy stock and walkable infrastructure.
Population
3,616
Median age
44
Family households
53%
Lone person
39%
Demographics data as of May 2026· ABS 2021 Census
Houses change hands at $660,000 on a typical sale, below the Queensland median. Units come in around $380,000, roughly 42% below the house median.
For buyers
A 20% deposit on the median house works out to roughly $132,000. Prices are below the Queensland median, which keeps Cairns City on the radar for first-home buyers and right-sizers.
Market
The price of a home here.
Median house price
$660,000
+0.0% over the past year. Median unit price $380,000.
Sales data as of December 2024· sales-abs
Rental and ownership
Weekly rent (house)
$310/wk
Weekly rent (unit)
$413/wk
Owner occupied
47%
Renter occupied
49%
At a deeper level
$660,000
$380,000
3,616
Median age: 44
Free appraisal
What’s your home worth in Cairns City?
A local agent who actually sells in Cairns City will give you an honest number, backed by recent comparable sales. Free, no commitment to list.
Free guide · 2026 edition
Thinking of selling in Cairns City?
The complete guide to selling: what it costs, how agents price your home, and a 12-week plan to settlement. Personalised to Cairns City, free, in 60 seconds.
Free guide · 2026 edition
Thinking of buying in Cairns City?
What you can actually spend, the 2026 first home buyer schemes for your state, and how not to overpay. A free buying guide, in about 60 seconds.
Get property alerts for Cairns City
Be the first to know when new listings hit the market.
For investors
Investment overview.
Gross rental yield on houses sits at 2.44% (median rent $310/wk against a $660,000 price tag). Units yield 5.65% gross, often the better cash-flow play for first-time investors. With 49% of households renting, the leasing market is established and vacancy risk tends to be lower than in owner-dominated suburbs.
Gross Yield (House)
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 20242.44%
Based on $660,000 median
Gross Yield (Unit)
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 20245.65%
Based on $380,000 median
Annual Growth (House)
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 2024–
Year-on-year capital growth
Annual Growth (Unit)
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 2024–
Year-on-year capital growth
Owner Occupancy
Source: ABS Census 2021 · May 202647%
Higher = more owner-occupier demand
Days on Market
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 2024–
Lower = higher buyer demand
Gross rental yield is annual rent divided by purchase price, before expenses. It does not account for vacancy rates, management fees, maintenance, or financing costs. Use this as a starting point for further research.
Safety
Crime and safety.
LGA-wide data, not suburb-specific
QLD Police only publishes crime statistics at the local government area / region level. The numbers below cover the entire Cairns Regional Council, which may include suburbs with very different crime profiles. Quieter residential pockets within the LGA likely have lower rates than the total suggests; busier areas may have higher.
42,302
total offences in 2026 across the Cairns Regional Council LGA
Top offence categories
Crime statistics are reported at LGA level and may cover a broader area than this suburb.
Source: State Police Open Data
Getting around
Walkability.
100
30
100
Scores calculated from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)
Walkability data as of May 2026· OpenStreetMap
Place
Location.
Amenities
Transport
Education
Schools in Cairns City.
Local schools for Cairns City
View the catchment for each school to find out more.
Government School Catchment
Cairns State High School
Parramatta State School
Trinity Bay State High School
© ACARA, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Climate
Weather year-round.
Annual Rainfall
2065 mm
Hottest Month (avg max)
31.5°C
Coldest Month (avg min)
16.9°C
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Weather data from BOM station Cairns Aero (97 km away)
Climate data as of May 2026· Bureau of Meteorology
Frequently asked
About Cairns City.
- What is the median house price in Cairns City?
- The median house price in Cairns City, QLD 4870 is $660,000. The median unit price is $380,000.
- What is the Cairns City postcode?
- Cairns City is in the 4870 postcode, in QLD, in the Cairns Regional Council region.
- Where is Cairns City?
- Cairns City is a regional suburb in QLD, postcode 4870, in the Cairns Regional Council region.
- What is the average rent in Cairns City?
- The median weekly rent for houses is $310, for units it's $413.
- What schools are in Cairns City?
- There are 20 schools serving Cairns City on this page, including St Monica's College, Cairns State High School, St Augustine's College.
- How walkable is Cairns City?
- Cairns City has a Walk Score of 100 out of 100, very walkable. transit score 30, bike score 100.
- What suburbs are near Cairns City?
- Cairns City is close to Cairns Mc, Cairns Orchid Plaza, Cairns Dc, Cairns Central, Parramatta Park.
- What is the population of Cairns City?
- The population of Cairns City is approximately 3,616 (2021 Census). The median age is 44.
For Sale
Cairns City
Buying
Selling
Side by side
Compare Cairns City vs a nearby suburb
See median prices, growth, schools, walkability and risk side by side in one view.
Sources cited
Median, growth and rental data from state revenue offices and ABS. Census from ABS 2021. Climate from BoM. Hazard from Geoscience Australia. School data from ACARA. Crime from state police open data. Full methodology →
Always dated
Every figure on this page carries its source and as-of date in a tooltip. If a figure looks off to you, tell us and we’ll fix it within a week.
No login
No paywall, no sign-up, no download form. The suburb data is the product. We earn from partner brokers and agents on the rare occasion you ask for one.
Thinking about selling in Cairns City?
The complete selling guide, personalised to Cairns City: what it really costs, how agents price homes here, and a 12-week plan to settlement. Free PDF, 60 seconds.
Get the free selling guide