Brinsmead
Almost the entire dwelling stock in Brinsmead, 97.2%, is separate houses, and 57.5% of those carry four or more bedrooms, a family-house concentration well above what most Cairns suburbs show. The $532,000 median sits at the affordable end of the Queensland market, yet household income reaches the 83.4th percentile nationally, an unusual pairing that leaves mortgage repayments at just 18.3% of income, far below the 30% stress line. Almost half of residents, 49.1%, are still paying off a mortgage, marking this as a working family belt rather than a settled owner enclave. The median age of 39 runs 1.0 year below national, though the profile is aging as the senior share has climbed 5.3 points over the decade.
Population
5,537
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,190/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$532K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $532,000 the median house price is modest by national standards, and the affordability case is stronger than the headline suggests because household income sits in the 83.4th percentile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, consuming only 18.3% of income, well below the 30% mortgage stress threshold, so buyers here carry far less risk than in higher-priced markets. The stock suits families: 97.2% are separate houses, 57.5% have four or more bedrooms and a further 37.9% have three, leaving almost nothing under three bedrooms. With 49.1% of residents on a mortgage against 30.4% owning outright, the suburb draws active buyers rather than downsizers. The trade-off is space over amenity, since the average household of 2.8 people, 0.3 above national, fills these larger detached homes.
For Buyers
At $532,000 the median house price is modest by national standards, and the affordability case is stronger than the headline suggests because household income sits in the 83.4th percentile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, consuming only 18.3% of income, well below the 30% mortgage stress threshold, so buyers here carry far less risk than in higher-priced markets. The stock suits families: 97.2% are separate houses, 57.5% have four or more bedrooms and a further 37.9% have three, leaving almost nothing under three bedrooms. With 49.1% of residents on a mortgage against 30.4% owning outright, the suburb draws active buyers rather than downsizers. The trade-off is space over amenity, since the average household of 2.8 people, 0.3 above national, fills these larger detached homes.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $450 against the $532,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, materially higher than the sub-2% yields common in premium capital-city suburbs, which is the core of the investment case here. Rent has grown 32.4% over the decade, and the 4.6% vacancy rate, while looser than a tight market, still leaves room for tenant demand given that 20.5% of residents rent. Demand support is modest: net overseas migration adds 46 residents a year and is the primary growth driver, but net internal migration removes 54, leaving thin natural increase. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a threat to existing landlords. With annual population growth at 0.54%, the return profile leans on yield and steady rent escalation rather than rapid capital appreciation.
Schools in Brinsmead iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Freshwater Christian College
Prep-12 · 562 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure, but the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.3 points while the working-age share fell 2.1 points over the decade, and the young-resident share dropped 3.0 points. University qualifications reach 32.8%, which is 2.7 points above national, a modest education edge consistent with a professional-heavy workforce. Overseas-born residents make up 21.8%, just 0.2 points above national, so the suburb is less internationally mixed than most metro areas. Ancestry leans Anglo, led by English (2,125), Irish (700) and Scottish (597), and the most common non-English background language is Japanese (41 speakers). The average household of 2.8 people sits 0.3 above national, reflecting the family focus, with couples raising children (2,241 families) outnumbering couples without children (1,146).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.2%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts firmly toward buyers paying down debt: 49.1% hold a mortgage, 30.4% own outright and only 20.5% rent. That mortgage-heavy mix marks an active family market rather than a settled or investor-dominated one. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 97.2% separate houses, and it skews large, with 57.5% carrying four or more bedrooms and 37.9% three bedrooms, leaving just 4.6% under three. The $532,000 median is affordable against the 83.4th-percentile household income, which keeps both mortgage-to-income at 18.3% and rent-to-income at 20.5% comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Affordability has held stable across the decade, moving only from 45.2% in 2011 to 46.0% in 2021, a small shift that confirms prices and incomes have tracked together rather than diverging.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$979
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
92
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.3%
Couples, no children
4,709
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in public-facing service sectors: Healthcare leads at 23.6% (491 workers), Education follows at 14.4% (299) and Public Administration at 9.5% (197), with Construction at 8.9% and Professional/Tech at 7.0%. By occupation, Professionals (772) outnumber Clerical and Admin staff (401) and Managers (377), which underpins the university rate sitting 2.7 points above national. Unemployment is low at 4.5% with a full-time employment rate of 63.7% and participation at 68.2%. The SEIFA scores cluster in the upper-middle tiers: decile 9 on economic resources (IER) and decile 8 on relative disadvantage (IRSD), though education and occupation (IEO) reads a lower decile 7, reflecting a comfortable but not elite skills base. Real incomes grew 5.8% over the decade.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
3,457
Unemployed
67
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.7%
Part-time
31.8%
Participation
68.2%
Employed
2,808
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.8%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
21.8%
Dwellings
1,897
Transport to Work
Brinsmead is built around the car: 90.3% of commuters drive, well above the national reliance on private vehicles, while public transport carries just 0.7% and 1.5% walk or cycle, a pattern typical of a low-density outer suburb at 1,081.8 residents per km2. The suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and decile 7 on IRSAD, both upper-middle tiers nationally, indicating few residents face deprivation, with only 3.8% (202 people) needing daily assistance. Volunteering runs at 19.5%, a sign of an engaged residential base. Housing costs stay manageable, with rent-to-income at 20.5% and mortgage-to-income at 18.3%, both below the 30% stress threshold, leaving households more disposable income than in pricier markets. The lack of public transport is the clear trade-off for the space and affordability on offer.
Drive
90.3%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.54%/yr
(+31 people/yr)
EstablishedBrinsmead is an established, slow-growth suburb, with annual population growth of 0.54%, adding about 31 residents a year, and a 10-year change of 5.8%. The medium forecast lifts the population from 5,702 in 2025 to roughly 5,952 by 2031, a gentle continuation rather than expansion. Overseas migration of 46 a year is the primary positive driver, partly offset by net internal outflow of 54, so growth depends heavily on new arrivals from abroad. The gentrification reading shows early signs with a score of 26, supported by rent growth of 32.4% over the decade, but the profile is also aging, with the senior share up 5.3 points and the working-age share down 2.1 points. Affordability has stayed broadly stable, shifting only from 45.2% to 46.0%.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+46
Net Internal / yr
-54
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Brinsmead compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brinsmead a good suburb to live in?
Brinsmead suits families seeking space and affordability. Some 97.2% of homes are detached houses and 57.5% have four or more bedrooms, while household income sits in the 83.4th percentile nationally. Mortgage costs take just 18.3% of income, well below the 30% stress line, though public transport is minimal at 0.7%.
What is the median house price in Brinsmead?
The median house price is about $532,000, affordable against the 83.4th-percentile household income. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,733, which is only 18.3% of income, far below the 30% mortgage stress threshold seen in pricier markets.
What schools are in Brinsmead?
No schools are recorded inside the 5.12 km2 Brinsmead boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Cairns suburbs. The resident base is reasonably educated, with university qualifications at 32.8%, which is 2.7 points above the national figure.
Is Brinsmead safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Brinsmead in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, an upper-middle tier, and only 3.8% of its 5,537 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Brinsmead good for property investment?
Rent of $450 a week against a $532,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.4%, well above the sub-2% yields in premium capitals. Rent grew 32.4% over the decade and 20.5% of residents rent, but with 0.54% annual population growth, returns lean on yield rather than rapid capital growth.
How is Brinsmead's population changing?
Population growth is 0.54% annually, about 31 residents a year, with a 5.8% rise over 10 years. The medium forecast lifts the count from 5,702 in 2025 to roughly 5,952 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.3 points and the working-age share down 2.1 points.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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