Redlynch
A 90.8% separate-house share and 65.2% four-plus-bedroom share make Redlynch a distinctly family-oriented part of Cairns, while household income sits at the 88.5th percentile. Its 10,571 residents have a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national comparison, yet the trajectory is aging. Compared with nearby Brinsmead and Freshwater, Redlynch's identity is more clearly shaped by its broad 25.38 sq km footprint and 416.5 residents per sq km. That form supports space and family living, but also helps explain why 74.6% commute by car.
Population
10,571
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,317/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Redlynch suits buyers prioritising a detached family format over apartment living. Separate houses account for 90.8% of dwellings, while 65.2% have four or more bedrooms and only 6.2% are apartments. The mortgage share is 52.2%, higher than the 24.8% owned outright, and a monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,842. Mortgage payments equal 18.4% of household income, below the 19.0% rent-to-income measure, so neither is flagged as stressed. Households average 3.0 people, 0.5 above the national comparison, because couples with children make up 55.3% of families. Buyers should compare current sale evidence by dwelling type, as no median house price is available.
For Buyers
Redlynch suits buyers prioritising a detached family format over apartment living. Separate houses account for 90.8% of dwellings, while 65.2% have four or more bedrooms and only 6.2% are apartments. The mortgage share is 52.2%, higher than the 24.8% owned outright, and a monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,842. Mortgage payments equal 18.4% of household income, below the 19.0% rent-to-income measure, so neither is flagged as stressed. Households average 3.0 people, 0.5 above the national comparison, because couples with children make up 55.3% of families. Buyers should compare current sale evidence by dwelling type, as no median house price is available.
For Investors
Redlynch's investor case centres on detached rental demand rather than high-density stock. Renting accounts for 22.5% of households, weekly rent is $440 and vacancy is 5.0%, a combination that can support tenant competition but still requires street-level checking. Rent growth reached 31.2%, while 14 development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a multiple-dwelling proposal. Compared with owner-occupied households, the rental pool is smaller, so tenant depth matters by property type. Migration is labelled Balanced, which is less dependent on one demand source. Pair the rent with current comparable sales before estimating yield, because no median house price is available.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
15
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 Redlynch
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch Valley (Redlynch)
Redlynch State College
Demographics
Redlynch combines an older-leaning family profile with above-average education and income markers. Median age is 37, 3 years below the national comparison, while university attainment is 34.7%, 4.6 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 23.4%, 1.8 points above national, and households average 3.0 people, or 0.5 above the national comparison. English ancestry counts 4,148, followed by Other at 1,386, Irish at 1,124 and Scottish at 1,074. Christianity counts 4,744 versus 4,712 reporting no religion, suggesting a near-even split because household backgrounds are not dominated by one broad affiliation. The aging trajectory and 5.4-point rise in the senior share may gradually lift demand for accessible homes.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.8%
Houses
2.8%
Townhouse
6.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Redlynch's housing stock is built for family occupancy: 90.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 65.2% have four or more bedrooms and average household size is 3.0. Tenure is mortgage-heavy, with 52.2% paying a mortgage, compared with 24.8% owning outright and 22.5% renting. That mix points to established owner households carrying debt rather than a predominantly investor-held market. Mortgage costs equal 18.4% of household income and rent equals 19.0%, so both stress flags are false. Affordability was broadly stable, moving from 42.6 in 2011 to 43.3 in 2021, while rent growth was 31.2%. Compared with apartment-oriented Cairns locations, Redlynch's 6.2% apartment share reinforces its lower-density, space-led pattern.
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $440.
$680
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $680 · units $510
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,005
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
174
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.3%
Couples with children
30.0%
Couples, no children
13.9%
Single parent
2,869
Total families
Economy & Employment
Redlynch has a service-led employment base, with healthcare at 23.8% of jobs, education at 13.3%, public administration at 10.9%, construction at 8.0% and professional or technical work at 5.8%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 1,463 people, followed by trades at 802 and community or personal services at 773, linking the suburb to health, education and practical-service demand. Labour-force participation is 73.8%, full-time employment 59.0% and unemployment 3.5%, supporting household income of $2,317 a week. That income ranks at the 88.5th percentile, while IRSAD is decile 7 and IER decile 9, higher than its IEO decile 7 because earnings and employment capacity are stronger than some education or occupation measures.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
5,886
Unemployed
208
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
34.9%
Participation
73.8%
Employed
5,678
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.7%
Postgraduate
6.7%
Born Overseas
23.4%
Dwellings
3,328
Transport to Work
Redlynch is practical for households with cars and children. Two nearby schools provide a government state option and a Catholic non-state option, but families should check enrolment zones and year levels against the exact address. Commuting is car-led: 74.6% drive, compared with 0.8% using public transport and 2.1% walking or cycling; 16.7% work from home. The suburb covers 25.38 sq km at 416.5 residents per sq km, giving more spread-out living than a dense inner area because housing is detached-dominant. Volunteering is 18.9%, need for assistance is 5.1% and IRSAD sits in decile 7. For safety, check current street-level Queensland Police information, since crime conditions can vary by street and offence.
Drive
74.6%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
16.7%
Population Forecast
+1.73%/yr
(+258 people/yr)
EstablishedRedlynch is an established area with a positive forecast trend of 1.73% annually, above zero, and migration is labelled Balanced rather than driven by one dominant source. The wider-area population change measure is 19.8% over 10 years. Its shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 5.4 percentage points, the young share fell 2.9 points and the working share fell 2.4 points. Gentrification is still at the Early signs stage, with a score of 21, while rent growth is 31.2%. These signals suggest steady expansion because demand is being supported by both household turnover and established-area appeal, but age structure may shape future product needs more than rapid youth growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+104
Net Internal / yr
+99
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +25% since 2011, Net internal migration +99/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Redlynch compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redlynch a good suburb to live in?
Redlynch is likely to suit households wanting detached homes, larger bedrooms and car-based access. About 90.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 65.2% have four or more bedrooms and 74.6% of workers drive, while median age is 37. Compare the exact street, commute and enrolment zone with nearby Cairns options before deciding.
What is the median house price in Redlynch?
A current median house price is not available, so avoid relying on an invented estimate. Ask agents for recent comparable sales from the past 6 to 12 months and separate houses from apartments, since 90.8% of homes are separate houses and 6.2% are apartments.
What schools are in Redlynch?
Redlynch has 2 named schools: Redlynch State College, a government state school, and St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch Valley, a Catholic non-state school. Check enrolment zones and year-level availability at the exact address, because school access can vary within the suburb.
Is Redlynch safe?
For a current safety check, compare Queensland Police incident counts and rates per 1,000 residents with nearby Cairns suburbs. Also inspect the specific street, lighting, traffic and flood exposure, because conditions can vary by location and offence type even within a 25.38 sq km suburb.
Is Redlynch good for property investment?
Redlynch may suit investors seeking detached family housing, but a purchase case needs current comparable sale prices because no median house price is available. Weekly rent is $440, vacancy is 5.0%, renting is 22.5% and rent growth is 31.2%. Development recorded 14 applications in 12 months, so inspect the exact street and product type before assuming scarcity.
How is Redlynch's population changing?
Redlynch has 10,571 residents today. The wider-area forecast records population change of 19.8% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 1.73% and migration labelled Balanced. The trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 5.4 percentage points and young share down 2.9 points, so future demand may tilt toward established households rather than rapid youth expansion.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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