PALM Cove is the runaway leader in Cairns with a median edging close to $1m – but a sleepy neighbouring beachside locale is hot on its heels.

Clifton Beach is adjacent to Palm Cove and is predominantly residential, with a couple of restaurants and a smattering of holiday apartments.

This four bedroom, four bathroom property at 1/61-67 Arlington Esp sold for $2.05m in April 2021. Picture: Supplied

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It is a short stroll along the sand to Palm Cove cafes and restaurants.

In Palm Cove, where the median is $965,000 for houses, not that many houses have come on the market in the past 12 months – 69 have sold, along with 156 apartments.

At Clifton Beach, the median of $820,250 represents a 27.2 per cent increase over 12 months with 94 houses sold.

101 Upolu Esplanade, Clifton Beach, is on the market with a price guide of $1.99m to $2.1m. Picture: Supplied

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Offers over $2.4m are sought for this five bedroom home at 41 Arlington Esplanade. Picture: Supplied

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RE/MAX Cairns owner Ray Murphy said Clifton Beach was increasingly in the sights of developers.

“There’s nothing available in Palm Cove and that’s put Clifton on the radar, as the next suburb closest to it,” Mr Murphy said.

“And people like it because it is not as busy as Palm Cove, although Palm Cove is still in high demand.”

An enticing ocean view is on offer at 95 Upolu Esplanade, which sold for $2m last September. Picture: Supplied

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Houses that have been tightly-held for years at Clifton Beach are coming on the market.

The property at 42 Yule Ave last sold for $430,000 in 2002 – it changed hands for $945,000 in October.

And a property at 35 Arlington Esplanade sold for $1.4m in October – it last sold for $930,000 in 2004, underscoring the premium for waterfront residences.

101 Upolu Esplanade, Clifton Beach is on the market with a price guide of $1.99m to $2.1m. Picture: Supplied

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The top priced home at Clifton Beach is $2.45m for 20-24 Alexandra St, a sprawling hillside mansion with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It sold in June 2021, the first time it had been on the market since 2006.

This sprawling property on acreage at 20-24 Alexandra St is the highest priced property on record for Clifton Beach, at $2.45m. Picture: Supplied

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A four bedroom, four bathroom property at 1/61-67 Arlington Esp sold for $2.05m in April 2021.

And the house at 95 Upolu Esp sold for $2m in September this year.

A three bedroom home at 30-34 Batt St sold for $1.95m in April this year.

According to the 2021 census, the median age of people living at Clifton Beach is 48 and the average number per household is 2.3.

This four bedroom, four bathroom property at 1/61-67 Arlington Esp sold for $2.05m in April 2021. Picture: Supplied

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The median monthly mortgage repayment, according to the census, is $1,820.

Clifton Beach up 40 per cent pre pandemic and 26 per cent over 12 months

Pre-pandemic, the median was $650,000.