Cairns vs North Lakes: Property Investment Comparison 2026
Side-by-side investment comparison to help you decide which suburb suits your investment goals.
Cairns
mediumQLD 4870
North Lakes
lowQLD 4509
Overview
This guide compares Cairns (QLD, 4870) and North Lakes (QLD, 4509) as property investment options.
| Feature | Cairns | North Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| State | QLD | QLD |
| Region | Regional Major | Metro Outer |
| Risk Level | Medium | Low |
| Hybrid Score | 7.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
Price Comparison
| Price Metric | Cairns | North Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| Median House | $670,000 | $780,000 |
| Median Unit | $430,000 | $480,000 |
| Median Townhouse | N/A | $600,000 |
Cairns offers a lower entry price, approximately $110,000 (14%) cheaper at the median level.
Rental Yield Comparison
| Yield Metric | Cairns | North Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Yield | 5.81% | 4.71% |
| House Rent/wk | $748 | $706 |
| Unit Rent/wk | $484 | $650 |
| Vacancy Rate | N/A | 1.0% |
| Days on Market | N/A | 19 |
Cairns offers the higher gross yield at 5.81%, a difference of 1.10 percentage points.
Growth Comparison
| Growth Metric | Cairns | North Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| 5yr Growth p.a. | 6.5% | 7.2% |
| 10yr Growth p.a. | 3.0% | 6.8% |
| Growth Score | 8.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
North Lakes has demonstrated stronger recent growth at 7.2% p.a. over the past 5 years.
Demographics Comparison
| Demographic | Cairns | North Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 73,803 | 42,000 |
| Median Age | 39 | 32 |
| Household Income | $78,520 | $105,000 |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | 3.8% |
| Owner-Occupier | N/A | 65% |
Risk Comparison
| Risk Metric | Cairns | North Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Level | Medium | Low |
| Price Stability | N/A | 7.8/10 |
| Volatility | N/A | 2.8 |
Cairns risks:
North Lakes risks: Higher entry price limits yield; Approaching price ceiling for outer suburban
Investment Verdict
Who should invest where?
Growth seekers may prefer investigating North Lakes (growth score 10.0/10, 5yr growth 7.2% p.a.). This suburb is better positioned for capital appreciation over a longer holding period.
Yield hunters may prefer investigating North Lakes (yield score 9.0/10, gross yield 4.71%). This suburb provides stronger rental returns and better cashflow potential.
Balanced investors seeking both growth and income may prefer North Lakes (hybrid score 10.0/10), which offers the best overall combination of metrics.
This information is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on your individual circumstances. Consider seeking professional advice before making any property investment.
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