West Mackay, QLD: suburb profile

The population of West Mackay QLD is 6,536 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in West Mackay is $838 per week ($43,576 per year). Median rent in West Mackay is $320 per week ($1,387 per month). West Mackay has a median age of 42 years, older than the national median of 38. West Mackay has a population density of 1,103 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in West Mackay is Philippines. The most common religion is Catholic (30.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Tagalog. The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Mackay is $1,595.

Population
6,536
Census 2021
Median income
$838/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$320/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
42years
Census 2021

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

West Mackay vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in West Mackay is $838 a week, 12% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 487th of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $320 a week, the same as the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 18.9% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 42, the same age as in the typical QLD suburb.

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureWest MackayTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$838/wk$747/wk +12%$766/wk
Household income$1,696/wk$1,593/wk +6%$1,637/wk
Rent$320/wk$320/wk 0%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,595/mo$1,625/mo −2%$1,733/mo
Median age4242 0 yrs42
Rent share of household income18.9%20.4% −1.6 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 West Mackay, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

West Mackay Population

6,536 residents at the 2021 Census.

West Mackay Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$838/wk
$43,576 per year
Ranked 2,986 of 14,663
Median Rent
$320/wk
$1,387 per month
Ranked 4,051 of 14,663
Median Age
42years
4 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,595/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

West Mackay Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,696/wk
Median rent $320/wk
Rent to income 18.9%

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

Median rent in West Mackay against your income

About $7,349 a month
Median rent $320/wk
Left after rent $1,376/wk
Rent share 18.9%

West Mackay Schools

12
schools nearby
5
government
971
avg ICSEA score
6,252
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 West State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 770 students
980
ICSEA
Glenella State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 234 students
977
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
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
St Patrick's College - Mercy Campus Catholic
Secondary

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

All schools near West Mackay, with a map

West Mackay Map

West Mackay, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
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West Mackay, Queensland: 21.1512°S, 149.1633°E

West Mackay Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (12)

People in West Mackay

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (3,213) Female 50.9% (3,327)

Population Density

1,103
people per km²
6,536 people · 5.9 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,232
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
4.1%
New Zealand
1.9%
England
1.5%
India
0.9%
Malta
0.5%
South Africa
0.5%
Canada
0.3%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Tagalog
2.2%
Filipino
1.5%
Mandarin
0.4%
Italian
0.4%
Gujarati
0.3%
Hindi
0.3%
Malayalam
0.3%

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

Ancestry

English
36.8%
Australian
36.1%
Irish
11.6%
Scottish
10.1%
German
5.3%
Filipino
4.7%
Maltese
4.1%
Italian
3.7%
Australian Aboriginal
3.2%
Indian
1.3%
Chinese
1.2%

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

Catholic
30.6%
No religion
30.1%
Anglican
11.6%
Not stated
10.1%
Uniting Church
6.4%
Christian (other)
1.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.7%
Baptist
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.3%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
41.8% 2,276
Separated
4.0% 215
Divorced
10.4% 565
Widowed
8.5% 464
Never married
35.3% 1,921

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
42.2%
Couple: no children
30.3%
Couple: no children under 15
12.5%
One parent: children under 15
8.6%
One parent: no children under 15
6.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
32.8%
2 persons
34.1%
3 persons
13.2%
4 persons
12.2%
5 persons
5.2%
6+ persons
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in West Mackay

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,423 occupied private dwellings in West Mackay at the 2021 Census, 34.3% were rented, 29.3% owned outright and 32.7% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.9% 23 dwellings
Owned outright
29.3% 710 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
32.7% 793 dwellings
Rented
34.3% 832 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.4% 58 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
80.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
14.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
5.9%
2 bedrooms
21.4%
3 bedrooms
47.8%
4 bedrooms
20.3%
5 bedrooms
3.9%
6+ bedrooms
0.7%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.3%
$300-$449/mo
0.8%
$450-$599/mo
1.4%
$600-$799/mo
3.0%
$800-$999/mo
7.3%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
21.8%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
27.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
22.7%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
6.6%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
7.8%
1 vehicle
36.8%
2 vehicles
37.5%
3 vehicles
11.6%
4+ vehicles
6.4%

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

Work, income and education in West Mackay

Employment

Employed full-time
43.7% 2,036 people
Employed part-time
19.1% 891 people
Unemployed
2.6% 121 people
Not in labour force
34.6% 1,609 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
28.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
23.9%
Community & Personal Service
12.0%
Managers
11.4%
Clerical & Administrative
9.9%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.6%
Labourers
5.6%
Sales Workers
3.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.3%
$1-$149/wk
0.9%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
2.8%
$400-$499/wk
7.4%
$500-$649/wk
5.6%
$650-$799/wk
5.7%
$800-$999/wk
5.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
4.5%
$4,000+/wk
10.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.5%
$1-$149/wk
3.6%
$150-$299/wk
5.1%
$300-$399/wk
3.4%
$400-$499/wk
5.0%
$500-$649/wk
3.4%
$650-$799/wk
8.4%
$800-$999/wk
10.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
12.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.4%
$3,500+/wk
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
74.3%
Did not go to work
11.2%
Car (passenger)
5.7%
Walked only
3.8%
Bicycle
1.4%
Bus
0.9%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.7%
Other
0.7%
Truck
0.7%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
58.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
29.7%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
5.0%

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
47.6%
Bachelor Degree
27.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
14.6%
Postgraduate Degree
5.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.0%
Certificate I/II
2.6%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
26.6%
Health
17.3%
Management & Commerce
16.5%
Society & Culture
10.3%
Education
9.7%
Architecture & Building
6.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.9%
Creative Arts
1.9%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.9%
Agriculture & Environment
1.7%
Information Technology
1.5%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
24.5%
Secondary: Government
19.1%
Primary: Catholic
17.4%
Secondary: Catholic
14.6%
Vocational Education
10.9%
Pre-school
7.9%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.8%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.8%

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
81.2%
Has need for assistance
9.6%
Need for assistance not stated
9.2%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
607
Arthritis
227
Heart disease
194
Asthma
181
Diabetes
176
Lung condition
161
Cancer
118
Kidney disease
100
Stroke
89
Dementia
68

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
11.5% 558
Did not provide
88.5% 4,293

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
14.6% 714
Not a volunteer
85.4% 4,163

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 8
Previously served
3.2% 155
Never served
96.6% 4,680

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
32.0%
1 child
12.2%
2 children
27.5%
3 children
16.8%
4 children
8.8%
5+ children
2.7%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
10
1951: 1960
37
1961: 1970
61
1971: 1980
63
1981: 1990
61
1991: 2000
50
2001: 2010
229
2011: 2015
167
2016
42
2017
42
2018
44
2019
55
2020
28
2021
12

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

Population Mobility

18.2%
moved in the last year
45.4%
moved in the last 5 years
3.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
59.3%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,791
Moved from QLD
826
Moved: same area (SA2)
126
Moved from NSW
36
Moved from overseas
33
Moved from VIC
16
Moved from SA
10

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.0%
5: 14 hours
27.6%
15: 29 hours
12.0%
30+ hours
8.8%
Did not do domestic work
31.6%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
80.1%
Step family: no other children
13.6%
Blended family: no other children
5.0%
Intact family: other children present
0.6%
Other couple: children only
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Hughenden
Income: $770/wk Rent: $160/wk $160/wk less rent
Charleville
Income: $822/wk Rent: $178/wk $142/wk less rent
Bowen
Income: $710/wk Rent: $270/wk $50/wk less rent
Wulguru
Income: $747/wk Rent: $290/wk $30/wk less rent
Edge Hill
Income: $942/wk Rent: $310/wk $10/wk less rent
Barcaldine
Income: $869/wk Rent: $200/wk $120/wk less rent
Willowbank
Income: $715/wk Rent: $245/wk $75/wk less rent
Mundingburra
Income: $727/wk Rent: $270/wk $50/wk less rent

Suburbs near West Mackay

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

Mackay
2.2 km away · income $835/wk · rent $270/wk
South Mackay
2.3 km away · income $791/wk · rent $290/wk
Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld)
3.5 km away · income $853/wk · rent $390/wk
Ooralea
3.8 km away · income $996/wk · rent $440/wk
North Mackay
4.0 km away · income $786/wk · rent $300/wk
East Mackay
4.1 km away · income $916/wk · rent $320/wk

Compare West Mackay

Frequently Asked Questions About West Mackay

What is the population of West Mackay QLD?

The population of West Mackay QLD is 6,536 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,103 people per km². West Mackay is ranked #1,174 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in West Mackay?

The median personal income in West Mackay QLD is $838 per week, or $43,576 per year. The median household income is $1,696 per week. Family income is $2,232 per week. West Mackay is ranked #2,986 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in West Mackay?

Median rent in West Mackay QLD is $320 per week ($1,387 per month). Rent represents 18.9% of household income, which is considered affordable. West Mackay ranks #4,051 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in West Mackay?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Mackay QLD is $1,595. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in West Mackay?

The median age in West Mackay QLD is 42 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is West Mackay a good suburb to live in?

West Mackay is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 6,536. The median income is $838/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.9% 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: 33038. All dollar figures in AUD.