Housing
Housing tenure
About this topic
Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.
This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.
Interpretation notes
- Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
- It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.
Key insight
In 2021, 29.6% of households in Cairns North were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 56.4% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Cairns (R) (32.8%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Cairns North - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Cairns North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns North, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Fully owned
2021 count
346
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
346
14.2%
+3.5pp
Mortgage
2021 count
376
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
376
15.4%
+1.8pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
1,378
% of total
56.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,378
56.4%
-0.3pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
97
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
97
4.0%
+0.1pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
1,277
% of total
52.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,277
52.3%
0.0pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
6
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6
0.2%
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
24
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
24
1.0%
+0.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
319
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
-5.1pp
319
13.1%
-5.1pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+92
+3.5pp
Mortgage
+53
+1.8pp
Renting - Total
+31
-0.3pp
Renting - Social housing
+4
+0.1pp
Renting - Private
+34
0.0pp
Renting - Not stated
-3
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
+10
+0.4pp
Not stated
-114
-5.1pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Cairns North. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 346 | 14.2% | 25.3% | 254 | 10.7% | 22.5% | +92 | +3.5pp |
| Mortgage | 376 | 15.4% | 32.8% | 323 | 13.6% | 30.2% | +53 | +1.8pp |
| Renting - Total | 1,378 | 56.4% | 32.9% | 1,347 | 56.7% | 35.7% | +31 | -0.3pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 97 | 4.0% | 3.7% | 93 | 3.9% | 4.0% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Renting - Private | 1,277 | 52.3% | 29.0% | 1,243 | 52.3% | 31.2% | +34 | 0.0pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 6 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 9 | 0.4% | 0.5% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Other tenure type | 24 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 14 | 0.6% | 0.7% | +10 | +0.4pp |
| Not stated | 319 | 13.1% | 7.7% | 433 | 18.2% | 10.8% | -114 | -5.1pp |
| Total households | 2,442 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,377 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +65 | 0.0pp |