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

Analysis of ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation indicates that the estimated population of North Mackay as of May 2026 is around 6,353 people. This represents an increase of 159 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,194 people. The current resident population estimate by AreaSearch is 6,331, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and validation of an additional 21 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 914 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages observed across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The primary driver for population growth was overseas migration, contributing about 77.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as 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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. 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 using a base year of 2022. Considering projected demographic shifts, North Mackay is expected to experience population growth just below Australia's regional median. By 2041, based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is projected to increase by approximately 440 persons, reflecting an overall gain of around 6.6% over the 16-year period.

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 annually. Over the past 5 financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 47 homes were approved, with a further 9 approved in FY-26 so far. This results in an average of about 6.5 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed each year during this period.

However, supply is lagging behind demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost value for new dwellings is approximately $451,000. In terms of commercial development activity, around $138,000 in approvals have been registered in FY-26, indicating minimal commercial development in the area compared to the rest of Queensland (59.0% below regional average per person). This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. The current development consists of 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns which are currently 77.0% houses. The estimated population density in the area is around 702 people per dwelling approval. Future projections suggest North Mackay will add approximately 418 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 very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects expected to affect the region. Notable initiatives 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. Relevant projects are listed below.

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. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent. The unemployment rate is 4.3%, with an estimated employment growth of 4.8% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

As of December 2025, 3,270 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.3% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in North Mackay is similar to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Census responses show that only 4.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries employing residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

The area specializes in mining employment with a share 2.5 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.7% compared to Regional Qld's 4.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population counts. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.8% and labour force grew by 5.3%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 12.9% 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, noting that this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of North Mackay has an average national income level according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in North Mackay is $54,531 and the average income stands at $68,183. These figures compare to Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for North Mackay would be approximately $60,726 (median) and $75,929 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 46th percentile with weekly earnings of $786, while household income sits at the 26th percentile. Distribution data shows that 30.2% of North Mackay's community earns between $1,500 and $2,999 (1,918 individuals), similar to the regional figure of 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in North Mackay, 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 dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 76.6% houses and 23.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is similar to Regional Qld's composition of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Mackay was at 28.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.7% and rented ones at 39.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,448, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in North Mackay was $300, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, North Mackay's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,448 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $300 compared to 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 61.8% of all households, consisting of 21.5% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.2%, with lone person households at 34.3% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

The area has university qualification rates at 15.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 12.0% of residents holding such qualifications, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 41.8% of residents aged 15 and above possessing vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 33.6%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.2% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 3.3% in 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 operating within the area, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by five individual routes that collectively provide 346 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in North Mackay is rated as good, with residents typically located 248 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward to other areas for work or leisure. The car remains the dominant mode of transportation in the area 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 the impact of COVID-19 conditions on work patterns. The service frequency across all routes averages 49 trips per day, equating to approximately 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.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 54% (~3,444 people) of the total population has private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.5%) and mental health issues (9.2%). Conversely, 63.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age residents have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 20.7% (1,315 people) of residents aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings largely aligning 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 population was found to have low cultural diversity, with 86.7% being citizens born in Australia speaking English only at home by 2016 Census data. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 56.0%, compared to 52.2% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (29.6%), Australian (26.2%), and Scottish (8.5%).

Notably, Maltese representation was higher at 1.8% than the regional average of 0.4%. German representation was similar at 4.6%, while Australian Aboriginal was slightly higher at 4.5% compared to the regional average of 3.9%.

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

North Mackay has a median age of 40, close to Regional Qld's figure of 41 but exceeding the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 17.4%, compared to Regional Qld, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 9.7%. Post the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group grew from 14.5% to 17.4%, the 5-14 cohort declined from 11.4% to 9.7%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 12.2% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests North Mackay's age profile will significantly evolve. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 22%, reaching 1,345 from 1,106. Population declines are anticipated for the 5-14 and 55-64 cohorts.