Question 1

Is Stratford a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Stratford is an inner-northern suburb of Cairns with a calm, residential feel and easy access to the city. Streets feature classic timber Queenslander cottages alongside low-set brick homes and some newer infill, giving a mix of traditional and more modern housing. The suburb is modest in scale and leafy for its setting, home to 1,198 people with a median age of 41, and its households are strongly family-oriented — couple families (with and without children) make up more than eight in ten families.

Just over seven in ten dwellings are owner-occupied while about 29% are rented. Everyday life is supported by local parks and a compact retail strip, the Stratford Library and community hall at 11 Kamerunga Road, a boat ramp and floating walkway on Greenbank Road at the Barron River, and a community heritage trail. Council activity has also backed local sporting clubs, so the suburb suits workers and families after inner-city convenience without living in the CBD.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Stratford?

Accepted Answer

In Stratford, the current rent figures give the clearest picture. A house rent of $685 a week would take about 38.2% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, which is a sizeable share of income. A unit rent of $488 a week would take about 27.2% of that weekly income, a moderate share. If you're renting, those shares are the most relevant way to judge how housing costs sit against what households earned at the last Census.

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

Question 3

Is Stratford a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months Stratford shows a split between values and rents. Median house values rose 6.6%, a solid increase, while the rent for houses fell 8.7%, a notable decline. Unit rents climbed 6.1%, a solid rise, so unit rental income has been the stronger performer this year while house prices rose and house rents eased. What that balance means for your plans depends on whether you prioritise capital growth or rental income.

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.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	N/A	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	6.6%	N/A
Sold Past 3 months	2	N/A
Median days on market Past 12 months	16	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$685	$488
Change in rent Past 12 months	-8.7%	6.1%

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