East Mackay
A 10% vacancy rate in a suburb where 89.7% of residents drive to work tells you a lot about East Mackay. This established Mackay suburb sits at the 60th household income percentile nationally while carrying SEIFA disadvantage decile 3 to 4, a gap that reflects a workforce anchored in mining and healthcare rather than the high-income professions that typically lift advantage indexes. The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure, and the suburb is aging, with the senior share up 3.1 points over the decade. Separate houses dominate at 72.7% of dwellings, yet the renter proportion at 38.5% is high for a detached-dominated area.
Population
3,725
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,718/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$423K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $423,000, placing East Mackay well below the national median for established suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8% stays below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers reasonable headroom. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 72.7%, with semi-detached at 26.0% and apartments at just 1.4%. Three-bedroom homes account for 40.6% and four-plus-bedroom for 31.2%, offering ample family-sized supply. Outright owners (28.6%) and mortgage holders (32.9%) together slightly outnumber the 38.5% renter share, which is higher than typical for a largely detached suburb.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $423,000, placing East Mackay well below the national median for established suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8% stays below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers reasonable headroom. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 72.7%, with semi-detached at 26.0% and apartments at just 1.4%. Three-bedroom homes account for 40.6% and four-plus-bedroom for 31.2%, offering ample family-sized supply. Outright owners (28.6%) and mortgage holders (32.9%) together slightly outnumber the 38.5% renter share, which is higher than typical for a largely detached suburb.
For Investors
A renter share of 38.5% and weekly rent of $320 point to a functioning tenant pool, but the 10.0% vacancy rate is a critical caution flag, well above the 3% balance threshold. At the $423,000 median, $320 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 3.9%, below what many regional QLD suburbs offer. Population growth is 0.51% annually, with overseas arrivals of 66 per year offset by internal outflow of 64. The 7 development applications in the past 12 months indicate limited new supply pressure. The gentrification score of 0 and negative real income growth of -6.5% over the decade make yield rather than capital appreciation the investor's primary focus.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Mackay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Victoria Park State School
Prep-6 · 602 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 3.1 points while the young share fell 3.2 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents at 14.7% are 6.9 points below national, reflecting a strongly Anglo-Celtic base. English ancestry leads at 1,480 residents, followed by Irish at 483 and Scottish at 428. University qualifications at 21.8% are 8.3 points below the national average, consistent with an economy weighted toward mining trades and healthcare support roles. Average household size of 2.3 is fractionally below national. Of 2,523 family units, 30.5% are couples without children and 976 are couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.7%
Houses
26.0%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits to 28.6% outright owners, 32.9% with a mortgage, and 38.5% renters. The renter proportion is high given the 72.7% detached house stock, a sign that detached rental supply exceeds demand. Three-bedroom homes lead at 40.6%, followed by four-plus-bedroom at 31.2% and two-bedroom at 22.7%. The $423,000 median compares favourably to state and national averages, keeping rent-to-income at 18.6% and mortgage-to-income at 21.8%, both below stress levels. The 10.0% vacancy rate, well above the national balance point, is the key affordability signal for renters and risk flag for landlords.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$916
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.0%
Unoccupied
158
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.5%
Couples, no children
2,523
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 19.0% of workers (219 residents), reflecting Mackay's hospital and allied health services. Mining and Construction are each at 10.2% (117 workers), a pairing typical of QLD regional centres. Education follows at 9.5%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 316 workers, then Community/Personal at 220 and Machinery/Drivers at 207. Unemployment is 4.0%, slightly above the national rate, with 70.3% in full-time work. The SEIFA decile 3 IEO score signals below-average access to education and high-skill occupations compared to national benchmarks, while household income at the 60th percentile nationally shows mining and healthcare wages partially offset that disadvantage.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
2,140
Unemployed
53
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.3%
Part-time
25.7%
Participation
58.3%
Employed
1,726
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.8%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
14.7%
Dwellings
1,397
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 89.7% of residents drive to work, well above the national average, while only 1.6% use public transport and 2.6% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families draw on neighbouring Mackay localities. The IRSAD decile of 4 places East Mackay in the lower-advantage tier nationally, and the IEO at decile 3 signals limited access to high-skill employment. Housing affordability is a practical positive: rent-to-income at 18.6% and mortgage-to-income at 21.8% are both well below stress thresholds. Volunteering at 15.4% indicates moderate community participation, and 8.8% (301 people) require daily assistance.
Drive
89.7%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.51%/yr
(+21 people/yr)
EstablishedEast Mackay grows slowly at 0.51% per year, adding around 21 persons annually. The 10-year change was -1.1%, below the national average for established suburbs. Population was 4,136 in 2023 and 4,154 in 2025, near-flat movement. Medium forecasts project 4,278 residents by 2031. Overseas arrivals of 66 per year are exactly offset by internal outflow of 64, leaving overseas migration as the only net positive driver. Real income fell 6.5% over the decade and the gentrification score is 0. Affordability improved from 38.6% in 2011 to 32.3% in 2021, a better trend than many coastal markets, because prices stayed flat rather than incomes rising.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+66
Net Internal / yr
-64
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Mackay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Mackay a good suburb to live in?
East Mackay offers affordable housing with a $423,000 median and mortgage-to-income at 21.8%, well below the 30% stress level. The SEIFA disadvantage decile of 4 on IRSAD places it in the lower-advantage tier nationally, and public transport at 1.6% means a car is essential. For owner-occupiers seeking value in the Mackay region, it is viable; for renters, the 10% vacancy rate indicates good supply and negotiating power.
What is the median house price in East Mackay?
The median house price is estimated at $423,000 (2025 estimate based on rent data). Weekly rent averages $320, implying a gross yield of around 3.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,625, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.8%, indicating manageable borrowing costs relative to local incomes at the 60th household income percentile nationally.
What schools are in East Mackay?
No schools are recorded inside the East Mackay boundary in this dataset. Families in the suburb access schools in neighbouring Mackay localities. The suburb's university qualification rate is 21.8%, which is 8.3 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trade and service occupations.
Is East Mackay safe?
Crime statistics specific to East Mackay are not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on IRSD (Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage), placing it in the lower-middle tier nationally. The 8.8% of residents requiring daily assistance (301 people) is slightly above baseline, and volunteering at 15.4% suggests moderate community engagement.
Is East Mackay good for property investment?
The 38.5% renter share and $320 weekly rent give a gross yield near 3.9% on the $423,000 median. The critical risk is the 10.0% vacancy rate, far above the 3% balance point. Population growth is only 0.51% per year and the gentrification score is 0. Returns are more likely to come from rental income than capital growth, and filling vacancies should be the first due-diligence test for any prospective landlord.
How is East Mackay's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 0.51% annually, equivalent to around 21 additional residents per year. The 10-year population change was -1.1%, and the current count of approximately 4,154 has barely moved from 4,136 in 2023. Medium forecasts project 4,278 residents by 2031. Overseas migration of 66 per year is the primary driver, offset by net internal outflow of 64 per year, resulting in near-zero net movement.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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