Clifton Beach
A median age of 48 sits 8 years above the national figure, making Clifton Beach one of Far North Queensland's older coastal communities. Despite that, nearly a third of residents were born overseas (32.4%), which is 10.8 points above the national average, pointing to an internationally mobile resident base rather than a purely retiree enclave. The 17.1% vacancy rate is a standout number: more than 1 in 6 dwellings sits empty, reflecting holiday-home use and the seasonal rhythms typical of coastal QLD. With an estimated median house price of $479,000 and household income at the 46th percentile nationally, the suburb sits in an affordable bracket compared to metropolitan coastal markets.
Population
3,192
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,480/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$479K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $479,000 places Clifton Beach well below the national coastal median for comparable lifestyle suburbs, making it more accessible than many QLD beachside areas. Separate houses dominate at 72.3% of stock, with apartments making up 23.3%, so detached family homes are plentiful. Bedroom distribution favours larger homes: 39.0% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.5% have 3, which suits families and sea-changers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners (35.0%) and renters (35.5%) are nearly matched, while 29.4% carry a mortgage, suggesting a settled resident base alongside an active rental market.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $479,000 places Clifton Beach well below the national coastal median for comparable lifestyle suburbs, making it more accessible than many QLD beachside areas. Separate houses dominate at 72.3% of stock, with apartments making up 23.3%, so detached family homes are plentiful. Bedroom distribution favours larger homes: 39.0% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.5% have 3, which suits families and sea-changers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners (35.0%) and renters (35.5%) are nearly matched, while 29.4% carry a mortgage, suggesting a settled resident base alongside an active rental market.
For Investors
Clifton Beach carries a 17.1% vacancy rate, one of the highest indicators of holiday-home concentration in a coastal suburb at this price point. Weekly rent of $365 against a $479,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.0%, higher than many metro markets. The renter share at 35.5% is meaningful but the vacancy figure is the key risk: income continuity depends on holiday letting rather than long-term tenants. Development activity is low at 2 applications in 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term concern. The SEIFA IRSD decile 7 and IRSAD decile 6 position this above average nationally on advantage, which supports stable demand from owner-occupiers and sea-changers rather than distressed rental demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8.0 years above the national average, and the 55.4% participation rate reflects a resident base where many have stepped back from full-time work. Overseas-born residents account for 32.4%, which is 10.8 points above national, led by European ancestry groups: English (1,322), Irish (373) and Scottish (359) form the top ancestry lines, with German (26) and Italian (14) the most common non-English home languages. University qualifications reach 31.8%, a modest 1.7 points above the national figure. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national norm by 0.2. Christianity remains dominant (1,293 residents), and 16.9% of residents volunteer, above average for a town of this size.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.3%
Houses
4.4%
Townhouse
23.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is split roughly in thirds: 35.0% own outright, 29.4% carry a mortgage, and 35.5% rent. The outright ownership rate is high relative to the suburb's income level at the 46th percentile nationally, consistent with an older cohort that has paid off debt. Separate houses make up 72.3% of stock and apartments 23.3%, with only 4.4% semi-detached. Larger homes prevail: 39.0% have 4 or more bedrooms, well above the national norm. Mortgage-to-income at 28.4% and rent-to-income at 24.7% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable compared to national averages. The 17.1% vacancy rate is the most distinctive housing statistic, directly tied to the proportion of dwellings held as holiday or investment properties.
Mortgage / mo
$1,820
Rent / wk
$365
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$808
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.1%
Unoccupied
263
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.0%
Couples, no children
2,411
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 20.4% (219 workers), followed by Education at 14.0% (150) and Hospitality at 9.7% (104), a mix consistent with a coastal lifestyle suburb that services both residents and visitors. Construction accounts for 9.1% and Professional/Tech 7.8%. By occupation, Professionals (352) lead ahead of Community/Personal (220) and Managers (218). The unemployment rate is 5.4%, somewhat above the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 59.4% with 577 part-time workers reflects the casualised hospitality and tourism sector. The SEIFA IEO (education and occupation) decile of 6 sits slightly above the national middle, while the IRSD decile of 7 confirms the suburb is not disadvantaged relative to national benchmarks.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.4%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
55.4%
Employed
1,422
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.8%
Postgraduate
10.4%
Born Overseas
32.4%
Dwellings
1,177
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced: 88.2% of residents drive to work, compared to national averages, while only 1.7% use public transport and 4.3% walk or cycle. This reflects the suburban layout and distance from urban transit corridors typical of Far North Queensland coastal areas. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby schools in the Cairns region. The IRSAD decile of 6 places the suburb above the national middle in relative advantage, and IRSD decile 7 confirms low deprivation levels. At 4.9%, the share of residents needing daily assistance is moderate. Rent-to-income at 24.7% and mortgage-to-income at 28.4% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, meaning residents are not under unusual housing cost pressure by national comparison.
Drive
88.2%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Clifton Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clifton Beach a good suburb to live in?
Clifton Beach offers a coastal lifestyle with a median age of 48 and 32.4% overseas-born residents, reflecting an internationally connected community. The IRSD decile of 7 places it above the national middle on relative advantage. The main trade-offs are high car dependency (88.2% drive to work), no schools recorded within the suburb, and a 17.1% vacancy rate from holiday-home use.
What is the median house price in Clifton Beach?
The estimated median house price is $479,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, and rent runs $365 per week. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 28.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, and the gross rental yield is approximately 4.0%.
What schools are in Clifton Beach?
No schools are recorded inside the Clifton Beach suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Cairns-area suburbs. The suburb's university qualification rate is 31.8%, which is 1.7 points above the national figure.
Is Clifton Beach safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Clifton Beach in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 7 on the IRSD (relative disadvantage) index, above the national median, and only 4.9% of 3,192 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Clifton Beach good for property investment?
The $479,000 median and $365 weekly rent imply a gross yield near 4.0%, higher than many metro coastal markets. The 17.1% vacancy rate is the key risk, as it signals significant holiday-home use and potential rental income gaps. Only 2 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal.
How is Clifton Beach's population changing?
Clifton Beach has a population of 3,192 at a density of 556.8 per km2 across 5.73 km2. No formal forecast data is available. Residential mobility shows 31.0% of residents changed address in the 5 years before the last Census, while 69.0% stayed, indicating moderate turnover against a stable core. Overseas-born residents at 32.4% are 10.8 points above national, suggesting ongoing international arrivals.
What languages are spoken in Clifton Beach?
Around 32.4% of Clifton Beach residents were born overseas, which is 10.8 points above the national average. English dominates, with German (26 speakers) and Italian (14) the most common non-English home languages. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,322), Irish (373) and Scottish (359) are the top three groups.
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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