Mount Sheridan
At 98.7% separate houses, Mount Sheridan has the highest detached-house share in this batch, a near-total absence of density in Cairns' southern residential belt. Healthcare alone employs 23.4% of the workforce, 1.5x the national average, reflecting the suburb's proximity to Cairns Hospital and the region's health services concentration. The median age of 37 and senior share growing 5.7 points over the decade signal an ageing trajectory, yet the $466,000 estimated median keeps entry accessible. With only 1 development application in 12 months, this is a suburb that has essentially stopped building.
Population
8,678
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,826/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$466K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $466,000 estimated median, Mount Sheridan offers large family homes at Cairns prices. Mortgage repayments of $1,542/month consume just 19.5% of household income, well below the stress threshold and among the lowest stress ratios in this batch. The stock is 98.7% detached houses, and 49.9% have 3 bedrooms with 46.5% at 4+, providing generous family space. Outright owners (28.5%) and mortgage holders (44.6%) together make up 73.1%, reflecting a committed owner-occupier base. The 23.2% turnover rate creates moderate churn. Buyers benefit from a settled market with no apartment competition, though just 1 development application in 12 months means virtually zero new stock entering the market.
For Buyers
At $466,000 estimated median, Mount Sheridan offers large family homes at Cairns prices. Mortgage repayments of $1,542/month consume just 19.5% of household income, well below the stress threshold and among the lowest stress ratios in this batch. The stock is 98.7% detached houses, and 49.9% have 3 bedrooms with 46.5% at 4+, providing generous family space. Outright owners (28.5%) and mortgage holders (44.6%) together make up 73.1%, reflecting a committed owner-occupier base. The 23.2% turnover rate creates moderate churn. Buyers benefit from a settled market with no apartment competition, though just 1 development application in 12 months means virtually zero new stock entering the market.
For Investors
Mount Sheridan's rental market is modest: 26.9% renters at $390/week median rent with a 4.3% vacancy rate. The single development application in 12 months means zero new supply competition, which supports existing rental stock value. Population grows at 1.01% per year (91 persons), driven by overseas migration (+62/year) against internal outflow (-75/year). Rents grew 30.0% over the decade, above the national average. The SEIFA IER decile of 6 and IRSD decile of 6 suggest mid-range economic conditions. With affordable entry ($466,000) and stable rental demand from healthcare workers, the suburb offers a quiet, low-maintenance investment profile compared to higher-turnover Cairns tourism areas.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
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
English ancestry leads (2,996), with a large 'Other' category (1,777), Irish (882), Scottish (814), and Italian (546) following. The 22.5% overseas-born share is close to the national average. Japanese (94 speakers) leads non-English languages, followed by Punjabi (69) and Nepali (33), reflecting Cairns' connection to Asia-Pacific tourism and immigration. University qualifications at 26.3% are 3.8 points below the national rate. The median age of 37 sits 3 years below the national figure. The household size of 2.7 is slightly above the national median. Christianity dominates religion (4,373 adherents), with Buddhism (167) a distant second.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.7%
Houses
0.2%
Townhouse
1.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses account for 98.7% of all dwellings, the highest share in this batch, with apartments at 1.2% and semi-detached at just 0.2%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 49.9%, closely followed by 4+ bedrooms at 46.5%. Mortgage holders (44.6%) form the largest tenure group, with outright owners at 28.5% and renters at 26.9%. The rent-to-income ratio of 21.4% and mortgage-to-income of 19.5% both sit comfortably below stress levels. At $466,000 estimated median, Mount Sheridan is priced below the Cairns average for houses of this size, reflecting its southern fringe location compared to beachside or inner-Cairns suburbs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,542
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$857
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
137
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.6%
Couples, no children
7,226
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 23.4% (696 workers), the highest healthcare share in this batch, reflecting proximity to regional hospital infrastructure. Education (13.5%), Public Admin (10.0%), Construction (8.1%), and Retail (6.7%) complete the top five. Professionals lead occupations (866), followed by Community/Personal (686) and Clerical/Admin (634), showing a healthcare-influenced pink-collar mix. Unemployment at 4.7% is moderate. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places Mount Sheridan at the national midpoint, while the IEO decile of 5 and IRSD decile of 6 show consistent mid-range positioning without significant advantage or disadvantage compared to national benchmarks.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
5,178
Unemployed
179
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.4%
Part-time
31.9%
Participation
65.1%
Employed
4,218
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.3%
Postgraduate
4.6%
Born Overseas
22.5%
Dwellings
3,043
Transport to Work
No schools are located within Mount Sheridan's boundaries, so families access education in neighbouring suburbs around the Cairns southern corridor. Public transport use is very low at 1.2%, the lowest in this batch, with 89.0% driving. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places socioeconomic conditions at the national midpoint. The 5.1% needing-assistance rate is moderate, and the 15.2% volunteering rate sits near the national average. Walking and cycling at 1.8% is limited. The suburb's livability strengths are financial: low mortgage stress (19.5%) and low rent stress (21.4%) compared to most other suburbs in this dataset.
Drive
89.0%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.01%/yr
(+91 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.01% annually (91 persons/year), projected to reach approximately 9,738 by 2031. The 10-year change of 8.6% is below the national suburban average, representing slow, steady expansion. The trajectory is 'Aging': the senior share grew 5.7 points (the second-highest in this batch) while the young share fell 3.6 points and the working-age share dropped 1.7 points. Overseas migration (+62/year) offsets internal outflow (-75/year). Real income grew just 2.3% over the decade, lower than the national median, and affordability remained stable (44.1% to 45.5%). The gentrification score of 24 shows early signs, though the 'Not gentrifying' classification suggests price pressure is not yet translating into demographic change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+62
Net Internal / yr
-75
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mount Sheridan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Sheridan a good suburb to live in?
Mount Sheridan offers affordable, spacious family housing (98.7% detached houses, 46.5% with 4+ bedrooms) with very low mortgage stress at 19.5%. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places it at the national midpoint. Tradeoffs include minimal public transport (1.2% usage), no schools within the suburb boundary, and an ageing population trajectory with the senior share rising 5.7 points over the decade.
What is the median house price in Mount Sheridan?
The estimated median house price is $466,000 (2025 estimate). Monthly mortgage repayments of approximately $1,542 consume just 19.5% of the median household income of $1,826/week. This is one of the lowest mortgage stress ratios in the Cairns region, making it accessible for first-home buyers and families.
What schools are in Mount Sheridan?
No schools are located within Mount Sheridan's suburb boundaries, unlike most comparable suburbs which average 2-3 local options. Families access primary and secondary education in neighbouring suburbs throughout the Cairns southern corridor, with approximately 5 schools within a 5 km radius.
Is Mount Sheridan safe?
Crime statistics are not available in our current dataset for Mount Sheridan. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 and IRSAD decile of 5 suggest mid-range socioeconomic conditions nationally. The 76.8% residential stability rate and moderate unemployment (4.7%) are demographic factors that typically correlate with average crime rates compared to the broader Cairns region.
Is Mount Sheridan good for property investment?
With 26.9% renters, $390/week median rent, and a 4.3% vacancy rate, Mount Sheridan offers a stable if modest rental market. The single development application in 12 months means zero new supply competition. Population growth of 1.01%/year (91 persons) provides gradual demand increases. Rents grew 30.0% over the decade, above the national average. Entry at $466,000 is accessible compared to coastal Cairns suburbs.
How is Mount Sheridan's population changing?
Population grows at 1.01% annually (91 persons/year), projected to reach approximately 9,738 by 2031. The suburb is ageing noticeably: the senior share grew 5.7 percentage points over the decade while the young share fell 3.6 points. Overseas migration of +62/year offsets internal outflow of -75/year. Real income grew just 2.3% over 10 years, the slowest income growth in this group.
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.
Explore Mount Sheridan on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map