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

As of Nov 2025, North Mackay's estimated population is around 6,330, reflecting a 136 person increase since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 6,194 people. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of resident population at 6,326 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of approximately 910 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed about 77.0% of recent population gains.

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 from 2023 based on 2021 data are used, applying proportional growth weightings for age cohorts where necessary. Based on projected demographic shifts, North Mackay is expected to increase by around 429 persons to reach approximately 6,759 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of about 6.8% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows North Mackay has received around 9 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 47 homes. So far in FY26, 4 approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 6.5 new residents arriving annually per dwelling constructed between FY21 and FY25. Supply is lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New homes are being built at an average cost of $451,000, reflecting more affordable housing options. Commercial approvals totalling $2.0 million have been registered this financial year, indicating the area's residential nature. Compared to the rest of Queensland, North Mackay has significantly less development activity, which is 59.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. Recent construction comprises 50.0% standalone homes and 50.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 77.0% houses. The estimated population density is 702 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet development environment. Future projections show North Mackay adding 427 residents by 2041, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and price increases if current development rates persist.

Future projections show North Mackay adding 427 residents by 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.

North Mackay has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Mackay Port Access Stage 1, Mackay Port Access Bruce Highway to Mackay Slade Point Road Stage 1, The Dunes Harbour Beach, and The Market Andergrove Lakes. Relevant details are listed below.

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 performance in North Mackay exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

North Mackay has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, notably in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Unemployment stands at 3.2%, with an employment growth of 3.1% over the past year (AreaSearch data).

As of June 2025, 3,238 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Mining is particularly prominent, employing 2.5 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.7%, compared to Rest of Qld's 4.5%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work (Census data). Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.1% while the labour force decreased by 0.3%, lowering unemployment by 3.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts (Sep-22) suggest North Mackay's employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that North Mackay has a higher median income of $54,531 compared to the national average of $68,183. The rest of Queensland had a lower median income at $50,780 and an average income of $64,844 in the same period. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $62,160 (median) and $77,722 (average), based on a Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, personal income in North Mackay ranks at the 46th percentile with weekly earnings of $786, while household income is at the 26th percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 30.2% of individuals (1,911 people), which is consistent with broader trends in the area showing 31.7% in the same category. 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, consisted of 76.6% houses and 23.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 85.1% houses and 14.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Mackay stood at 28.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.7% and rented ones at 39.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,448, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in North Mackay was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $340. 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% of all households, including 21.5% that are couples with children, 25.2% that are couples without children, and 13.4% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up 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, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

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 the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (33.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (10.2%), secondary education (8.5%), and tertiary education (3.3%). North Mackay has a robust network of 6 schools educating approximately 3,499 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 968). The educational mix includes 4 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. As an education hub, North Mackay has 55.3 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 17.1, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

Transport analysis indicates 24 active stops operating in North Mackay, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by five distinct routes, offering a total of 346 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average situated 248 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, translating 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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in North Mackay, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 54% (~3,432 people) have private health cover, compared to 57.0% in the rest of Queensland.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.5%) and mental health issues (9.2%). Around 63.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 69.7% in the rest of Queensland. North Mackay has 19.8% (1,253 people) aged 65 and over, higher than the 16.2% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present similar challenges to those seen in 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 and 86.7% born in Australia. Furthermore, 93.0% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in North Mackay, comprising 56.0% of its population, compared to 56.8% across Rest of Qld.

The top three ancestry groups were English (29.6%), Australian (26.2%), and Scottish (8.5%). Notably, Maltese were overrepresented at 1.8%, German at 4.6%, and Australian Aboriginal at 4.5%.

North Mackay's median age exceeds 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 shows strong representation at 16.9%, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 9.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has grown from 14.5% to 16.9% of the population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 9.2%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 12.2% to 10.8%. Demographic modeling suggests North Mackay's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25-34 group projected to grow by 27% (291 people), reaching 1,361 from 1,069. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 cohorts.