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 is estimated at around 6,333 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,194 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 6,327 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of 15 new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 911 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 77.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. 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 where utilised. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of Australia's regional areas is expected for North Mackay by 2041. The area is projected to increase by 431 persons over 17 years, reflecting a gain of 6.7% in total population.

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

North Mackay recorded approximately 9 residential properties granted approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 47 homes were approved, with a further 5 approved in FY-26. This results in an average of about 6.5 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

The supply of dwellings is substantially lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New dwellings are developed at an average value of $451,000. In FY-26, $138,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Qld, North Mackay has significantly less development activity, which is 59.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. The level of development activity in North Mackay is also lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New development consists of 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns which are currently 77.0% houses.

The estimated count of 702 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections show North Mackay adding 425 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

North Mackay has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Six infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. These include The Market Andergrove Lakes, Mackay Port Access Bruce Highway to Mackay Slade Point Road Stage 1, Mackay Port Access Stage 1, and The Dunes Harbour Beach.

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

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

North Mackay has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, particularly in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.5% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.7% over the past year. There are 3,250 residents currently employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation is lower at 63.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Only 4.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. The key industries employing North Mackay residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area has a significant employment specialization in mining, with an employment share 2.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.7%, compared to the regional average of 4.5%. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7% while labour force grew by 4.3%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a slight rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to North Mackay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though these figures are based on simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

North Mackay's income level is approximately average nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The suburb's median income among taxpayers is $54,531 and the average income stands at $68,183. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld which are $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $59,935 (median) and $74,940 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 46th percentile ($786 weekly), while household income sits at the 26th percentile. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 30.2% of the community (1,912 individuals). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.6% of income remaining, 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, consisted of 76.6% houses and 23.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is similar to Non-Metro Qld's composition of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Mackay was at 28.6%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (31.7%) or rented (39.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,448, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure 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 account for 61.8 percent of all households, including 21.5 percent couples with children, 25.2 percent couples without children, and 13.4 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.2 percent, with lone person households at 34.3 percent and group households comprising 3.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in North Mackay fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 15.5%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (33.6%). Educational participation is high at 27.7%, comprising primary education (10.2%), secondary education (8.5%), and tertiary education (3.3%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

North Mackay has 24 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that together facilitate 346 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is considered good, with residents typically situated about 248 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents in this predominantly residential area commute outside of it, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at a rate of 93%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 4.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 14 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.

The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is relatively high, with approximately 54% of the total population (~3,433 people) having it. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.5%) and mental health issues (9.2%). Notably, 63.1% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Working-age residents show a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 20.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,272 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general 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 86.7% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in North Mackay, with 56.0% of people identifying as such, compared to 52.2% across the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups in North Mackay are English (29.6%), Australian (26.2%), and Scottish (8.5%).

Notably, Maltese (1.8%) and German (4.6%) populations are higher than regional averages (0.4% and 4.7%, respectively), while Australian Aboriginal representation is slightly higher at 4.5%.

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

The median age in North Mackay is 39 years, which is lower than the Rest of Qld average of 41 but close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are prominent at 17.6%, while those aged 5-14 make up a smaller proportion at 8.9% compared to the Rest of Qld. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 14.5% to 17.6%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 8.9%, and the 45-54 group has decreased from 12.2% to 10.5%. By 2041, demographic projections show that the 25-34 age cohort is expected to increase significantly by 247 people (22%), rising from 1,114 to 1,362. Meanwhile, both the 5-14 and 55-64 age groups are projected to decrease in number.