Macleay Island, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Macleay Island QLD is 3,193 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Macleay Island is $450 per week ($23,400 per year). Median rent in Macleay Island is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Macleay Island has a median age of 62 years, older than the national median of 38. Macleay Island has a population density of 442 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Macleay Island is England. The most common religion is No religion (44.7% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Macleay Island is $900.

There were 520 recorded offences in Macleay Island in 2025-26, a rate of 163 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was drug offences (246 offences).

Population
3,193
Census 2021
Median income
$450/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$260/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
62years
Census 2021

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

Macleay Island vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Macleay Island is $450 a week, 40% below the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 1,473rd of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $260 a week, $60 less than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 34.4% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 62, 20 years older 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.
MeasureMacleay IslandTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$450/wk$747/wk −40%$766/wk
Household income$755/wk$1,593/wk −53%$1,637/wk
Rent$260/wk$320/wk −19%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$900/mo$1,625/mo −45%$1,733/mo
Median age6242 +20 yrs42
Rent share of household income34.4%20.4% +14.0 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 Macleay Island, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Macleay Island Population

3,193 residents at the 2021 Census.

Macleay Island Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$450/wk
$23,400 per year
Ranked 8,639 of 14,663
Median Rent
$260/wk
$1,127 per month
Ranked 5,884 of 14,663
Median Age
62years
24 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$900/mo
Avg household size: 1.9 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Macleay Island Rent Prices & Affordability

34% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $755/wk
Median rent $260/wk
Rent to income 34.4%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Macleay Island against your income

About $3,272 a month
Median rent $260/wk
Left after rent $495/wk
Rent share 34.4%

Macleay Island Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
946
avg ICSEA score
156
total students
MacLeay Island State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 156 students
946
ICSEA

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

All schools near Macleay Island, with a map

Macleay Island Map

Macleay Island, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in Macleay Island

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.1% (1,603) Female 49.9% (1,595)

Population Density

442
people per km²
3,193 people · 7.2 km²

Households

1.9
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$945
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

England
7.2%
New Zealand
6.6%
Germany
1.1%
Scotland
1.1%
Netherlands
0.8%
United States of America
0.7%
South Africa
0.6%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

German
0.5%
Italian
0.3%
Thai
0.3%
French
0.3%
Filipino
0.2%
Spanish
0.2%
Mandarin
0.2%

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

Ancestry

English
45.5%
Australian
29.7%
Irish
14.2%
Scottish
13.0%
German
5.8%
Australian Aboriginal
3.7%
Dutch
2.0%
Italian
1.9%
New Zealander
1.7%
French
1.1%
Polish
0.9%

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
44.7%
Anglican
15.6%
Catholic
13.3%
Not stated
10.6%
Christian (other)
2.7%
Uniting Church
2.7%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.5%
Buddhism
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
38.6% 1,139
Separated
6.8% 199
Divorced
22.2% 654
Widowed
8.2% 241
Never married
24.2% 714

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
57.2%
Couple: children under 15
16.3%
One parent: no children under 15
10.3%
Couple: no children under 15
9.1%
One parent: children under 15
7.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
40.9%
2 persons
43.3%
3 persons
8.4%
4 persons
4.6%
5 persons
1.5%
6+ persons
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Macleay Island

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,565 occupied private dwellings in Macleay Island at the 2021 Census, 21.9% were rented, 50.9% owned outright and 22.8% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.1% 17 dwellings
Owned outright
50.9% 797 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
22.8% 357 dwellings
Rented
21.9% 342 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
3.7% 58 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
6.8%
2 bedrooms
38.4%
3 bedrooms
44.6%
4 bedrooms
8.7%
5 bedrooms
1.0%
6+ bedrooms
0.5%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
12.9%
$300-$449/mo
7.8%
$450-$599/mo
11.0%
$600-$799/mo
10.3%
$800-$999/mo
12.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
22.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
12.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
8.5%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
1.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
8.6%
1 vehicle
54.6%
2 vehicles
28.0%
3 vehicles
6.7%
4+ vehicles
2.2%

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

Work, income and education in Macleay Island

Employment

Employed full-time
11.7% 306 people
Employed part-time
14.1% 367 people
Unemployed
5.0% 131 people
Not in labour force
69.2% 1,807 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
24.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
19.6%
Community & Personal Service
15.8%
Managers
11.9%
Clerical & Administrative
9.6%
Labourers
7.9%
Sales Workers
5.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.7%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
2.3%
$300-$399/wk
6.4%
$400-$499/wk
17.4%
$500-$649/wk
8.7%
$650-$799/wk
17.2%
$800-$999/wk
10.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
5.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
2.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.3%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
0.2%
$4,000+/wk
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.4%
$1-$149/wk
3.4%
$150-$299/wk
10.5%
$300-$399/wk
15.7%
$400-$499/wk
13.6%
$500-$649/wk
6.8%
$650-$799/wk
10.3%
$800-$999/wk
8.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
4.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
1.5%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
2.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.6%
$3,500+/wk
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
56.5%
Did not go to work
22.9%
Car (passenger)
7.4%
Walked only
3.4%
Ferry
2.7%
Bicycle
2.2%
Other
1.7%
Bus
1.2%
Truck
1.0%
Taxi/Rideshare
1.0%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
42.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
39.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
9.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.2%

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
47.9%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
22.7%
Bachelor Degree
17.5%
Postgraduate Degree
5.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.8%
Certificate I/II
2.6%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
17.2%
Society & Culture
16.4%
Management & Commerce
14.8%
Health
11.2%
Architecture & Building
10.8%
Education
9.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.6%
Creative Arts
5.8%
Agriculture & Environment
3.2%
Information Technology
2.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.2%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
39.1%
Secondary: Government
25.5%
Vocational Education
16.5%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
11.1%
Pre-school
5.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.1%

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
77.9%
Has need for assistance
13.1%
Need for assistance not stated
8.9%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
494
Arthritis
247
Heart disease
207
Lung condition
200
Diabetes
141
Cancer
110
Asthma
97
Stroke
95
Kidney disease
79
Dementia
17

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
17.3% 464
Did not provide
82.7% 2,215

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.6% 448
Not a volunteer
83.4% 2,247

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.2% 5
Previously served
6.8% 184
Never served
93.0% 2,527

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
23.0%
1 child
12.1%
2 children
32.6%
3 children
19.4%
4 children
9.6%
5+ children
3.2%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
21
1951: 1960
68
1961: 1970
136
1971: 1980
127
1981: 1990
139
1991: 2000
80
2001: 2010
80
2011: 2015
37
2016
10
2017
4
2019
5
2020
3
2021
5

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

Population Mobility

18.7%
moved in the last year
49.9%
moved in the last 5 years
15.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
30.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,364
Moved from QLD
280
Moved: same area (SA2)
167
Moved from NSW
55
Moved from VIC
24
Moved from overseas
6
Moved from ACT
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
14.9%
5: 14 hours
25.9%
15: 29 hours
16.5%
30+ hours
13.3%
Did not do domestic work
29.5%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
70.7%
Step family: no other children
14.3%
Blended family: no other children
12.2%
Other couple: children only
2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Macleay Island Crime Statistics

520 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Drug Offences
246
Theft
74
Assault
56
Break & Enter
32
Traffic
30
Property Damage
25
Fraud
24
Domestic Violence
21
Weapons
12

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

Suburbs near Macleay Island

The closest suburb to Macleay Island is Victoria Point (Qld), 7.7 km away.

Victoria Point (Qld)
7.7 km away · income $703/wk · rent $450/wk
Russell Island
7.8 km away · income $449/wk · rent $260/wk
Redland Bay
8.6 km away · income $835/wk · rent $465/wk
Thornlands
10.7 km away · income $920/wk · rent $470/wk
Cleveland (Qld)
12.7 km away · income $746/wk · rent $400/wk
Carbrook
13.0 km away · income $748/wk · rent $375/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Macleay Island

What is the population of Macleay Island QLD?

The population of Macleay Island QLD is 3,193 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 442 people per km². Macleay Island is ranked #2,297 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Macleay Island?

The median personal income in Macleay Island QLD is $450 per week, or $23,400 per year. The median household income is $755 per week. Family income is $945 per week. Macleay Island is ranked #8,639 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Macleay Island?

Median rent in Macleay Island QLD is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Rent represents 34.4% of household income, which is considered moderate. Macleay Island ranks #5,884 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Macleay Island?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Macleay Island QLD is $900. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Macleay Island?

The median age in Macleay Island QLD is 62 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Macleay Island a good suburb to live in?

Macleay Island is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 3,193. The median income is $450/wk, which is below the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (34.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 31731. All dollar figures in AUD.