Moving to Cardwell QLD 4849
What the official numbers say about living in Cardwell — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $250 a week, against a median household income of $846 a week.
About 59% of homes are owner-occupied and 40% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Cardwell grew 12% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,176 → 1,320 people).
Around 56% of households are families, averaging 1.9 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, Philippines, New Zealand; most spoken languages besides English: Filipino, Tagalog, Australian Indigenous.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Cardwell scores below the national average (decile 1 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (73% of workers), while 13% work from home.
Nearest train station: Cardwell, 350 m south.
Nearest airport: Ingham Airport, 46.2 km south.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 1249 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 school · 5 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 5 parks — see them all on the Cardwell profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Cardwell State School 550 m
Groceries: Friendly Grocer 1.1 km
Parks and reserves: Cardwell Lions Park 150 m · Cardwell Park 300 m · Colleen Mclaughlin Park 900 m · White Street Park 2.1 km · Coral Sea Battle Memorial Park 2.2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Cardwell, most often seen first: White-breasted Woodswallow · Common Myna · Willie Wagtail · Spotted Turtle-dove · Peaceful Dove · Welcome Swallow.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Cardwell, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardwell here | 1,320 | — | 1/10 | 63% |
| South Mission Beach | 968 | — | 5/10 | 71% |
| Tully | 2,368 | — | 1/10 | 27% |
| Wongaling Beach | 1,323 | — | 3/10 | 66% |
| Mission Beach | 1,014 | — | 4/10 | 57% |
| Ingham | 4,455 | — | 1/10 | 12% |
| Kurrimine Beach | 742 | — | 2/10 | 64% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Cassowary Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Kennedy — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4849 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Cardwell profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $250 a week, and about 40% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 12% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,176 people to 1,320. It sits about 1249 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Cardwell station is roughly 0.4 km away. Local government is Cassowary Coast council, and the federal seat is Kennedy.
Weighing up alternatives?
Nearby guides: South Mission Beach · Tully · Wongaling Beach · Mission Beach · Ingham · Kurrimine Beach.
Keep an eye on Cardwell
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