East Mackay

An assessment of population growth drivers in East Mackay reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

East Mackay's population was approximately 3,870 as of February 2026. This marked an increase of 114 people (3.0%) from the 2021 Census figure of 3,756. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,864 in June 2024 and eight validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 837 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections were used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas is expected by 2041. The latest annual ERP population numbers project an increase of 272 persons to reach approximately 4,142 in total, reflecting a growth of 6.9% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees East Mackay recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

East Mackay has granted approximately 8 residential property approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling 42 homes. In FY-26 so far, 10 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.1 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating high demand outpacing supply, which can put upward pressure on prices and increase competition among buyers. The average construction cost of new homes is $339,000, aligning with regional trends.

This financial year has seen $9.5 million in commercial approvals, suggesting moderate commercial development levels. Compared to the Rest of Qld, East Mackay records about 60% of building activity per person and ranks among the 55th percentile nationally when measured against other areas assessed. However, recent periods have shown increased development activity, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New developments consist of 38.0% detached houses and 62.0% medium to high-density housing, marking a shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 73.0% houses). This trend may indicate decreasing availability of developable sites and reflect changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated population count per dwelling approval in East Mackay is 558 people, reflecting its quiet development environment.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is projected to grow by 266 residents through to 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, but buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

East Mackay has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. Nine projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to influence the region. Key initiatives include Mackay Base Hospital Expansion, Mackay State Development Area, Mackay CBD Revitalization, and Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area. The following list details those likely most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in East Mackay demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

East Mackay has a skilled workforce with strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.4%. As of September 2025, there are 2,078 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Qld at 65.7%. Only 4.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment are health care & social assistance, construction, and mining. Mining has notable concentration with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.7% versus the regional average of 4.5%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally based on Census data. In the 12-month period ending May-25, employment increased by 4.4% while labour force grew by 4.3%, reducing unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment grew by 1.7%, labour force expanded by 2.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to East Mackay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localized population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

In financial year 2023, East Mackay SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $66,838 and an average level of $82,663. These figures are high compared to national levels and those in Rest of Qld ($53,146 and $66,593 respectively). By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $73,462 and average income $90,855, based on a 9.91% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 69th percentile ($918 weekly) and household income at the 48th percentile. Income distribution shows that 32.0% of individuals fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. After housing expenses, 85.7% of income remains for other expenses. East Mackay SA2's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

East Mackay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

East Mackay's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 72.6% houses and 27.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. East Mackay's home ownership rate was 29.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented ones at 37.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in East Mackay was $1,625, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $1,655. The median weekly rent figure for East Mackay was $320, while Non-Metro Qld's was $345. Nationally, East Mackay's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,625 versus Australia's average of $1,863. Rents in East Mackay were substantially below the national figure of $375.

East Mackay features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 62.6% of all households, including 23.7% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 37.4%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 4.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

East Mackay faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 19.5%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This indicates a need for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them.

Advanced diplomas account for 9.8% while certificates make up 31.4%. Educational participation is high at 28.4%, with 10.5% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

East Mackay has 15 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by one route collectively offering 118 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 223 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 4.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 16 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in East Mackay is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

East Mackay faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is exceptionally high in East Mackay, at approximately 61% (2,352 people), compared to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.2 and 7.9% of residents respectively. However, 68.3% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among working-age residents are generally typical. East Mackay has 18.2% (704 people) of its population aged 65 and over, lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. However, health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings higher than those for the general population.

East Mackay ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

East Mackay's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.2% being Australian citizens, 85.0% born in Australia, and 92.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 56.2%, compared to 52.2% across the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups were English (30.3%), Australian (24.2%), and Irish (9.9%).

Notably, Maltese were overrepresented at 1.5% (vs regional 0.4%), German was equally represented at 4.7%, and Scottish were slightly overrepresented at 8.8% (vs regional 7.8%).

East Mackay's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in East Mackay is 41 years, which matches Rest of Qld's average but is somewhat older than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, East Mackay has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (5.2%). According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 25 to 34 years grew from 12.6% to 14.9%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 11.7% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 14.3% to 11.7%, and the 85+ group dropped from 4.6% to 3.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in East Mackay's age structure, with the 25 to 34 group expected to grow by 22% (125 people), reaching a total of 701 from the current figure of 575. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 45-54 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.