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, 62% of households in Cairns (R) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 35% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Regional Qld (32.8%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Cairns (R) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Cairns (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Fully owned
2021 count
15,897
% of total
26.4%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
15,897
26.4%
+2.7pp
Mortgage
2021 count
21,499
% of total
35.6%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
21,499
35.6%
+2.1pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
21,101
% of total
35.0%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
21,101
35.0%
-3.9pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
2,419
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,419
4.0%
-0.4pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
18,522
% of total
30.7%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
18,522
30.7%
-3.3pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
155
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
155
0.3%
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
787
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
787
1.3%
+0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,040
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,040
1.7%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+2,656
+2.7pp
Mortgage
+2,810
+2.1pp
Renting - Total
-605
-3.9pp
Renting - Social housing
-32
-0.4pp
Renting - Private
-429
-3.3pp
Renting - Not stated
-148
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
+374
+0.6pp
Not stated
-702
-1.4pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Cairns (R). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 15,897 | 26.4% | 32.0% | 13,241 | 23.7% | 30.3% | +2,656 | +2.7pp |
| Mortgage | 21,499 | 35.6% | 32.8% | 18,689 | 33.5% | 31.9% | +2,810 | +2.1pp |
| Renting - Total | 21,101 | 35.0% | 31.1% | 21,706 | 38.9% | 33.9% | -605 | -3.9pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 2,419 | 4.0% | 3.3% | 2,451 | 4.4% | 3.7% | -32 | -0.4pp |
| Renting - Private | 18,522 | 30.7% | 27.6% | 18,951 | 34.0% | 29.5% | -429 | -3.3pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 155 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 303 | 0.5% | 0.7% | -148 | -0.2pp |
| Other tenure type | 787 | 1.3% | 2.2% | 413 | 0.7% | 1.0% | +374 | +0.6pp |
| Not stated | 1,040 | 1.7% | 1.8% | 1,742 | 3.1% | 2.9% | -702 | -1.4pp |
| Total households | 60,318 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 55,790 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,528 | 0.0pp |