Parramatta Park
One number defines Parramatta Park more than any other: 65.2% of residents rent, one of the highest renter shares you will find in a QLD suburb of 3,621 people. The suburb sits in Cairns, with a median age of 33, which is 7 years below the national average of 40, and 43.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 21.5 percentage points above the national figure. Household income lands at the 25.9th percentile nationally, and the dominant industries are Hospitality at 24.4% and Healthcare at 19.8%, a mix that explains both the youth skew and the income level. Semi-detached dwellings dominate the housing stock at 61.2%, and the estimated median house price of $364,000 makes this one of the more affordable pockets in the Cairns urban area.
Population
3,621
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,211/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$364K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $364,000 places Parramatta Park well below the national median, and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. However, only 36.2% of dwellings are separate houses; semi-detached and terrace properties make up 61.2% of stock, so buyers seeking detached homes will find limited options. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 45.4% of housing, with three-bedroom at 21.3% and four-or-more at 14.5%. The outright ownership rate is just 14.4%, lower than most comparable QLD suburbs, and 20.4% hold a mortgage. Rent-to-income sits at 23.9%, below the stress level of 30%, which keeps the suburb accessible for renters but also signals constrained purchasing power in the local buyer pool.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $364,000 places Parramatta Park well below the national median, and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. However, only 36.2% of dwellings are separate houses; semi-detached and terrace properties make up 61.2% of stock, so buyers seeking detached homes will find limited options. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 45.4% of housing, with three-bedroom at 21.3% and four-or-more at 14.5%. The outright ownership rate is just 14.4%, lower than most comparable QLD suburbs, and 20.4% hold a mortgage. Rent-to-income sits at 23.9%, below the stress level of 30%, which keeps the suburb accessible for renters but also signals constrained purchasing power in the local buyer pool.
For Investors
A 65.2% renter share is the standout figure for investors, providing a large and established tenant base at weekly rents of $290. Against the $364,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield around 4.1%, above average compared to most Brisbane or Sydney markets. The caveat is a 14.3% vacancy rate, which is high and suggests meaningful competition among landlords for tenants. Development activity is modest with 3 applications in the past 12 months, limiting supply-side pressure from new builds. The suburb's population of 3,621 and a 47% annual residential turnover rate indicate a transient demographic, typical of areas near hospitality and healthcare employment hubs, which sustains rental demand but also limits owner-occupier price growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
6
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
Schools in Parramatta Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
Prep-6 · 348 students
Parramatta State School
Prep-6 · 482 students
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, reflecting a population weighted toward early-career workers rather than established families. Overseas-born residents at 43.1% are 21.5 percentage points above the national average, with top non-English languages including Mandarin (54 speakers), Japanese (43) and Korean (38), suggesting a meaningful international student and worker presence connected to Cairns' tourism economy. Ancestry is led by English (888), Irish (301) and Scottish (246), alongside a large unspecified Other group of 993 residents. University qualifications reach 31.6%, which is 1.5 points above national. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below the national figure, consistent with the single-person and couple households common in rental-heavy, transient suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
36.2%
Houses
61.2%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Semi-detached dwellings dominate at 61.2% of stock, which is unusually high and shapes the character of the suburb more than any single price figure. Separate houses account for 36.2% and apartments just 1.6%. Tenure is heavily skewed toward renting: 65.2% rent, 20.4% hold a mortgage and only 14.4% own outright, a split that places ownership rates well below national norms. Two-bedroom dwellings make up 45.4% of all homes, with studio or one-bedroom at 18.8% and three-bedroom at 21.3%. The estimated median house price of $364,000 is based on 2025 rent data, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300. Mortgage-to-income at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 23.9% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are relatively manageable compared to the national average.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$758
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.3%
Unoccupied
227
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.2%
Couples, no children
1,689
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hospitality is the leading industry at 24.4% of workers (309 people), which is a direct result of Parramatta Park's location in Cairns, a major tourism hub. Healthcare follows at 19.8% (251 workers), Education at 7.2% (91), Retail at 6.6% (83) and Transport at 5.9% (75). By occupation, Community and Personal Services leads with 421 workers, ahead of Professionals at 319 and Labourers at 224. The unemployment rate is 9.7%, above state and national averages, and the labour force participation rate is 59.2%, below the national norm. Full-time employment accounts for 55.8% of those working. Household income at the 25.9th percentile nationally reflects the prevalence of service-sector and part-time work rather than professional or managerial roles.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.8%
Part-time
34.5%
Participation
59.2%
Employed
1,705
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.6%
Postgraduate
5.4%
Born Overseas
43.1%
Dwellings
1,326
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling account for 21.5% of journey-to-work trips, which is notably high and reflects the compact 1.63 km2 footprint and proximity to Cairns CBD. Car use at 68.1% is the dominant mode, while public transport is used by just 2.5% of commuters. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary. The need-for-assistance rate is 4.7% (151 people), broadly in line with national norms for a suburb of this age profile. SEIFA index data is not available for Parramatta Park in this dataset, so direct disadvantage comparisons cannot be made. Crime statistics are also not recorded in the available data. The rent-to-income ratio of 23.9% and mortgage-to-income of 24.8% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating that housing affordability is better here than the national average despite the low income base.
Drive
68.1%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
21.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Parramatta Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parramatta Park a good suburb to live in?
Parramatta Park suits renters and younger residents well, with 65.2% of the 3,621 population renting and a median age of 33, which is 7 years below the national average. Rent-to-income sits at 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-offs are a 9.7% unemployment rate and a 14.3% vacancy rate that reflects a more transient residential base.
What is the median house price in Parramatta Park?
The estimated median house price is $364,000 (estimated from 2025 rent data), with weekly rents averaging $290. Monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.8%, below the national stress threshold of 30%.
What schools are in Parramatta Park?
No schools are recorded within the Parramatta Park suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Cairns suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 31.6%, which is 1.5 points above the national figure.
Is Parramatta Park safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Parramatta Park in this dataset. As context, 4.7% of residents (151 people) need daily assistance, broadly in line with suburbs of a similar age profile. The suburb's high 47% annual turnover rate and 9.7% unemployment are worth noting as factors that can correlate with crime in comparable areas.
Is Parramatta Park good for property investment?
The 65.2% renter share and $290 weekly rent against a $364,000 median imply a gross yield around 4.1%, above average compared to capital city markets. The main risk is a 14.3% vacancy rate, which is high and signals competition for tenants. Only 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so supply additions are minimal.
How is Parramatta Park's population changing?
Formal forecasts are not available, but the suburb's 47% annual residential turnover rate indicates a highly transient population. The median age of 33 is 7 years below national, and 43.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 21.5 points above the national figure. These patterns suggest the population is sustained by migration linked to Cairns tourism and healthcare rather than natural increase.
What languages are spoken in Parramatta Park?
About 43.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 21.5 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (54 speakers), Japanese (43), Korean (38), Australian Indigenous Languages (35) and Punjabi (30), reflecting a mix of international workers, students and long-term migrants.
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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