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, 58.1% of households in Cairns (R) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 32.9% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Regional Qld (30.2%).
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
16,649
% of total
25.3%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
16,649
25.3%
+2.8pp
Mortgage
2021 count
21,633
% of total
32.8%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
21,633
32.8%
+2.6pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
21,707
% of total
32.9%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
21,707
32.9%
-2.8pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
2,460
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,460
3.7%
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
19,088
% of total
29.0%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
19,088
29.0%
-2.2pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
161
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
161
0.2%
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
855
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
855
1.3%
+0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
5,084
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
5,084
7.7%
-3.1pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+2,633
+2.8pp
Mortgage
+2,801
+2.6pp
Renting - Total
-502
-2.8pp
Renting - Social housing
-12
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
-327
-2.2pp
Renting - Not stated
-164
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
+400
+0.6pp
Not stated
-1,667
-3.1pp
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 | 16,649 | 25.3% | 31.0% | 14,016 | 22.5% | 29.2% | +2,633 | +2.8pp |
| Mortgage | 21,633 | 32.8% | 30.2% | 18,832 | 30.2% | 29.1% | +2,801 | +2.6pp |
| Renting - Total | 21,707 | 32.9% | 29.5% | 22,209 | 35.7% | 31.4% | -502 | -2.8pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 2,460 | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2,472 | 4.0% | 3.3% | -12 | -0.3pp |
| Renting - Private | 19,088 | 29.0% | 26.2% | 19,415 | 31.2% | 27.4% | -327 | -2.2pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 161 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 325 | 0.5% | 0.7% | -164 | -0.3pp |
| Other tenure type | 855 | 1.3% | 2.3% | 455 | 0.7% | 1.0% | +400 | +0.6pp |
| Not stated | 5,084 | 7.7% | 7.0% | 6,751 | 10.8% | 9.2% | -1,667 | -3.1pp |
| Total households | 65,917 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 62,267 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,650 | 0.0pp |