Mackay, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Mackay QLD is 4,026 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Mackay is $835 per week ($43,420 per year). Median rent in Mackay is $270 per week ($1,170 per month). Mackay has a median age of 38 years, equal to the national median. Mackay has a population density of 1,017 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Mackay is Philippines. The most common religion is No religion (35.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Tagalog. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mackay is $1,387.

There were 9,325 recorded offences in Mackay in 2025-26, a rate of 2316 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (3,080 offences).

Population
4,026
Census 2021
Median income
$835/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$270/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
38years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au), 2025-26.

Mackay vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Mackay is $835 a week, 12% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 496th of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $270 a week, $50 less than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 21.8% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 38, 4 years younger than in the typical QLD suburb (42).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureMackayTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$835/wk$747/wk +12%$766/wk
Household income$1,239/wk$1,593/wk −22%$1,637/wk
Rent$270/wk$320/wk −16%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,387/mo$1,625/mo −15%$1,733/mo
Median age3842 −4 yrs42
Rent share of household income21.8%20.4% +1.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Mackay, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Mackay Population

4,026 residents at the 2021 Census.

Mackay Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$835/wk
$43,420 per year
Ranked 3,034 of 14,663
Median Rent
$270/wk
$1,170 per month
Ranked 5,664 of 14,663
Median Age
38years
Same as the national median
Mortgage
$1,387/mo
Avg household size: 1.9 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Mackay Rent Prices & Affordability

22% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,239/wk
Median rent $270/wk
Rent to income 21.8%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Mackay against your income

About $5,369 a month
Median rent $270/wk
Left after rent $969/wk
Rent share 21.8%

Mackay Schools

17
schools nearby
7
government
967
avg ICSEA score
9,384
total students
St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 384 students
1050
ICSEA
St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 569 students
1031
ICSEA
Catherine McAuley College Catholic
Secondary · 7-10 · 606 students
1026
ICSEA
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 349 students
1016
ICSEA
St Patrick's College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,394 students
1009
ICSEA
Mackay Christian College Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 879 students
1000
ICSEA
Mackay West State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 770 students
980
ICSEA
Mackay North State High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,253 students
958
ICSEA
Fitzgerald State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 632 students
955
ICSEA
Mackay State High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,254 students
936
ICSEA
Mackay North State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 401 students
933
ICSEA
Victoria Park State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 602 students
927
ICSEA
Mackay Central State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 216 students
908
ICSEA
Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School Independent
Secondary · 7-12 · 75 students
811
ICSEA
Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre - East Mackay Campus Independent
Primary

Showing 15 of 17 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Mackay, with a map

Mackay Map

Mackay, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Mackay, Queensland: 21.1432°S, 149.1826°E

Mackay Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (17)

People in Mackay

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 53.7% (2,163) Female 46.3% (1,864)

Population Density

1,017
people per km²
4,026 people · 4.0 km²

Households

1.9
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,827
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

Philippines
6.0%
New Zealand
2.9%
India
2.5%
England
1.8%
China
0.9%
Thailand
0.8%
Nepal
0.7%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Tagalog
3.5%
Filipino
1.9%
Mandarin
1.3%
Nepali
0.8%
Punjabi
0.8%
Thai
0.7%
Hindi
0.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
29.5%
Australian
26.1%
Irish
9.2%
Scottish
8.6%
Filipino
6.4%
Australian Aboriginal
5.7%
German
4.5%
Indian
2.7%
Chinese
2.5%
Italian
2.2%
Maori
1.4%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
35.8%
Catholic
19.5%
Not stated
18.8%
Anglican
7.5%
Uniting Church
2.9%
Hinduism
2.8%
Christian (other)
1.9%
Buddhism
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

7.6%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
26.9% 950
Separated
5.7% 200
Divorced
13.8% 487
Widowed
4.4% 154
Never married
49.3% 1,743

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
34.6%
Couple: children under 15
33.8%
One parent: children under 15
13.8%
Couple: no children under 15
9.2%
One parent: no children under 15
8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
48.0%
2 persons
31.3%
3 persons
10.4%
4 persons
6.2%
5 persons
2.8%
6+ persons
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Mackay

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,618 occupied private dwellings in Mackay at the 2021 Census, 64.5% were rented, 16.2% owned outright and 14.5% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.0% 33 dwellings
Owned outright
16.2% 262 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
14.5% 234 dwellings
Rented
64.5% 1,043 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
3.5% 56 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
38.0%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
31.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
30.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
14.5%
2 bedrooms
48.3%
3 bedrooms
28.2%
4 bedrooms
5.9%
5 bedrooms
2.3%
6+ bedrooms
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
1.4%
$300-$449/mo
1.4%
$450-$599/mo
5.1%
$600-$799/mo
7.0%
$800-$999/mo
9.8%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
27.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
17.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
7.9%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
15.2%
1 vehicle
50.5%
2 vehicles
24.8%
3 vehicles
6.9%
4+ vehicles
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Mackay

Employment

Employed full-time
44.5% 1,250 people
Employed part-time
17.1% 479 people
Unemployed
5.1% 144 people
Not in labour force
33.3% 934 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
28.3%
Technicians & Trade Workers
21.1%
Community & Personal Service
12.7%
Managers
9.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
8.0%
Clerical & Administrative
7.9%
Labourers
7.4%
Sales Workers
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.6%
$1-$149/wk
1.4%
$150-$299/wk
2.2%
$300-$399/wk
6.0%
$400-$499/wk
7.6%
$500-$649/wk
7.4%
$650-$799/wk
6.1%
$800-$999/wk
7.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.7%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.1%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.8%
$4,000+/wk
6.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.6%
$1-$149/wk
2.6%
$150-$299/wk
6.0%
$300-$399/wk
5.8%
$400-$499/wk
4.3%
$500-$649/wk
4.5%
$650-$799/wk
8.4%
$800-$999/wk
12.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
7.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.2%
$3,500+/wk
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
67.1%
Did not go to work
9.3%
Car (passenger)
9.0%
Walked only
8.6%
Bicycle
2.6%
Bus
1.5%
Other
0.8%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.7%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
59.7%
Year 10 or equivalent
26.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
6.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
44.0%
Bachelor Degree
25.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
14.8%
Postgraduate Degree
8.4%
Certificate I/II
4.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
25.4%
Management & Commerce
18.9%
Health
16.1%
Society & Culture
11.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.3%
Education
5.9%
Architecture & Building
5.8%
Creative Arts
3.6%
Information Technology
2.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.0%
Agriculture & Environment
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.1%
Secondary: Government
21.1%
Vocational Education
17.4%
Secondary: Catholic
9.0%
Primary: Catholic
8.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
3.7%
Pre-school
3.7%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
77.3%
Has need for assistance
5.3%
Need for assistance not stated
17.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
431
Asthma
132
Diabetes
128
Arthritis
128
Heart disease
102
Lung condition
78
Cancer
53
Stroke
45
Kidney disease
36
Dementia
8

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
9.0% 259
Did not provide
91.0% 2,633

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
12.9% 375
Not a volunteer
87.1% 2,529

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.3% 8
Previously served
3.1% 90
Never served
96.6% 2,819

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
41.4%
1 child
15.4%
2 children
19.6%
3 children
13.0%
4 children
7.2%
5+ children
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
5
1951: 1960
18
1961: 1970
37
1971: 1980
54
1981: 1990
41
1991: 2000
50
2001: 2010
196
2011: 2015
188
2016
67
2017
75
2018
49
2019
94
2020
41
2021
9

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

24.8%
moved in the last year
58.5%
moved in the last 5 years
7.2%
unemployment rate (Census)
56.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,475
Moved from QLD
599
Moved: same area (SA2)
92
Moved from NSW
33
Moved from overseas
31
Moved from VIC
22
Moved from WA
13
Moved from SA
11
Moved from NT
7
Moved from TAS
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.6%
5: 14 hours
24.5%
15: 29 hours
8.7%
30+ hours
5.9%
Did not do domestic work
39.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
74.6%
Step family: no other children
18.8%
Blended family: no other children
4.7%
Other couple: children only
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Mackay Crime Statistics

9,325 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
3,080
Drug Offences
1,636
Assault
1,254
Break & Enter
870
Domestic Violence
786
Property Damage
436
Traffic
421
Fraud
272
Sexual Offences
264
Weapons
262
Robbery
44

Total offences by year

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Miles
Income: $716/wk Rent: $200/wk $70/wk less rent
Queenton
Income: $671/wk Rent: $209/wk $61/wk less rent
St George (Qld)
Income: $776/wk Rent: $210/wk $60/wk less rent
Tully
Income: $727/wk Rent: $250/wk $20/wk less rent
Kawana
Income: $722/wk Rent: $255/wk $15/wk less rent
Sun Valley (Qld)
Income: $699/wk Rent: $260/wk $10/wk less rent
Longreach (Qld)
Income: $974/wk Rent: $200/wk $70/wk less rent
Mundubbera
Income: $742/wk Rent: $220/wk $50/wk less rent

Suburbs near Mackay

The closest suburb to Mackay is West Mackay, 2.2 km away.

West Mackay
2.2 km away · income $838/wk · rent $320/wk
South Mackay
2.4 km away · income $791/wk · rent $290/wk
North Mackay
2.5 km away · income $786/wk · rent $300/wk
East Mackay
2.5 km away · income $916/wk · rent $320/wk
Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld)
3.5 km away · income $853/wk · rent $390/wk
Glenella
5.6 km away · income $981/wk · rent $450/wk

Compare Mackay

Frequently Asked Questions About Mackay

What is the population of Mackay QLD?

The population of Mackay QLD is 4,026 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,017 people per km². Mackay is ranked #1,912 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Mackay?

The median personal income in Mackay QLD is $835 per week, or $43,420 per year. The median household income is $1,239 per week. Family income is $1,827 per week. Mackay is ranked #3,034 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Mackay?

Median rent in Mackay QLD is $270 per week ($1,170 per month). Rent represents 21.8% of household income, which is considered affordable. Mackay ranks #5,664 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Mackay?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mackay QLD is $1,387. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Mackay?

The median age in Mackay QLD is 38 years. This is equal to the national median age of 38 years.

Is Mackay a good suburb to live in?

Mackay is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 4,026. The median income is $835/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (21.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Brisbane Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 31724. All dollar figures in AUD.