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 for the suburb of Mackay, its estimated population is around 4185 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 159 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4026 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 4159 residents following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validation of 22 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of approximately 1056 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth for the area, contributing around 78% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied for each age cohort when utilized. Looking ahead, demographic trends project above median population growth for regional areas nationwide. The suburb of Mackay is expected to grow by approximately 531 persons to reach 4716 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of around 12.1% over the 17-year period.

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 from 2016 to 2020 inclusive, totalling 13 dwellings over the five-year period. This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Mackay had less construction activity than Rest of Qld during this period, with development well below national averages. All new construction was medium or high-density housing, reflecting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. Mackay's existing housing stock is 27.0% houses. With around 8313 people per dwelling approval, Mackay reflects a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate Mackay will gain 505 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Population forecasts indicate Mackay will gain 505 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening 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 identified eight projects likely impacting the region. Key projects are Mackay Base Hospital Expansion, Mackay State Development Area, Mackay CBD Revitalization, and Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area. The following details these projects in order of relevance.

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

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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 was 10.9% as of the past year, based on AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. Employment grew by an estimated 5.1% over this period.

As of September 2025, Mackay had 2,168 residents in work with an unemployment rate of 6.8%, compared to Rest of Qld's 4.1%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses showed that only 3.3% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

Mackay had a particular employment specialization in mining with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level. However, education & training was under-represented at 4.3%, compared to Rest of Qld's 9.1%. There were 3.1 workers for every resident as at the Census, indicating Mackay functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 5.1% while labour force increased by 4.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.8 percentage points. This compared to Rest of Qld where employment grew by 1.7%, labour force expanded by 2.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Mackay. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific 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 simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on 20 June 2023 for financial year ended 30 June 2023, Mackay suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $57,931 with average level standing at $72,435. Both figures are above the national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively for Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.91% from financial year ended 30 June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $63,672 (median) and $79,613 (average). From the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census conducted on 10 August 2021, household incomes in Mackay sit at the 16th percentile while personal income performs better at the 56th percentile. Income analysis reveals that the predominant cohort spans 27.9% of locals, equating to 1,167 people, in the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, mirroring the surrounding region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 81.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 14th percentile nationally.

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 latest Census, comprised 26.9% houses and 73.2% other dwellings. In Non-Metro Qld, this was 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mackay was 17.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 15.8% and rented at 67.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,387, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Mackay was $270, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Mackay's mortgage repayments were 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 account for 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 make up 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 Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

Mackay residents aged 15+ have 22.6% university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 40.3%, including advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (31.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary (10.4%), secondary (8.1%), and tertiary (7.1%) levels.

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

Transport analysis in Mackay shows 26 active public transport stops operating, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by 11 individual routes that together facilitate 1,096 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 173 meters to the nearest one. In this predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport for 83% of residents, while walking and cycling account for 9% and 3%, respectively. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 3.3% of Mackay's residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 156 trips per day, which translates to approximately 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

Mackay faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 56% (~2,339 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland. 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, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Mackay has 12.0% of residents aged 65 and over (502 people), lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings higher than the general population.

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's population, as of the 2016 Census, was more culturally diverse than many other local areas. 28.4% of Mackay's residents were born overseas, and 20.0% spoke a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mackay, with 47.2% of people identifying as such.

However, Hinduism had a higher representation in Mackay compared to the rest of Queensland, making up 3.5% of the population versus 0.8%. The top three ancestry groups were English (25.1%), Australian (22.2%), and Other (10.1%). Notably, Filipino (5.5%) Maori (1.2%), and Maltese (1.0%) ethnicities were more prevalent in Mackay compared to regional averages of 0.9%, 0.8%, and 0.4% respectively.

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

Mackay's median age is 37 years, significantly below the Rest of Qld average of 41 and aligned with the Australian median of 38. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 21.3% locally compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 7.5%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.4%. Post the 2021 Census, younger residents have shifted Mackay's median age down by 1.1 years to 37. Specifically, the 25 to 34 age group grew from 18.5% to 21.3%, and the 0 to 4 cohort increased from 3.9% to 5.1%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 13.5% to 11.6%, and the 75 to 84 group dropped from 3.7% to 2.3%. Demographic modeling indicates Mackay's age profile will significantly evolve by 2041. The 25-34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 26%, adding 227 residents to reach 1,119. Conversely, the 65-74 and 15-24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.