Whitfield
An established Cairns foothill suburb with 4,262 residents, Whitfield stands out for its older age profile and slow-growth pattern. Its median age is 45, or 5.0 years above the national figure, while forecast trend growth is only 0.14% a year. Housing is mainly detached, with 79.4% separate houses, and household income sits at the 58.4th percentile. Density reaches 715.0 people per square kilometre, higher than a low-density outer-area setting. The aging trajectory, including a 5.1-point rise in the senior share, suggests demand will remain centred on established homes because long-term residents form a substantial base. Compared with newer outer areas, Whitfield has a more settled profile and sits near established Edge Hill in Cairns' inner-west.
Population
4,262
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,681/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Whitfield suits buyers seeking established houses rather than apartment stock. Separate houses account for 79.4% of dwellings, compared with only 1.4% apartments and 19.3% semi-detached homes, so the choice is more house-oriented than apartment-oriented. Three-bedroom homes make up 38.5% of the stock and four-bedroom or larger homes 35.4%, supporting family buyers as well as households wanting extra space. The monthly mortgage indicator is $1,733, while rent is $340 a week. Mortgage costs equal 23.8% of household income and are not flagged as stressed, which improves the position for existing owners. With 33.2% owning outright and 34.5% paying a mortgage, the suburb has a substantial owner-occupier base. Buyers should compare recent sales by land size, renovation level and street position because a reliable suburb-wide median house price is unavailable.
For Buyers
Whitfield suits buyers seeking established houses rather than apartment stock. Separate houses account for 79.4% of dwellings, compared with only 1.4% apartments and 19.3% semi-detached homes, so the choice is more house-oriented than apartment-oriented. Three-bedroom homes make up 38.5% of the stock and four-bedroom or larger homes 35.4%, supporting family buyers as well as households wanting extra space. The monthly mortgage indicator is $1,733, while rent is $340 a week. Mortgage costs equal 23.8% of household income and are not flagged as stressed, which improves the position for existing owners. With 33.2% owning outright and 34.5% paying a mortgage, the suburb has a substantial owner-occupier base. Buyers should compare recent sales by land size, renovation level and street position because a reliable suburb-wide median house price is unavailable.
For Investors
Whitfield presents a steady rather than high-growth investment case. Weekly rent is $340, 30.4% of households rent, and the vacancy rate is 7.0%, so tenant demand should be assessed carefully against competing homes and the condition of each property. Renting is lower than the combined share of outright and mortgage ownership, pointing to an established owner base that can support neighbourhood stability. Eleven development applications were recorded over 12 months, indicating some activity but not a large construction pipeline. Forecast growth of 0.14% annually is below the pace associated with rapid-growth corridors, while overseas migration is the primary driver. The aging trajectory and gentrification stage of Not gentrifying suggest investors should prioritise durable rental appeal, accessibility and maintenance over a quick redevelopment thesis.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
12
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 Whitfield
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Whitfield State School
Demographics
Whitfield has 4,262 residents and an older profile, with a median age of 45 that is 5.0 years above the national figure. University attainment is 38.4%, 8.3 percentage points above the national comparison, which aligns with the large professional workforce of 697 people. The overseas-born share is 23.3%, only 1.7 points above the national comparison, while English ancestry numbers 1,690, followed by Irish at 559 and Scottish at 469. No religion is recorded for 1,964 residents and Christianity for 1,850. Average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national comparison, with 43.2% of families being couples without children and 37.1% couples with children. A 73.1% stay rate versus 26.9% turnover indicates more residential continuity than a highly mobile market. Compared with younger Cairns districts, this profile is more settled because established households and older residents have a stronger presence.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.4%
Houses
19.3%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Whitfield's housing pattern is dominated by established ownership and detached dwellings. Outright ownership accounts for 33.2% and mortgage ownership for 34.5%, both higher than the 30.4% renting share when considered as the main tenure groups. Separate houses represent 79.4% of homes, much higher than the 1.4% apartment share, while semi-detached housing contributes 19.3%. The bedroom mix is practical for families, with 38.5% three-bedroom homes and 35.4% with four or more bedrooms; smaller two-bedroom dwellings account for 23.7%. Weekly rent is $340 and rent equals 20.2% of household income, while the mortgage ratio is 23.8% and is not flagged as stressed. Compared with a denser inner-city housing market, Whitfield's stock is more land and house dependent, which helps explain its appeal to long-term owner-occupiers. A current median house price should be checked through recent comparable sales because no suburb-wide figure is available.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $340.
$680
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $680 · units $510
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$887
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.0%
Unoccupied
129
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.1%
Couples with children
43.2%
Couples, no children
18.3%
Single parent
1,126
Total families
Economy & Employment
Whitfield's employment base is anchored by healthcare, which accounts for 29.1% of industry employment and 473 workers. Education contributes 11.2% and 182 workers, followed by public administration at 8.2% and 134, construction at 7.8% and 127, and professional or technical services at 7.0% and 114. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 697, ahead of managers at 267, community and personal service workers at 262, clerical and administrative workers at 254, and trades at 250. The labour force totals 2,271, participation is 64.0%, and unemployment is 3.6%, while 58.7% of employed residents work full time. Household income of $1,681 a week sits at the 58.4th percentile. The education and occupation decile of 7 is higher than the economic resources decile of 5, suggesting skills and qualifications are stronger than household resource measures alone would imply. IRSAD sits at decile 6, above the midpoint.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
2,271
Unemployed
82
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
36.1%
Participation
64.0%
Employed
2,189
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.4%
Postgraduate
9.6%
Born Overseas
23.3%
Dwellings
1,695
Transport to Work
Daily life in Whitfield is strongly car dependent: 70.7% of residents drive, compared with 0.7% using public transport and 3.9% walking or cycling. That imbalance is higher than the public transport share and means access to work, shops and services is likely to be easier by car, while the 18.8% working-from-home share provides some flexibility. Whitfield State School provides 1 local government school option, and families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because catchments can change across nearby streets. The suburb records a volunteering rate of 20.1%, which supports local participation, and 7.6% of residents report needing assistance. IRSAD is at decile 6, above the midpoint, while education and occupation is at decile 7, indicating comparatively solid social and skills conditions. A definitive safety judgement should not be assumed from location alone, so residents should check current Queensland Police incident information and visit the area at different times.
Drive
70.7%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
18.8%
Population Forecast
+0.14%/yr
(+12 people/yr)
EstablishedWhitfield follows an established, slow-growth path rather than a rapid expansion cycle. Forecast trend growth is 0.14% annually, while population change across the wider area is 3.8% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but the demographic trajectory is explicitly Aging, with the senior share rising 5.1 points, the young share falling 2.1 points and the working-age share falling 2.4 points. Compared with high-growth corridors, this combination points to gradual change because the existing resident base is ageing and development activity is modest at 11 applications over 12 months. Affordability is described as Stable, moving from 36.0% in 2011 to 35.5% in 2021, while rent growth reached 30.0%. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so near-term change is more likely to come from household turnover and selective upgrades than wholesale neighbourhood repositioning.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+84
Net Internal / yr
-56
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Whitfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Whitfield a good suburb to live in?
Whitfield can suit households seeking established, detached housing and a quieter residential setting. The suburb has 4,262 residents, a median age of 45 and 79.4% separate houses. Compared with car-light areas, daily life is more vehicle dependent because 70.7% of residents drive and only 0.7% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Whitfield?
A current median house price is not available, so buyers should compare recent sales by land size, condition and street position. Whitfield has 79.4% separate houses, 38.5% three-bedroom homes and 35.4% four-bedroom or larger homes, meaning the suburb's mix can make a single median less representative.
What schools are in Whitfield?
Whitfield State School is the local school identified in Whitfield and is a government state school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone and current intake arrangements for the exact address. The suburb has 2.3 people per household and 37.1% of couples have children, so school access may be an important part of a family's housing decision.
Is Whitfield safe?
A definitive safety rating should not be assumed without checking current incident information. Whitfield has 4,262 residents, but population size alone cannot establish safety. Prospective residents should review Queensland Police information, inspect the immediate street and visit at different times, including evenings and weekends.
Is Whitfield good for property investment?
Whitfield may suit investors seeking an established market rather than a rapid-growth strategy. Weekly rent is $340, vacancy is 7.0% and renters account for 30.4% of households. Forecast growth is 0.14% annually, with 11 development applications over 12 months, so rental quality, upkeep and purchase price matter more than a major redevelopment theme.
How is Whitfield's population changing?
Whitfield has 4,262 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 3.8% over 10 years and forecast trend growth is 0.14% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 5.1 points and the young share down 2.1 points, indicating gradual demographic change rather than rapid 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.
Explore Whitfield on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map