Cairns North
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Cairns North, QLD 4870.
About Cairns North
Welcome to Cairns North
Cairns North sits just a couple of kilometres from the Cairns CBD, wedged between the city centre and the leafy inland pocket of Parramatta Park, with Cairns City, Westcourt and Manunda all within easy reach. It's a suburb that blends old Queensland charm — think timber cottages on stilts and mango trees over the fence — with a growing number of low-rise apartment blocks that have sprung up to meet demand from tree-and-sea-changers alike.
With a population of 5,334 and a median age of 37, Cairns North attracts a mix of young professionals, downsizers and investors drawn to its proximity to the Cairns Esplanade, the hospital precinct and the airport. It suits buyers who want inner-city convenience without the density of the CBD itself, and renters who value a short commute over a big backyard.
Lifestyle & dining
Cairns North's appeal lies largely in its location — the Cairns Esplanade, with its lagoon, boardwalk and weekend markets, is only a short stroll or bike ride away, as is the café and restaurant strip through Cairns City. Locals tend to treat the suburb as a quiet residential base from which to dip into the city's dining and nightlife, rather than a destination in its own right, and that trade-off is a big part of its charm for people who want peace at home and options nearby.
The streets themselves are shaded by established trees and dotted with classic Queenslander homes, giving the suburb a settled, leafy feel that's increasingly rare this close to a CBD.
Getting around
Being one of the closest residential suburbs to the Cairns city centre, most day-to-day destinations are a five-to-ten minute drive or a comfortable cycle away, including the CBD, the Cairns Base Hospital and the airport. Public buses run through the surrounding streets connecting Cairns North to Manunda, Westcourt and the city, making it a practical option for those without a car.
For longer trips, Cairns Airport is only minutes away, a genuine drawcard for frequent flyers and those working in tourism or aviation-linked industries.
Schools & families
Families in the area are served by Mother of Good Counsel School for primary years and Cairns State High School for secondary, both within easy reach of the suburb. This makes Cairns North a workable choice for families who want inner-city living without sacrificing access to established schools.
While the suburb's dwelling stock leans heavily towards apartments and units, there remains a pocket of traditional houses that appeal particularly to families wanting a bit more space close to the centre.
Housing & architecture
The current mix of listings in Cairns North is dominated by apartments and units, which make up 74% of stock, followed by houses at 18%, with land and townhouses making up the remainder at 4% and 3% respectively. This reflects the suburb's shift over recent years from a purely residential pocket of Queenslanders to a denser mix catering to renters, downsizers and investors.
The houses that remain are typically classic elevated timber Queenslanders, prized for their character and breezy verandahs, while newer developments have introduced low-rise apartment living to the streets closer to the city fringe.
The property market
Cairns North's median house price currently sits at $750,000, having recorded strong growth of 15.4% recently — a sign of solid buyer demand for the suburb's blend of location and lifestyle. Units and apartments, which make up the bulk of the market here, have a median price of $450,000, offering a notably more accessible entry point for owner-occupiers and investors.
Renters can expect to pay a median of $725 per week, a figure that reflects the suburb's tight rental market and its popularity with tenants wanting to be close to the CBD, hospital and airport without living in the thick of the city itself. Given the dominance of apartments and units in current listings, Cairns North has increasingly become a suburb where investors and unit buyers set the pace of the market, even as houses continue to command a premium.
Market snapshot
Cairns North property market
Median sale price
$750k
House · 3 bed
Median rent
$725
per week
Gross rental yield
5.0%
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$580k
Median
$750k
Premium
$884k
Days on market
24
Auction clearance
0%
Sold this year
13
Median sold price trend · House 3 bed
Compound growth +5.5% / yr over 4 yrs
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Cairns North by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Cairns North, QLD 4870.
Population
5,334
residents (2021)
Median age
37
years
Household income
$1,402
median, per week
Median rent
$340
per week
Median mortgage
$1,300
per month
Mortgage / income
21%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Cairns North
Government school catchment
Independent & Catholic schools
Recent results
Recently sold in Cairns North
$475k
1731/2-10 Greenslopes Street
Sold ~July 2026
$810k
22/219-225 Abbott Street
Sold ~July 2026
$350k
3/195-197 Sheridan Street
Sold ~July 2026
$600k
1/378 McLeod Street
Sold ~July 2026
$385k
1223/2-10 Greenslopes Street
Sold ~July 2026
$408k
9/14 Upward Street
Sold ~July 2026
$570k
503/2-10 Greenslopes Street
Sold ~July 2026
$530k
815/2-10 Greenslopes Street
Sold ~July 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Cairns North
Compare the area
Price map around Cairns North
Every listing for sale near Cairns North, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Nearby suburbs
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Common questions
Cairns North suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Cairns North?
The median unit price in Cairns North, QLD is $450k for a 2-bedroom home. Over the past year, median sold prices have risen about 9.8%.
How much is rent in Cairns North?
The median weekly rent in Cairns North is around $545 per week.
Is Cairns North a good place to live?
Cairns North is a coastal suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. Cairns North is an established residential suburb in QLD, with a population of around 5,334 and 2 schools in the area.
What is the population of Cairns North?
Cairns North has a population of 5,334 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 37.
What schools are in Cairns North?
There are 2 schools in or near Cairns North, including Mother of Good Counsel School and Cairns State High School.
How long do homes take to sell in Cairns North?
Properties in Cairns North take around 24 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 0%.
How much do you need to buy in Cairns North?
Entry-level properties in Cairns North start around $244k, while premium homes reach $810k.
What suburbs are near Cairns North?
Suburbs near Cairns North include Parramatta Park, Cairns, Westcourt, Cairns City and Manunda.
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