Stratford
A 41-year median age puts Stratford 1.0 year above the national median, while its compact 2.06 square kilometres supports a density of 582.4 people per square kilometre. The suburb has a settled, detached-home profile, with 76.0% of dwellings separate houses and a household income percentile of 63.8. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry are prominent, represented by 502, 185 and 183 people respectively. Stratford's slower pace contrasts with faster-changing parts of Cairns, while nearby Freshwater and Brinsmead provide useful comparisons for buyers weighing established housing, access and lifestyle. A 21.1% work-from-home rate also supports demand from residents seeking a quieter base without moving far from the city.
Local council: Cairns
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
10
Stratford suits buyers who value established detached housing and moderate household costs over a high-rise setting. Separate houses account for 76.0% of dwellings, compared with 7.6% apartments and 16.4% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom and four-bedroom-plus properties each represent 35.6%, giving family buyers more choice than the smaller 26.9% two-bedroom segment. Mortgage repayments average $1,700 monthly, equal to 21.9% of household income, while rent is $345 weekly or 19.2% of income. The mortgage share is higher than the rent share, so buyers should stress-test repayments against rates, insurance and maintenance. Compare current Stratford listings with Freshwater and Brinsmead rather than relying on a single suburb-wide price assumption.
For Buyers
Stratford suits buyers who value established detached housing and moderate household costs over a high-rise setting. Separate houses account for 76.0% of dwellings, compared with 7.6% apartments and 16.4% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom and four-bedroom-plus properties each represent 35.6%, giving family buyers more choice than the smaller 26.9% two-bedroom segment. Mortgage repayments average $1,700 monthly, equal to 21.9% of household income, while rent is $345 weekly or 19.2% of income. The mortgage share is higher than the rent share, so buyers should stress-test repayments against rates, insurance and maintenance. Compare current Stratford listings with Freshwater and Brinsmead rather than relying on a single suburb-wide price assumption.
For Investors
The rental profile is established but not especially tight: 28.9% of households rent, weekly rent is $345 and vacancy is 6.5%. That vacancy rate is higher than a tightly constrained market would normally suggest, so investors should test achievable rents and leasing times carefully instead of assuming automatic rental growth. Recent planning activity totals 9 applications, including lot reconfiguration, a dwelling extension and earthworks, which points to incremental change rather than a large development cycle. Forecast rent growth is 34.6%, but annual population growth is only 0.26%, so the investment case depends more on property selection and tenant retention than rapid expansion. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the renting share remains below the 40.2% mortgage share.
Development Activity
Total DAs
11
Last 12 Months
10
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 has a median age of 41, which is 1.0 year above the national median, and an average household size of 2.4, or 0.1 below the national figure. University qualification attainment is 39.4%, 9.3 percentage points above the national comparison, supporting the suburb's professional and service-oriented character. Overseas-born residents account for 20.2%, 1.4 percentage points below the national comparison. English ancestry counts 502 people, followed by Scottish at 185 and Irish at 183, while 608 residents report no religion and 488 identify with Christianity. The age and household pattern is more mature than a typical growth suburb, helping explain why Stratford differs from younger parts of Cairns and neighbouring Freshwater or Brinsmead.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.0%
Houses
16.4%
Townhouse
7.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Stratford's tenure mix is divided between 30.0% outright ownership, 40.2% mortgages and 28.9% renting, with only 0.9% recorded in other arrangements. Mortgage households therefore outnumber outright owners by 10.2 percentage points, while renters remain below the combined ownership share. Housing is detached-dominant: 76.0% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 7.6% apartments and 16.4% semi-detached homes. The largest bedroom groups are three-bedroom and four-bedroom-plus dwellings at 35.6% each, compared with 26.9% for two-bedroom homes. Mortgage costs equal 21.9% of household income and rent equals 19.2%, making mortgage commitments higher than rental commitments. Buyers should compare Stratford's established stock with Freshwater and Brinsmead on land, condition and renovation requirements.
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $345.
$680
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $680 · units $510
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
44.4%
Couples with children
39.0%
Couples, no children
15.6%
Single parent
315
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Stratford's leading industry at 28.8% and 148 workers, followed by education at 12.6% and 65, construction at 8.2% and 42, public administration at 8.2% and 42, and retail at 7.0% and 36. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 232 people, ahead of trades at 85 and managers at 84. Labour-force participation is 70.6%, unemployment is 3.4% and the full-time rate is 57.6%, indicating a stronger employment base than a low-participation retirement locality. SEIFA education and occupation decile is 8, above the income and economic-resources decile of 6, while IRSAD is 7. That gap suggests qualifications and occupations rank higher than income resources, despite a household income percentile of 63.8.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
683
Unemployed
23
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.6%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
70.6%
Employed
660
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.4%
Postgraduate
12.2%
Born Overseas
20.2%
Dwellings
458
Transport to Work
Stratford is strongly car-oriented, with 66.5% of residents driving to work, compared with 1.0% using public transport and 6.5% walking or cycling. A further 21.1% work from home, which can reduce commuting frequency and supports demand for established homes with usable living space. The suburb's IRSAD decile of 7 is above its IER decile of 6, while IRSD is 8, indicating relatively favourable social conditions compared with lower-ranked areas. Volunteering is reported by 22.0% of residents and 4.1% need assistance. For families, check exact school catchments, nearby options, travel times and the state, Catholic or independent mix at the address level. Compared with denser Cairns locations, Stratford's 2.06 square kilometre footprint and detached housing support a quieter residential setting, but car dependence is higher than active or public transport use.
Drive
66.5%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
6.5%
Work from Home
21.1%
Growth Outlook
Stratford is following a slow-growth, established trajectory, with forecast annual growth of 0.26% and wider-area population change of 3.3% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but the age trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 4.7 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 0.9 points and the working share has declined 3.4 points. This is a steadier pattern than a rapid expansion corridor because demand is being shaped by replacement households, established services and gradual turnover. Forecast gentrification is scored at 0 and classified as Not gentrifying, while rents have grown 34.6%. Stratford is therefore better suited to buyers seeking stability than to those expecting a sharp transformation or fast population uplift.
Population trend: Cairns council area
Stratford sits in the Cairns council area. These are the council area's residents, not Stratford's.
Residents 2025
179,334
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit households seeking established detached housing, a 21.1% work-from-home rate and a mature community with a median age of 41. Car dependence is significant at 66.5%, while public transport use is 1.0%, so lifestyle fit depends on commuting needs and access to a vehicle.
What is the median house price in Stratford?
No reliable median house price is stated for Stratford. Weekly rent is $345 and average mortgage repayments are $1,700 monthly, with mortgage costs equal to 21.9% of household income. Buyers should compare recent sales and current listings with Freshwater and Brinsmead.
What schools are in Stratford?
School choice should be checked by exact address because catchments and travel routes can differ across a 2.06 square kilometre suburb. Families should review nearby state, Catholic and independent options, enrolment rules and transport connections rather than relying only on the suburb name.
Is Stratford safe?
A suburb-level crime rate should not be assumed from housing or demographic figures. Stratford has 1,198 residents, and a sound safety check should use recent Queensland Police incident information for the specific streets and nearby routes, then consider lighting, traffic and access to services.
Is Stratford good for property investment?
Stratford may suit a measured investment strategy, with 28.9% of households renting and weekly rent of $345. However, the 6.5% vacancy rate is not especially tight and annual growth is forecast at 0.26%, so property condition, tenant appeal and purchase price matter more than expecting rapid capital growth.
How is Stratford's population changing?
Growth is gradual, with forecast annual growth of 0.26% and wider-area population change of 3.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 4.7 percentage points, while the young share has declined 0.9 points. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver.
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).
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