Mackay
One of the most striking facts about Mackay is its vacancy rate: 18.4% of dwellings sit empty, more than 3 times the national average, which shapes almost every other number in the suburb. Population is 4,026 across 3.96 km2, giving a density of 1,017 per km2. Household income sits at the 27.4th percentile nationally, well below average, yet the dominant industry is Healthcare at 23.5%, supplemented by Mining at 8.9%. The aging trajectory is confirmed by a senior share that rose 9.7 points over the decade, while the working-age share fell 8.1 points, making this a suburb in measurable demographic transition.
Population
4,026
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,239/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$359K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $359,000, considerably lower than the Queensland state median, which reflects the suburb's income profile at the 27.4th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,387, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Housing stock skews toward semi-detached dwellings at 43.9%, with apartments at 29.0% and separate houses at just 26.9%. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 48.0%, and 4-plus bedroom homes reach only 8.9%. Outright owners (17.0%) are outnumbered by renters (67.8%), a tenure profile more typical of inner-city apartments than a regional suburb, because affordability draws transient workers rather than long-term owner-occupiers.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $359,000, considerably lower than the Queensland state median, which reflects the suburb's income profile at the 27.4th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,387, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Housing stock skews toward semi-detached dwellings at 43.9%, with apartments at 29.0% and separate houses at just 26.9%. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 48.0%, and 4-plus bedroom homes reach only 8.9%. Outright owners (17.0%) are outnumbered by renters (67.8%), a tenure profile more typical of inner-city apartments than a regional suburb, because affordability draws transient workers rather than long-term owner-occupiers.
For Investors
At 67.8%, renters make up more than two thirds of residents, one of the highest renter shares in regional QLD, which means landlord demand is structurally embedded. Weekly rent averages $270, giving a rough gross yield above 3.9% on the $359,000 median. The counterweight is a 18.4% vacancy rate, high enough to indicate real oversupply risk, and investors should underwrite extended vacancy periods. Development activity is modest at 7 applications in 12 months. Net overseas migration adds 11 residents annually and net internal migration adds 4, a balanced but thin demand base. Annual population growth runs at 2.22%, faster than most established suburbs, but the aging trajectory means household formation growth may not keep pace.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
10
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 Mackay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Catherine McAuley College
7-10 · 606 students
St Brendan's Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 439 students
St Patrick's College
7-12 · 1394 students
Mackay Central State School
Prep-6 · 216 students
Demographics
The median age is 38, two years below the national figure, though the suburb is aging: the senior share rose 9.7 points and the working-age share fell 8.1 points over the decade, a faster demographic shift than national trends. Overseas-born residents account for 28.4% of the population, 6.8 points above the national average. English (1,188 residents) leads ancestry, followed by Ancestry NS (702), Irish (371) and Scottish (348), a broadly Anglo-Celtic profile. Non-English languages include Punjabi, Mandarin and Nepali, reflecting recent migration inflows. University qualifications reach 22.3%, which is 7.8 points below national, and average household size is 1.9 persons, 0.6 below national, consistent with the renter-dominated, smaller-dwelling stock.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
26.9%
Houses
43.9%
Townhouse
29.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by renters at 67.8%, with mortgage holders at 15.2% and outright owners at just 17.0%, a ratio that ranks well above the national renter share. Semi-detached dwellings at 43.9% and apartments at 29.0% together account for 73% of stock, meaning separate houses at 26.9% are genuinely scarce. Two-bedroom dwellings make up 48.0% of the stock, the most common configuration by a large margin, and 0-to-1-bedroom units reach 15.0%. Rent-to-income sits at 21.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, which partly explains why renters persist despite low incomes. The 18.4% vacancy rate is elevated compared to typical national figures, suggesting the supply of rental stock exceeds steady-state demand at current population levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,387
Rent / wk
$270
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$835
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.4%
Unoccupied
365
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.3%
Couples, no children
1,908
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 23.5% of the local workforce (265 workers), more than double the second industry, which positions the suburb as a service-hub rather than a resource extraction base despite Mining contributing 8.9%. Hospitality (7.8%), Construction (7.4%) and Manufacturing (7.1%) round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 349 workers, followed by Community/Personal (243), Labourers (237) and Machinery/Drivers (195). The unemployment rate is 7.7%, above the national average, and the participation rate is 52.8%, below national, because 935 residents are outside the labour force. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 2 and IRSAD decile of 2 place Mackay among the most disadvantaged 20% of suburbs nationally, a direct consequence of below-average incomes and high unemployment.
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
72.1%
Part-time
20.2%
Participation
52.8%
Employed
1,726
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.3%
Postgraduate
5.3%
Born Overseas
28.4%
Dwellings
1,575
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 75.6% driving, compared to a national norm above 60%, while public transport usage is very low at 1.7%. Walking and cycling accounts for 12.5% of trips, above average for a regional suburb, likely reflecting the compact 3.96 km2 footprint. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary. IRSAD decile 2 places Mackay in the bottom 20% nationally for advantage, and 6.4% of residents (213 people) require daily assistance, a meaningful care burden on a population of 4,026. Volunteering rate is 12.9%, roughly in line with national figures, and rent-to-income at 21.8% keeps tenants out of stress. The high vacancy rate of 18.4% means access to rental housing is generally easy, a practical benefit for the majority-renter population.
Drive
75.6%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
12.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.22%/yr
(+15 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth is 2.22% (approximately 15 persons per year), and the 10-year change was 16.9%, faster than many comparable Queensland suburbs. Medium forecasts project population rising from 676 in 2025 to 774 by 2031. Migration is balanced: overseas inflows average 11 per year and internal migration adds 4, a thin but stable net positive. Affordability improved from 53.0% in 2011 to 44.7% in 2021, a positive trend. Real income growth was negative at minus 15.2% over the decade, and rent declined 12.1%, both pointing to an economy under real wage pressure rather than a gentrifying suburb. Gentrification score is 0, consistent with SEIFA decile 2 positioning and no evidence of investment-led price escalation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+11
Net Internal / yr
+4
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mackay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mackay a good suburb to live in?
Mackay has low housing costs with a $359,000 median and rent-to-income of 21.8%, keeping housing stress low for most renters. However, it ranks in SEIFA IRSAD decile 2, placing it among the bottom 20% of suburbs nationally for advantage. Unemployment at 7.7% is above average, and the 18.4% vacancy rate reflects lower economic activity.
What is the median house price in Mackay?
The median house price is estimated at $359,000, based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $270 and monthly mortgage repayments run $1,387. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, making purchase relatively affordable compared to most Australian suburbs.
What schools are in Mackay?
No schools are recorded inside the Mackay suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The suburb has a university qualification rate of 22.3%, which is 7.8 points below the national average, reflecting the workforce profile of the local economy.
Is Mackay safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Mackay in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 2, placing it in the bottom 20% nationally for relative disadvantage, and 6.4% of its 4,026 residents (213 people) need daily assistance. Lower-income, high-renter suburbs typically face above-average crime risk compared to the national baseline.
Is Mackay good for property investment?
Renters make up 67.8% of residents, providing a large and persistent tenant pool, and weekly rent of $270 implies a gross yield above 3.9% on the $359,000 median. The risk is the 18.4% vacancy rate, which suggests oversupply in certain dwelling types. Annual population growth of 2.22% supports demand, but SEIFA decile 2 signals income constraints on rent escalation.
How is Mackay's population changing?
Population grew 16.9% over the past 10 years and is forecast to rise from 676 in 2025 to 774 by 2031 at 2.22% per year. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 9.7 points and working-age share down 8.1 points over the decade. Net overseas migration averages 11 per year and internal migration adds 4, both positive but modest drivers.
What industries drive Mackay's economy?
Healthcare leads at 23.5% of the local workforce (265 workers), followed by Mining at 8.9% (101 workers), Hospitality at 7.8%, Construction at 7.4% and Manufacturing at 7.1%. Unemployment is 7.7% and real income growth was minus 15.2% over the decade, indicating wage pressure across the local economy.
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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