Mackay
Statistical Area - sa2

Mackay has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Mackay's population is around 4,168 as of August 2025. This reflects an increase of 142 people from the 2021 Census figure of 4,026. The change is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 4,159 in June 2024 and an additional 12 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,049 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 from 2023, based on 2021 data, are used. It should be noted that these state projections lack age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, demographic trends project an above median population growth for national regional areas. Mackay is expected to grow by 531 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 12.5% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Mackay according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Mackay approved 2 new dwellings annually over the past five years, totalling 14. This minimal construction activity is typical of rural areas with modest housing needs and limited development due to local demand and infrastructure capacity. Yearly growth figures can vary considerably based on individual projects due to such low approval numbers.

Mackay has substantially lower development levels than Rest of Qld and the national average. Recent development comprised entirely medium and high-density housing, offering more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, differing from the current housing mix of 27.0% houses. By 2041, Mackay is projected to add 522 residents. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Future projections show Mackay adding 522 residents by 2041. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Mackay has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects that could impact the area. Key initiatives include Mackay Base Hospital Expansion, Mackay State Development Area, Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area, and Mackay Public Transport Hub. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Mackay has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Mackay's workforce is skilled with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 7.6% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.6%. As of June 2025, 2,222 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 3.6% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Mackay was somewhat below standard at 56.0%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

Mackay demonstrates notable concentration in mining with employment levels at 2.3 times the regional average. Education & training has limited presence with 4.3% employment compared to 9.1% regionally. There were 3.1 workers for every resident as of the Census, indicating Mackay functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 7.6% while labour force decreased by 0.3%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 6.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.8%, labour force grow by 2.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows QLD employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lags behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest Mackay's employment could grow by approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Mackay was $57,931 and average income was $72,435. For Rest of Qld, median income was $50,780 and average income was $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $64,715 (median) and $80,917 (average) as of March 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household income ranks at the 16th percentile while personal income is at the 56th percentile. Income distribution shows that 27.9% of Mackay residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (1,162 individuals). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 14th percentile.

Mackay displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Mackay, as per the latest Census evaluation, 26.9% of dwellings were houses while 73.2% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Qld's figures of 85.1% houses and 14.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mackay stood at 17.1%, with mortgaged properties at 15.8% and rented dwellings at 67.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,387, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Mackay was recorded at $270, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $340. Nationally, Mackay's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,387 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 45.9% of all households, including 13.1% couples with children, 20.1% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 54.1%, with lone person households at 48.1% and group households comprising 6.2% of the total. The median household size is 1.9 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

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

Mackay's educational qualifications trail Australian benchmarks, with 22.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to the national average of 30.4%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 8.9% while certificates make up 31.4%.

Educational participation is high in Mackay, with 31.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.4% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 7.1% pursuing tertiary education. As of 2021, Mackay's three schools have a combined enrollment reaching 1,672 students. Educational provision follows conventional lines, split between one primary and two secondary institutions. The area functions as an education hub with 40.1 school places per 100 residents – significantly above the regional average of 17.1 – attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

The analysis of Mackay's public transportation system shows that there are currently 26 operational transport stops in the area. These stops serve a variety of bus routes, totaling 11 individual routes. Together, these routes facilitate 1,096 weekly passenger trips.

The report indicates excellent transport accessibility for residents, with an average distance of 173 meters to the nearest stop. On average, each route provides 42 weekly trips per stop, with a daily service frequency of 156 trips across all routes.

Health performance in Mackay is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Mackay faces significant health challenges with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~2,304 people). The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 10.8% and 7.5% of residents respectively. Sixty-six point four percent declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.7% across Rest of Qld. Twelve point three percent of residents are aged 65 and over (510 people), which is lower than the 16.2% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Mackay was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Mackay's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 28.4% born overseas and 20.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mackay, making up 47.2%. Hinduism had higher representation in Mackay at 3.5%, compared to 0.6% across Rest of Qld.

In terms of ancestry, English made up 25.1%, Australian 22.2%, and Other 10.1% of the population. Notably, Filipino (5.5%), Maori (1.2%), and Maltese (1.0%) were overrepresented in Mackay compared to regional averages.

Mackay's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Mackay's median age is 37 years, which is significantly below the Rest of Qld average of 41, and essentially aligned with the Australian median of 38. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 20.6% in Mackay compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 7.8%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.5%. Following the Census conducted on 09-Aug-2021, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 18.5% to 20.6%, and the 0 to 4 cohort increased from 3.9% to 5.0%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 11.9%, and the 75 to 84 group dropped from 3.7% to 2.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that Mackay's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 31%, adding 261 residents to reach 1,119. Meanwhile, both the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.