Housing
Dwelling type
About this topic
Dwelling type shows the structure of dwellings, such as separate houses, medium density housing, and higher density housing. It is a core measure of built form and residential density within an area.
This topic helps explain the housing role of an area and the kinds of households it may attract. It is best read with household size, household type, tenure, and age structure, because built form and population characteristics are closely related.
Interpretation notes
- Dwelling structure describes the physical form of dwellings counted on Census night rather than tenure, housing condition, or household makeup.
- It is strongest when read alongside household size and tenure, because structure alone does not show who lives there.
Key insight
In 2021, separate houses was the most common dwelling type among dwellings in Cairns (R), accounting for 70.4% (46,405 dwellings). This share was lower than Regional Qld (73.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in separate houses, which increased by 3,810 dwellings and 2 percentage points.
Section overview
Dwelling structure
Cairns (R) - Dwellings (Enumerated)
This table summarises dwelling type for Cairns (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Dwelling structure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Separate house
2021 count
46,405
% of total
70.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
46,405
70.4%
+2.0pp
Medium density
2021 count
12,407
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
12,407
18.8%
-0.7pp
High density
2021 count
5,276
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
5,276
8.0%
-0.3pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
2021 count
1,090
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,090
1.7%
-0.6pp
Other
2021 count
197
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
197
0.3%
-0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
538
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
538
0.8%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Dwelling structure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Separate house
+3,810
+2.0pp
Medium density
+256
-0.7pp
High density
+122
-0.3pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
-372
-0.6pp
Other
-122
-0.2pp
Not stated
-54
-0.2pp
Data table
Dwelling type for Cairns (R). Dwelling structure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Separate house | 46,405 | 70.4% | 73.7% | 42,595 | 68.4% | 74.1% | +3,810 | +2.0pp |
| Medium density | 12,407 | 18.8% | 16.0% | 12,151 | 19.5% | 15.5% | +256 | -0.7pp |
| High density | 5,276 | 8.0% | 6.7% | 5,154 | 8.3% | 6.0% | +122 | -0.3pp |
| Caravans, cabin, houseboat | 1,090 | 1.7% | 2.4% | 1,462 | 2.3% | 3.0% | -372 | -0.6pp |
| Other | 197 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 319 | 0.5% | 0.5% | -122 | -0.2pp |
| Not stated | 538 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 592 | 1.0% | 0.9% | -54 | -0.2pp |
| Total Occupied Private Dwellings | 65,917 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 62,267 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,650 | 0.0pp |