Stratford
With a median age of 41, Stratford sits exactly at the national average, yet 39.4% of its 1,198 residents hold university qualifications, which is 9.3 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb ranks at SEIFA decile 8 on both IRSD and IEO, placing it in the upper 20% nationally for education, occupation and relative advantage. Weekly household income of $1,793 sits at the 63.8th percentile nationally. The workforce leans heavily toward knowledge and care sectors, with Healthcare alone accounting for 28.8% of employed residents, pointing to a professional owner-occupier base rather than a transient renter population.
Population
1,198
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,793/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$451K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $451,000 makes Stratford more accessible than many comparable suburbs in the Cairns region. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold compared to national averages. Separate houses dominate at 76.0% of dwellings, giving buyers the broadest choice. Bedroom sizes split between 2-bed (26.9%) and 3-bed or 4-plus-bed properties (each at 35.6%), so family-sized homes are well represented. Outright owners account for 30.3% and mortgage holders for 40.5%, a balanced tenure profile that signals stability rather than distress. The 21.9% mortgage-to-income ratio is lower than the national average, which enhances affordability relative to income levels.
For Buyers
The median house price of $451,000 makes Stratford more accessible than many comparable suburbs in the Cairns region. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold compared to national averages. Separate houses dominate at 76.0% of dwellings, giving buyers the broadest choice. Bedroom sizes split between 2-bed (26.9%) and 3-bed or 4-plus-bed properties (each at 35.6%), so family-sized homes are well represented. Outright owners account for 30.3% and mortgage holders for 40.5%, a balanced tenure profile that signals stability rather than distress. The 21.9% mortgage-to-income ratio is lower than the national average, which enhances affordability relative to income levels.
For Investors
A 29.2% renter share at $345 per week weekly rent gives investors a steady tenant pool, and rent-to-income at 19.2% indicates renters face minimal financial stress, reducing arrears risk. Against the $451,000 median, the weekly $345 rent implies a gross yield around 4.0%, higher than many inner-city markets. The vacancy rate of 6.5% is above the national average of roughly 2.5%, signalling some oversupply in the rental segment that prospective landlords should price in. Development activity is modest at 4 applications in the past 12 months, including a recent Material Change of Use for 3 units, suggesting measured rather than speculative supply. Income in the 63.8th household income percentile supports stable tenant demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
7
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
Stratford's population of 1,198 skews slightly toward established households, with couples with children (403 families) outnumbering couples without children (240). Average household size of 2.4 is 0.1 below the national figure, consistent with older couples or smaller families. Overseas-born residents at 20.2% run 1.4 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (502), Scottish (185) and Irish (183). University qualifications reach 39.4%, which is 9.3 points higher than national, reflecting a well-educated community relative to the state and national average. The volunteering rate of 22.0% is above typical suburban norms, suggesting civic engagement.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.0%
Houses
16.4%
Townhouse
7.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Stratford's housing stock is predominantly separate houses at 76.0%, with semi-detached dwellings at 16.4% and apartments at 7.6%. This detached-dominant profile means buyers compete for a stock type that aligns with family demand rather than investor apartments. Bedroom mix is spread across 2-bed (26.9%), 3-bed (35.6%) and 4-plus-bed (35.6%), with virtually no studio or 1-bed units at 2.0%. Tenure divides into 30.3% outright owners, 40.5% mortgage holders and 29.2% renters, a balanced split compared to renter-dominated inner suburbs. The median house price of $451,000 and monthly mortgage of $1,700 are both below national median levels, making ownership more achievable than in most capital city markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wk
$345
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$948
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
32
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.0%
Couples, no children
888
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment base at 28.8% of workers (148 people), nearly double the national share, reflecting Cairns region hospital and medical services nearby. Education follows at 12.6% and Construction and Public Admin each at 8.2%. By occupation, Professionals form the largest group at 232 workers, well ahead of Managers (84) and Community/Personal Service (69). The unemployment rate of 3.6% is low, and the full-time employment rate of 60.9% is solid. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 8 and IRSAD decile of 7 confirm a low-disadvantage community, above average nationally and consistent with a professional income base at the 63.8th household income percentile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
35.5%
Participation
66.8%
Employed
624
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.4%
Postgraduate
12.2%
Born Overseas
20.2%
Dwellings
458
Transport to Work
Stratford sits in a low-disadvantage tier nationally, ranking IRSAD decile 7 and IRSD decile 8, both above the national median. Car travel is the dominant commute mode at 84.3%, which is high compared to urban averages, reflecting the suburb's lower public transport connectivity at 1.2%. Walking and cycling account for 8.2%, above many comparable suburban areas. Housing stress is minimal: rent-to-income at 19.2% and mortgage-to-income at 21.9% are both below the 30% stress threshold. Only 4.1% of residents need daily assistance, and the volunteering rate of 22.0% reflects community cohesion. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring Cairns suburbs.
Drive
84.3%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Stratford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stratford a good suburb to live in?
Stratford ranks at SEIFA decile 8 on both IRSD and IEO, placing it in the upper 20% nationally for advantage and education. Household income sits at the 63.8th percentile nationally, mortgage stress at 21.9% is below the 30% threshold, and 39.4% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 9.3 points above the national figure.
What is the median house price in Stratford?
The median house price in Stratford is $451,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%. Weekly rent averages $345, implying a gross rental yield of around 4.0% against that median.
What schools are in Stratford?
No schools are recorded inside the Stratford boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Cairns suburbs. The local education level is high, with 39.4% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 9.3 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Stratford safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Stratford in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 8, placing it among the top 20% nationally for low disadvantage, and only 4.1% of its 1,198 residents require daily assistance, both consistent with a lower-risk, stable community.
Is Stratford good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $345 against a $451,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, above many capital city markets. A 29.2% renter share provides a tenant pool, though the 6.5% vacancy rate is above the national average of roughly 2.5%, which signals some rental competition. Development activity is modest at 4 applications in 12 months, limiting new supply pressure.
How is Stratford's population changing?
Stratford's population is 1,198, with a resident stability rate of 73.2% over 5 years, indicating low churn. Annual turnover of 26.8% means about 1 in 4 households moved recently. The suburb's household income at the 63.8th percentile nationally and SEIFA IEO decile 8 suggest a stable, professional community rather than a high-growth speculative area.
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 Stratford on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map