Babinda
Age 48 is the standout feature of Babinda, sitting 8 years above the national comparison and shaping a quieter, older resident base. The locality has 1,287 people across 39.91 square kilometres, with low density of 32.2 residents per square kilometre. Housing is strongly detached, with 93.6% separate houses, while vacancy is 12.5%, a notable contrast with tightly occupied markets. Household income is $1,048 a week and sits at the 14.9th percentile, lower than the national distribution. Compared with nearby Gordonvale, Babinda has a smaller-town character, with 77.2% of residents staying at the same address and 22.3% volunteering.
Local council: Cairns
Population
1,287
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,048/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Babinda suits buyers prioritising detached housing and manageable holding costs, although a current median house price is not available. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,108, while weekly rent is $230 and mortgage payments equal 24.4% of household income. Most homes are separate houses at 93.6%, with 3-bedroom dwellings the largest group at 49.9%, higher than 4-plus-bedroom homes at 22.6%. Outright ownership is 36.6% and mortgages account for 30.8%, indicating an established resident base. Compared with apartment-led suburbs, Babinda offers less housing variety, so buyers should assess property condition, insurance and commuting needs carefully.
For Buyers
Babinda suits buyers prioritising detached housing and manageable holding costs, although a current median house price is not available. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,108, while weekly rent is $230 and mortgage payments equal 24.4% of household income. Most homes are separate houses at 93.6%, with 3-bedroom dwellings the largest group at 49.9%, higher than 4-plus-bedroom homes at 22.6%. Outright ownership is 36.6% and mortgages account for 30.8%, indicating an established resident base. Compared with apartment-led suburbs, Babinda offers less housing variety, so buyers should assess property condition, insurance and commuting needs carefully.
For Investors
Babinda presents a mixed rental case. Rents average $230 a week, and 30.6% of occupied dwellings are rented, creating a meaningful tenant pool. However, the 12.5% vacancy rate is a clear risk because a smaller market can absorb new listings slowly. Five development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, but they do not establish a dwelling pipeline, so investors should not assume supply growth. Rent growth of 33.3% supports recent momentum, while the forecast names migration as Balanced rather than a strong incoming stream. Compared with a high-demand regional hub, the combination of high vacancy and limited price visibility calls for conservative cash-flow modelling.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Babinda
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Rita's School (Babinda)
Babinda State School
Demographics
Babinda's median age is 48, which is 8 years above the national comparison. The 15.4% university-educated share is 14.7 percentage points below the national figure, while overseas-born residents account for 14.8%, 6.8 points below the national comparison. English ancestry leads at 462 people, followed by Irish at 168, Italian at 152 and Scottish at 125, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning profile. Christianity has 658 adherents and no religion 464, while the average household contains 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national comparison. A 77.2% same-address share points to stability, although the 22.8% turnover rate means services still need to cater for newcomers and older households. Compared with larger Cairns-area centres such as Gordonvale, Babinda's profile is older and less internationally born.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.6%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Babinda's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: separate houses make up 93.6%, compared with 4.2% semi-detached dwellings, and the suburb is not apartment-led. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.9%, higher than 4-plus-bedroom homes at 22.6%, while 2-bedroom dwellings account for 21.8% and 0-1-bedroom homes 5.7%. Tenure is split between 36.6% owned outright, 30.8% mortgaged and 30.6% rented, so the suburb has both long-term owners and a sizeable rental segment. Mortgage costs are $1,108 monthly and equal 24.4% of household income; rent is $230 weekly and 21.9% of income. A current median house price is unavailable, so buyers should compare recent local sales. Compared with nearby Gordonvale, property condition, flood exposure and insurance deserve particular attention because detached homes carry more site-specific upkeep.
Mortgage / mo
$1,108
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$230
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$548
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.5%
Unoccupied
71
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.8%
Couples with children
45.0%
Couples, no children
18.6%
Single parent
333
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Babinda's largest employing industry at 22.9% or 69 workers, followed by education at 19.6% or 59. Construction contributes 9.3% and 28 workers, public administration 8.3% and 25, and manufacturing 7.0% and 21. This mix ties local jobs to essential services and practical industries rather than a single employer. Community and personal services lead occupations with 73 people, ahead of labourers at 71, professionals at 68, trades at 65 and clerical or administration workers at 54. The labour force is 516, participation is 48.1% and unemployment is 9.3%, while full-time work accounts for 58.8%, below a more employment-intensive profile. Household income is $1,048 weekly at the 14.9th percentile, lower than the national distribution. SEIFA records education and occupation at decile 2, economic resources at 5, disadvantage at 4 and advantage at 3, pointing to weaker education and advantage outcomes than economic resources alone suggest.
Unemployment
9.3%
Labour Force
516
Unemployed
48
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.8%
Part-time
34.0%
Participation
48.1%
Employed
468
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
14.8%
Dwellings
499
Transport to Work
Babinda's compact population of 1,287 and density of 32.2 people per square kilometre support a quieter setting, but daily life is car dependent. Car drivers account for 73.1% of commuting, far higher than public transport at 2.5%; walking or cycling is 10.6% and working from home 9.8%. Families have 2 local schools: Babinda State School, a government state school, and St Rita's School, a Catholic non-state school. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, since boundaries can cross locality lines. Community participation is a positive, with volunteering at 22.3%, while the IRSAD sits in decile 3, below the middle of the national socioeconomic scale. A current suburb-level crime rate should be checked through Queensland Police information, alongside practical checks of lighting, traffic and activity at different times. Compared with denser Cairns-area suburbs, the lower density brings space but also fewer transport alternatives.
Drive
73.1%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
10.6%
Work from Home
9.8%
Growth Outlook
Babinda's outlook is gradual rather than explosive. The annual trend is 0.61%, and migration is forecast as Balanced, so growth is more likely to follow steady local demand than a sharp inflow. Across the wider area, population change is 11.0% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 6.6 percentage points and the working share fell 4.0 points. Affordability was broadly Stable, moving from 36.8% in 2011 to 35.8% in 2021, while real income growth reached 11.4%. Gentrification is rated at score 19, stage Not gentrifying, while the broader shift profile records score 29 and stage Early signs. That combination supports modest improvement potential, but not a premium-growth thesis. Compared with faster Cairns growth corridors, Babinda's 0.61% pace points to patient, needs-based planning.
Population trend: Cairns council area
Babinda sits in the Cairns council area. These are the council area's residents, not Babinda's.
Residents 2025
179,334
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Babinda compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Babinda a good suburb to live in?
Babinda can suit residents seeking a smaller, quieter locality, especially where detached housing and community involvement matter. It has 1,287 residents, density of 32.2 people per square kilometre and 93.6% separate houses. Car use is high at 73.1%, while public transport is 2.5%, so lifestyle fit depends on having reliable transport.
What is the median house price in Babinda?
No current median house price is available for Babinda. Buyers should compare recent local sales rather than apply a wider regional figure, especially because 93.6% of dwellings are separate houses. Weekly rent is $230 and the mortgage benchmark is $1,108 per month, which can help frame affordability while sale evidence is gathered.
What schools are in Babinda?
Babinda has 2 named schools: Babinda State School, a government state school, and St Rita's School, a Catholic non-state school. School choice is therefore split between 2 sectors. Families should confirm enrolment zones, transport arrangements and current intake rules for the exact address before signing a lease or contract.
Is Babinda safe?
Babinda has 1,287 residents, but population size alone cannot establish safety. A current suburb-level crime rate should be checked through Queensland Police information, alongside practical checks of lighting, traffic and activity at different times. This is particularly useful when public transport use is only 2.5% and most travel is by car.
Is Babinda good for property investment?
Babinda can work for a conservative investor, but the numbers call for caution. Weekly rent is $230, renting accounts for 30.6% of occupied dwellings and vacancy is 12.5%, which is higher than a tightly occupied market. Five development applications in 12 months and rent growth of 33.3% add context, but a current median sale price is unavailable for yield calculations.
How is Babinda's population changing?
Babinda's population is 1,287 today. Across the wider area, the forecast records 11.0% population change over 10 years and an annual trend of 0.61%, with migration labelled Balanced. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.6 percentage points and the working share down 4.0 points, so service demand may shift toward older households.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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