Mackay

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

Mackay's population is approximately 4,174 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 148 people, a rise of 3.7% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 4,026. This growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,159 in June 2024 and the addition of 15 new addresses validated since the Census date. Mackay's population density is around 1,051 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The city's growth rate of 3.7% since the census places it within 2.9 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 6.6%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.2% of Mackay's population gains in recent periods, driving its primary population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, Mackay is expected to experience above median population growth among Australian non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, the area's population is projected to increase by 531 persons, reflecting a total increase of 12.4% over the 17-year period, based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Mackay experiences limited development activity with an average of two approvals per year over five years (14 approvals). The rural nature of the area drives development based on specific local housing needs rather than broad market demand. Note, the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Mackay shows less construction activity than Rest of Qld and is below national patterns. Recent development comprises entirely medium and high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift differs from the area's existing housing composition (currently 27.0% houses), indicating decreasing developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. Mackay is forecast to gain 516 residents by 2041 (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Population forecasts indicate Mackay will gain 516 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Mackay has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure. Eight projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable among these are the Mackay Base Hospital Expansion, Mackay State Development Area, Mackay CBD Revitalization, and Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment drivers in Mackay are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Mackay has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 10.9%, with an estimated employment growth of 5.1% over the past year as of September 2025.

In this month, 2,168 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 6.8%, which is 2.7 percentage points higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Mackay is 56.0%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and retail trade. Notably, mining has a high concentration with employment levels at 2.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, education & training has limited presence with only 4.3% employment compared to the regional average of 9.1%. As per the Census, there are 3.1 workers for every resident in Mackay, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 5.1% while labour force grew by 4.1%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7%, labour force growth of 2.1%, and an increase in unemployment rate of 0.3 percentage points. State-level data up to 25-Nov-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase in national employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mackay's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

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

The Mackay SA2's median income among taxpayers was $57,931 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $72,435 during the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld which were $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $66,036 (median) and $82,569 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household incomes sit at the 16th percentile, while personal income performs better at the 56th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 27.9% of the population, which equates to 1,164 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range. This pattern is similar to the broader area where 31.7% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Mackay SA2, 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% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's figures of 85.1% houses and 14.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mackay stood at 17.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 15.8% and rented ones at 67.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,387, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Mackay was $270, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $340. Nationally, Mackay's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,387 versus the Australian 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, which is 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

Educational qualifications in Mackay trail regional benchmarks, with 22.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 5.0% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 31.4%. Educational participation is high, 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.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 26 active transport stops operating within Mackay. These stops are serviced by 11 individual routes, collectively providing 1,096 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 173 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 156 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 42 weekly trips per individual stop.

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 prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~2,308 people). The most common medical conditions are mental health issues impacting 10.8% of residents and arthritis impacting 7.5%. Sixty-six point four percent declared 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 (511 people), which is lower than the 16.2% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Mackay was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mackay had a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 28.4% of its population born overseas and 20.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mackay, comprising 47.2% of the population. However, Hinduism showed significant overrepresentation, making up 3.5% compared to 0.6% across the rest of Queensland.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (25.1%), Australian (22.2%), and Other (10.1%). Notably, Filipino, Maori, and Maltese ethnic groups had higher representations in Mackay than regionally: Filipino at 5.5% vs 1.5%, Maori at 1.2% vs 0.6%, and Maltese at 1.0% vs 2.4%.

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. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, the 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 20.6% in Mackay, 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%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 18.5% to 20.6%, while 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 30%, adding 260 residents to reach 1,119. Meanwhile, both the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.