North Mackay

North Mackay is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

North Mackay's population was around 6,420 as of Feb 2026, reflecting an increase of 137 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,283. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,414 in June 2024 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio was 663 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 76.6% of overall 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 are used, based on 2021 data and released in 2023. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied for each age cohort. Demographic trends suggest a population increase of just below the median of Australia's regional areas by 2041, with an expected expansion of 432 persons reflecting a total increase of 6.6%.

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

North Mackay has recorded approximately 9 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling 47 homes. In the current financial year FY-26, up to now, 5 approvals have been recorded. On average, around 6.6 people per year have moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating significant demand exceeding new supply. This typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $341,000, aligning with regional trends. In terms of commercial development activity, there have been $2.0 million in approvals this financial year, suggesting minimal commercial development. Compared to the rest of Queensland, North Mackay shows substantially reduced construction activity, being 59.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. This activity is also under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. New development consists of 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% attached dwellings, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns which are currently 76.0% houses. This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

The estimated count of 712 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate North Mackay will gain 426 residents through to 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that could impact the area. Notable projects include The Dunes Harbour Beach, The Market Andergrove Lakes, Mackay Port Access Bruce Highway to Mackay Slade Point Road Stage 1, and Mackay Base Hospital Expansion. Below is a list of those 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.

North Mackay has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

North Mackay has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, an unemployment rate of 4.6% as of September 2025, and estimated employment growth of 4.7% over the past year. The unemployment rate is 0.5% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%, while workforce participation is lower at 63.6%. According to Census responses, only 4.2% of residents work from home.

Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and mining, with a notable specialization in mining employing 2.5 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.7%, below Rest of Qld's 4.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 4.7% while labour force grew by 4.3%, reducing unemployment by 0.4 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.7%, labour force grow by 2.1%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to North Mackay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023 shows North Mackay SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $57,155 and an average income of $70,687. Nationally, the median was $53,146 and the average was $66,593. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest a median income of approximately $62,819 and an average of $77,692. Census data indicates personal income ranks at the 46th percentile with weekly earnings of $785, while household income is at the 25th percentile. Income distribution shows 30.3% (1,945 individuals) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 annually. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 26th percentile.

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

North Mackay's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 75.9% houses and 24.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Mackay was at 28.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.6% and rented dwellings at 39.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,452, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in North Mackay was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, North Mackay's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 61.9% of all households, including 21.4% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.1%, with lone person households at 34.2% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.4%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.1%) and certificates (33.5%). Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (10.1%), secondary education (8.5%), and tertiary education (3.2%).

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

North Mackay has 25 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that together provide 346 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 252 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the primarily residential nature of the area. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

North Mackay faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both younger and older age cohorts exhibit notable prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 54% (~3,473 people) of the total population has private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.6%) and mental health issues (9.2%). Conversely, 63.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. The working-age population in North Mackay faces substantial health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 20.1% (1,290 people) of residents aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally aligning with those of the broader population.

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

North Mackay's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.6% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (86.7%), and speaking English only at home (93.0%). Christianity is the main religion in North Mackay, comprising 55.9% of people, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups are English (29.8%), Australian (26.2%), and Scottish (8.5%).

Notably, Maltese (1.8%) is overrepresented in North Mackay compared to the regional average (0.4%), as are German (4.6% vs 4.7%) and Filipino (1.9% vs 0.9%).

North Mackay's population is slightly older than the national pattern

North Mackay has a median age of 40, close to Rest of Qld's figure of 41 but exceeding the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 17.5%, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 8.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has grown from 14.4% to 17.5% of North Mackay's population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 8.9%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 12.2% to 10.5%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, North Mackay's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 22%, reaching 1,376 people from the current 1,124. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 cohorts.