North Mackay
A $388,000 median house price sits alongside a 10.6% rental vacancy rate here, and the two facts pull in the same direction. Household income lands in the 36.3rd percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 2 on IRSAD and IEO and decile 3 on IRSD, placing it well below the national midpoint on every SEIFA measure. The stock is detached-dominant at 76.6% separate houses across a 6.95 km2 footprint, where 39.6% of residents rent. University qualifications reach 19.1%, which is 11.0 points below the national figure, and the median age of 40 matches the national average exactly while the resident base trends older over the decade.
Population
6,194
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,375/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$388K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $388,000 median makes North Mackay one of the more affordable established markets in regional Queensland, well below capital city pricing. Stock favours buyers wanting space: 76.6% are separate houses, apartments make up just 14.5%, and three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 45.8% with 4-plus bedroom homes at 21.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,448, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits in the 36.3rd percentile. That gap between low prices and below-stress repayments is the suburb's core appeal for first home buyers. Mortgage holders (31.8%) outnumber outright owners (28.6%), pointing to a working market of active buyers rather than long-held, debt-free stock.
For Buyers
The $388,000 median makes North Mackay one of the more affordable established markets in regional Queensland, well below capital city pricing. Stock favours buyers wanting space: 76.6% are separate houses, apartments make up just 14.5%, and three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 45.8% with 4-plus bedroom homes at 21.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,448, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits in the 36.3rd percentile. That gap between low prices and below-stress repayments is the suburb's core appeal for first home buyers. Mortgage holders (31.8%) outnumber outright owners (28.6%), pointing to a working market of active buyers rather than long-held, debt-free stock.
For Investors
A 39.6% renter share and weekly rent of $300 give landlords a sizeable tenant pool, and the yield math is favourable. Against the $388,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 4.0%, far higher than the sub-2% returns common in capital city markets. The catch is the 10.6% vacancy rate, well above a healthy 2-3% band, which signals soft tenant demand and erodes effective returns through vacant weeks. Rent growth has been negative at -3.6% over the period, reinforcing the demand concern. Development is minimal at just 1 application in 12 months, so new supply is not the pressure. Net overseas migration of 66 a year is the primary growth driver, offset by net internal outflow of 64, leaving the investment case resting on yield rather than capital growth, which annual population growth of 0.51% does little to support.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
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 North Mackay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 349 students
Mackay Christian College
Prep-12 · 879 students
Mackay North State High School
7-12 · 1253 students
Fitzgerald State School
Prep-6 · 632 students
Mackay North State School
Prep-6 · 401 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national average exactly, but 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 reach just 13.3%, which is 8.3 points below national, marking an Anglo-leaning profile led by English (2,494), Scottish (711) and Irish (698) ancestry. The top non-English languages are Afrikaans (15 speakers), Mandarin (13) and Gujarati (12), a small international footprint. University qualifications at 19.1% run 11.0 points below national, consistent with a workforce weighted toward trades and services. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, and couples without children make up 29.5% of families, a share that fits the older, settled resident mix. Christianity dominates religious affiliation with 3,110 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.6%
Houses
7.3%
Townhouse
14.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits fairly evenly: 28.6% own outright, 31.8% carry a mortgage and 39.6% rent. Mortgage holders edging out outright owners points to an active buyer market rather than a base of long-settled, debt-free households. The stock is 76.6% separate houses with apartments at only 14.5% and semi-detached at 7.3%, a detached-dominant profile typical of regional Queensland. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 45.8% and 4-plus bedroom homes 21.8%, while smaller 0-1 bedroom dwellings are just 5.4%. The median house price of $388,000 keeps entry costs low relative to capital cities. Mortgage-to-income at 24.3% and rent-to-income at 21.8% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, a comfortable position that reflects how affordable housing is even against household income in the 36.3rd percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,448
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$786
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.6%
Unoccupied
302
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.5%
Couples, no children
4,312
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce leans toward services and resources rather than knowledge sectors: Healthcare leads at 18.6% (322 workers), Mining and Education tie at 10.8% each (187 workers apiece), Construction follows at 9.6% and Other Services at 7.7%. By occupation, Professionals (449) lead but Labourers (382), Machinery operators and Drivers (327) and Community and Personal Service workers (320) together outnumber them, which aligns with the decile 2 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment runs at 6.1%, above the national rate, and the full-time employment rate is 69.1%. Participation reads 55.5%, held down by 1,657 residents not in the labour force. Real incomes fell 6.5% over the decade, a decline that helps explain why all four SEIFA scores sit in deciles 2 to 3, the lower-advantage tiers nationally.
Unemployment
10.4%
Labour Force
2,440
Unemployed
254
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.1%
Part-time
24.8%
Participation
55.5%
Employed
2,678
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.1%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
2,525
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near total: 87.9% of residents drive to work, while only 1.8% take public transport and 3.4% walk or cycle, well below the active-transport shares seen in denser metro suburbs. The suburb scores decile 3 on IRSD for relative disadvantage and decile 2 on IRSAD, both below the national midpoint, indicating a meaningful share of residents face economic pressure. About 7.7% of residents (440 people) need daily assistance, and volunteering runs at 14.7%. Detailed crime statistics are not available for the suburb in this dataset. No schools are recorded inside the 6.95 km2 boundary here, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Mackay suburbs, a common pattern for established residential pockets. Affordability is the standout, with rent-to-income at 21.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress line.
Drive
87.9%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.51%/yr
(+21 people/yr)
EstablishedNorth Mackay is an established, slow-growth suburb: annual population growth registers 0.51%, about 21 residents a year, and the 10-year change is slightly negative at -1.1%. Medium forecasts lift the population modestly through 2031, reflecting steady rather than rapid expansion. Overseas migration of 66 a year is the primary growth driver, narrowly offset by net internal outflow of 64, leaving organic growth thin. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying with a score of 0, which fits a suburb already at decile 2 to 3 advantage with weak income momentum after real incomes fell 6.5% over the decade. One bright spot for residents: affordability improved from 38.6% in 2011 to 32.3% in 2021, easing the housing cost burden even as rent growth turned negative at -3.6%.
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 North Mackay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Mackay a good suburb to live in?
North Mackay offers strong affordability, with a $388,000 median house price and rent-to-income at 21.8%, below the 30% stress line. The trade-offs are lower socioeconomic ranking, with all four SEIFA scores in deciles 2 to 3, and a 10.6% rental vacancy rate that points to softer housing demand.
What is the median house price in North Mackay?
The median house price is $388,000, affordable by regional Queensland standards and far below capital city levels. Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,448, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in North Mackay?
No schools are recorded inside the 6.95 km2 North Mackay boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Mackay suburbs. University qualifications among residents sit at 19.1%, which is 11.0 points below the national figure, reflecting a trades and services workforce.
Is North Mackay safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for North Mackay in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 3 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, below the national midpoint, and 7.7% of its residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a lower-advantage area.
Is North Mackay good for property investment?
Rent of $300 a week against the $388,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, well above capital city returns. The catch is a 10.6% vacancy rate, far above a healthy 2-3% band, plus rent growth of -3.6%, so the case rests on yield rather than capital growth at 0.51% annual population growth.
How is North Mackay's population changing?
Population growth is 0.51% annually, about 21 residents a year, with a slightly negative 10-year change of -1.1%. Overseas migration of 66 a year is the primary driver, narrowly offset by net internal outflow of 64. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 3.1 points over the decade.
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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