Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach is a relaxed tropical beachside suburb on the northern fringe of Cairns, centred on a long sandy foreshore backed by parkland and swaying palms. It has a community of 3,192 people with a median age of 48. The streets mix low-set weatherboard homes and modern low-rise apartments, and a noticeable presence of holiday accommodation sits alongside year-round residents including families and retirees. A compact village strip and foreshore reserves provide basic shops and outdoor recreation, while the Captain Cook Highway links the area to nearby northern beaches and the city.

That combination points to a quieter, laid-back coastal lifestyle focused on beach time and outdoor living, with most homes owner-occupied (64.4%). Recent local works include a completed section of the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail that closes a missing active-transport link, Queensland Government works on the Captain Cook Highway, and council erosion-management installations on the foreshore. Whether Clifton Beach suits you depends on whether you want a small beachside community with basic shops, parks and coastal access close at hand.

Rents in Clifton Beach would take a large share of a typical local household's income at the last Census. A house rent of $830 a week is about 56.1% of the median local weekly household income at the last Census, while a unit rent of $600 a week is about 40.5%.

Buying sits well above local incomes on these figures. A $1,000,000 median house works out to about 13.0 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, and a $525,000 median unit is about 6.8 times that annual income. Whether those ratios feel expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

The clearest story for Clifton Beach over the past 12 months is strong capital growth, especially on the unit side. Unit median values climbed 21.4% and house median values rose 14.7%, both sizable increases over the year. Rents also rose, with unit rents up 9.1% and house rents up 5.1%, so units outperformed houses on both price and rental movement. In short, capital growth has outpaced rental growth for both property types this year; if rental income is your priority the rent figures matter most, while the value changes speak to capital growth. Whether that pattern makes Clifton Beach the right investment for you depends on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.