Mackay

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, Mackay's estimated population is around 4174 as of May 2026. This reflects a growth of 148 people since the 2021 Census, which reported 4026 residents. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 4154 residents following the June 2025 ABS ERP data release and additional validation of 23 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1054 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 adopted. However, these state projections lack age category splits, so proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data, are applied where utilised. Future demographic trends project an above median population growth for regional areas nationwide. By 2041, Mackay is expected to grow by 514 persons, reflecting a total increase of 11.8% over the 16 years.

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

Mackay had minimal residential development activity with 2 dwelling approvals annually over the five-year period from 2015 to 2019, totaling 13 dwellings. This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Mackay had less construction activity than the Rest of Qld during this period. The development pattern was also below national averages. All new constructions were medium or high-density housing. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and caters to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a shift from Mackay's existing housing stock, which is currently 27.0% houses. The decreasing availability of developable sites reflects changing lifestyles and the need for diverse, affordable housing options.

With approximately 8306 people per dwelling approval, Mackay's market is highly mature. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Mackay's population is forecasted to grow by 494 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Mackay Base Hospital Expansion, Mackay State Development Area, Mackay CBD Revitalization, and Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area. The following list details those expected 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. The unemployment rate was 10.4% as of December 2025. Employment grew by an estimated 3.6% over the past year.

As of December 2025, there were 2,186 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 6.4%, which is above Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Mackay was 67.4%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Only 3.3% of residents worked from home, according to Census responses. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

The area has a particular specialization in mining, with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level. However, education & training is under-represented, with only 4.3% of Mackay's workforce compared to Regional Qld's 9.1%. There were 3.1 workers for every resident as at the Census, indicating that Mackay functions as an employment hub. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.6%, while labour force increased by 5.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.3 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Qld saw employment grow by 0.7%, labour force expand by 1.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. Applying these projections to Mackay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Mackay had a median income among taxpayers of $57,931 and an average level of $72,435. This is above the national average, which was $53,146 in Regional Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $64,512 (median) and $80,664 (average). From the 2021 Census, household incomes in Mackay were at the 16th percentile while personal income was at the 56th percentile. Income analysis showed that 27.9% of locals (1,164 people) had incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to the surrounding region where 31.7% fell into this category. Housing affordability pressures were 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

Dwelling structure in Mackay, as evaluated at the 2016 Census, comprised 26.9% houses and 73.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional Queensland had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mackay was 17.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 15.8% and rented dwellings at 67.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mackay was $1,387, below Regional Queensland's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Mackay was $270, compared to Regional Queensland's $345. Nationally, Mackay's mortgage repayments were lower than 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 comprise the remaining 54.1%, with lone person households at 48.1% and group households comprising 6.2%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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 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 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

Mackay has 26 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 11 different routes, offering 1,096 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 173 meters to the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. The car is the primary mode of transport at 83%, followed by walking at 9% and cycling at 3%. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 3.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 156 trips per day across all routes, translating to about 42 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Mackay, as assessed by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Notably, both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is prevalent, with approximately 56% (~2,333 people) having it, compared to Regional Qld's 52.5%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.8 and 7.5% of residents respectively. However, 66.4% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly lower than Regional Qld's 67.6%. The working-age population faces substantial health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Mackay has 13.0% (542 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than Regional Qld's 20.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average, ranking higher than the general population nationally.

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, representing 47.2% of the population. Hinduism, however, was overrepresented compared to regional Queensland, comprising 3.5% of Mackay's population versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (25.1%), Australian (22.2%), and Other (10.1%). Notably, Filipino (5.5%) and Maori (1.2%) were overrepresented in Mackay compared to regional Queensland at 0.9% and 0.8%, respectively. Maltese also showed higher representation in Mackay at 1.0% versus 0.4%.

Mackay's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Mackay's median age is 37 years, which is significantly below the Regional Queensland average of 41 and essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Regional Queensland average, Mackay has a notably over-represented 25-34 cohort (21.6%) and an under-represented 5-14 year-old group (7.6%). This concentration in the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.6%. Following the Census conducted on August 9, 2021, younger residents have shifted Mackay's median age down by 1.1 years to 37. Specifically, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 18.5% to 21.6%, while the 0 to 4 cohort increased from 3.9% to 5.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.4% to 11.5%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 13.5% to 11.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that Mackay's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25 to 34 cohort projected to grow by 25%, adding 228 residents to reach a total of 1,130. Conversely, the 65 to 74 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.