Moving to Smithfield QLD 4878
What the official numbers say about living in Smithfield — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $420 a week, against a median household income of $1,840 a week.
About 67% of homes are owner-occupied and 33% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Smithfield grew 80% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (3,705 → 6,664 people).
Around 75% of households are families, averaging 2.6 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, India; most spoken languages besides English: Japanese, Punjabi, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Smithfield scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (80% of workers), while 15% work from home.
Nearest train station: Barron Falls, 5.5 km west.
Nearest bus interchange: James Cook University Bus Station, 1 km north.
Nearest airport: Cairns Airport, 8.3 km south-east.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 1403 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 9 schools · 7 cafes & restaurants · 4 supermarkets · 21 parks — see them all on the Smithfield profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Newman Catholic College 1000 m · Smithfield State High School 1.6 km · Holy Cross School 1.8 km · Caravonica State School 2.8 km · Yorkeys Knob State School 3.5 km · Trinity Beach State School 3.6 km · Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre 4.4 km · Sun Pacific College Cairns 4.5 km
Groceries: Spar 750 m · Coles 900 m · Woolworths 1.3 km · Dan Murphy's 1.3 km
Parks and reserves: Information Park 250 m · Tom Dooley Park 300 m · Hockey Avenue Reserve 700 m · Rainy Mountain Park 900 m · Kennedy Park 1.2 km · Yumbabulla Green Playground 1.4 km · Oakville Parade Park 1.4 km · Centaur Park 1.8 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Smithfield, most often seen first: Masked Lapwing · Willie Wagtail · Peaceful Dove · Magpie-lark · Welcome Swallow · Australasian Darter.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Smithfield, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield here | 6,664 | — | 7/10 | 48% |
| Trinity Park | 3,536 | — | 7/10 | 36% |
| Yorkeys Knob | 2,794 | — | 3/10 | 32% |
| Trinity Beach | 6,594 | — | 7/10 | 40% |
| Caravonica | 2,183 | — | 6/10 | 62% |
| Kewarra Beach | 6,133 | — | 7/10 | 29% |
| Holloways Beach | 2,398 | — | 3/10 | 35% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Cairns — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Leichhardt — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4878 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Smithfield profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $420 a week, and about 33% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 80% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 3,705 people to 6,664. It sits about 1403 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Barron Falls station is roughly 5.5 km away. Local government is Cairns council, and the federal seat is Leichhardt.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Smithfield vs Trinity Park · Smithfield vs Yorkeys Knob.
Nearby guides: Trinity Park · Yorkeys Knob · Trinity Beach · Caravonica · Kewarra Beach · Holloways Beach.
Keep an eye on Smithfield
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