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Cairns vs Mackay

Name: Cairns vs Mackay — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Urban Area comparison ≈ 592 km apart · Cairns profile · Mackay profile

Cairns Mackay

Cairns and Mackay are two major Queensland hubs located nearly 600km apart. Cairns is more diverse and urban, with a much higher share of people born overseas (23.3%) and those using another language at home (14.7%). It also has more people working from home (11.8%) and more adults with a bachelor degree or higher (19.7%). In contrast, Mackay has a stronger focus on detached housing, which is far more common there at 81.2%, and a higher share of people earning $2,000 or more a week (13.7%).

Both areas are remarkably similar in their home sizes, with 2.5 people per home and a typical weekly rent around $340. They also share similar proportions of people aged 65 and over and those needing daily help. Over time, the typical incomes in both places have shifted, with Mackay now slightly higher than Cairns, though the gap has narrowed significantly since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 7.6 pts higher in Cairns 3+ bedrooms: 8.9 pts higher in Mackay Unemployment: 1.7 pts higher in Cairns Population: 69,092 larger in Cairns Limited English: 1.3 pts higher in Cairns

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns in Mackay +69,092 larger in Cairns gap widening

153,425 77th pct 84,333 72nd pct

Median age in Cairns in Mackay +2 yrs older in Cairns gap narrowing

39 yrs 43rd pct 37 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

27.1% Young adults (25–44) +0.2 pts ▸ 27.3%

26.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.3 pts 25.6%

19.0% Children (0–14) +1.1 pts ▸ 20.1%

15.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.4 pts 14.9%

11.7% Youth (15–24) +0.5 pts ▸ 12.2%

Marital status

39.3% Married +4.9 pts ▸ 44.2%

41.7% Never married ◂ +4.7 pts 36.9%

10.8% Divorced ◂ +1.0 pts 9.8%

4.4% Widowed +0.7 pts ▸ 5.1%

3.8% Separated +0.1 pts ▸ 4.0%

Age & sex structure

Cairns Mackay

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.2% Australia +9.3 pts ▸ 77.5%

4.0% England ◂ +2.0 pts 2.0%

2.9% New Zealand ◂ +0.4 pts 2.5%

1.3% Philippines +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.5% South Africa +0.7 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.2% India ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

0.6% China ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

34.2% English +3.9 pts ▸ 38.1%

29.4% Australian +7.0 pts ▸ 36.4%

10.4% Irish +0.2 pts ▸ 10.7%

9.3% Scottish +1.0 pts ▸ 10.4%

5.2% German +0.9 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.7% Italian ◂ +1.5 pts 3.2%

2.0% Filipino +0.7 pts ▸ 2.6%

2.1% Chinese ◂ +0.9 pts 1.2%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.4%

1.3% Indian ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

76.1% English only +7.7 pts ▸ 83.8%

0.5% Tagalog +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Mandarin ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.6% Punjabi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.6% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.4% Cantonese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Arabic even 0.1%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

42.5% Christianity +7.5 pts ▸ 50.0%

42.4% No religion ◂ +4.6 pts 37.8%

10.7% Not stated ◂ +0.8 pts 9.8%

1.7% Buddhism ◂ +1.1 pts 0.7%

1.1% Other religions ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

1.0% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

0.5% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

55.5% Year 12 ◂ +7.5 pts 48.1%

19.1% Year 10 +5.8 pts ▸ 24.9%

7.4% Year 9 or below +1.8 pts ▸ 9.2%

7.8% Year 11 ◂ +0.3 pts 7.5%

Highest qualification level

31.0% Certificate III / IV +9.1 pts ▸ 40.1%

21.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.8 pts 17.5%

15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.5 pts 11.9%

5.8% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.2 pts 3.6%

3.4% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.8 pts 2.6%

2.4% Certificate I / II +0.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

Field of qualification

14.0% Engineering & related +8.3 pts ▸ 22.4%

15.8% Management & commerce ◂ +1.6 pts 14.2%

12.1% Society & culture ◂ +3.2 pts 8.8%

11.7% Health ◂ +1.4 pts 10.3%

7.8% Education even 7.8%

6.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.1 pts 5.6%

5.4% Architecture & building +0.1 pts ▸ 5.5%

2.5% Creative arts ◂ +0.8 pts 1.6%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 1.5%

1.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

1.4% Information technology ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Cairns in Mackay +$74 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$812 76th pct $886 87th pct

Household income in Cairns in Mackay +$259 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,575 65th pct $1,834 85th pct

Family income in Cairns in Mackay +$273 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,951 63rd pct $2,224 86th pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.4 pts 29.5%

28.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.0 pts 22.4%

15.6% Under $650 ◂ +0.8 pts 14.8%

9.1% $3,000–$3,999 +2.0 pts ▸ 11.1%

7.7% $4,000 or more +2.8 pts ▸ 10.5%

Personal income distribution

36.7% Under $650 ◂ +2.2 pts 34.4%

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.3 pts 30.2%

16.6% $1,500–$2,999 +3.3 pts ▸ 20.0%

2.9% $3,000 or more +1.9 pts ▸ 4.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.9% Mental health +0.5 pts ▸ 8.4%

7.1% Arthritis +0.8 pts ▸ 7.9%

6.3% Asthma +1.5 pts ▸ 7.8%

7.7% Other condition ◂ +0.7 pts 7.0%

4.0% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.5% Heart disease +0.7 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.8% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 2.7%

1.7% Lung condition +0.1 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.9% Stroke even 0.9%

0.7% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.1% None ◂ +2.5 pts 61.6%

17.1% One condition +1.2 pts ▸ 18.3%

5.1% Two conditions +0.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

2.4% Three or more +0.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns in Mackay even gap narrowing

2.5 71st pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

52.2% Couples with children +3.7 pts ▸ 55.9%

27.7% Couples without children ◂ +0.6 pts 27.1%

18.8% One-parent families ◂ +3.0 pts 15.8%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Household size

34.8% 2 people ◂ +0.3 pts 34.5%

27.5% 1 person ◂ +1.6 pts 25.9%

15.7% 3 people ◂ +0.3 pts 15.4%

13.6% 4 people +1.1 pts ▸ 14.7%

5.3% 5 people +1.2 pts ▸ 6.5%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 3.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns in Mackay +$9 higher in Mackay gap steady

$340 68th pct $349 71st pct

Mortgage in Cairns in Mackay +$138 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,595 59th pct $1,733 71st pct

People / bedroom in Cairns in Mackay even gap steady

0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.2% Owned with a mortgage +1.5 pts ▸ 36.6%

36.1% Rented ◂ +3.1 pts 33.0%

25.7% Owned outright +0.5 pts ▸ 26.2%

1.2% Other tenure +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.7% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 2.1%

Types of homes

71.0% Separate house +10.2 pts ▸ 81.2%

17.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +12.1 pts 4.8%

10.6% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.7 pts ▸ 12.3%

0.8% Other dwelling +0.5 pts ▸ 1.2%

Bedrooms per home

35.2% 3 bedrooms +6.1 pts ▸ 41.3%

29.1% 4 bedrooms +3.6 pts ▸ 32.7%

21.5% 2 bedrooms ◂ +7.2 pts 14.3%

6.2% 5 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 5.4%

5.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.8 pts 3.8%

0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

41.8% $350–$549 +2.0 pts ▸ 43.7%

37.9% $200–$349 ◂ +2.8 pts 35.0%

11.3% Under $200 +1.8 pts ▸ 13.1%

5.0% $550–$749 ◂ +1.2 pts 3.8%

0.9% $750 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.2% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.9 pts 40.3%

27.5% $1,800–$2,999 +4.5 pts ▸ 32.1%

17.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +4.5 pts 13.4%

7.8% $3,000 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 8.3%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

57.9% Car (driver) +14.4 pts ▸ 72.3%

11.8% Worked at home ◂ +7.6 pts 4.2%

5.1% Car (passenger) +0.6 pts ▸ 5.6%

2.4% Walked ◂ +0.7 pts 1.7%

1.0% Bus +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.2% Bicycle ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 2 vehicles +1.7 pts ▸ 39.6%

38.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.4 pts 34.0%

11.6% 3 vehicles +2.6 pts ▸ 14.2%

5.5% 4 or more +1.6 pts ▸ 7.1%

6.7% No vehicle ◂ +1.6 pts 5.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.4 pts 15.0%

1.7% Mining +9.3 pts ▸ 11.0%

10.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +3.6 pts 6.6%

9.8% Retail trade ◂ +0.1 pts 9.7%

8.8% Education & training ◂ +1.4 pts 7.5%

8.4% Construction ◂ +0.2 pts 8.2%

7.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +3.1 pts 4.3%

5.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.5 pts 5.2%

3.4% Manufacturing +2.3 pts ▸ 5.7%

4.5% Other services +0.6 pts ▸ 5.1%

4.8% Professional & technical ◂ +0.3 pts 4.5%

2.0% Wholesale trade +1.8 pts ▸ 3.9%

Occupations people work in

20.9% Professionals ◂ +4.2 pts 16.7%

14.7% Technicians & trades +4.8 pts ▸ 19.6%

15.1% Community & personal service ◂ +4.0 pts 11.2%

11.9% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.3 pts 11.6%

5.4% Machinery operators & drivers +5.7 pts ▸ 11.1%

10.9% Managers ◂ +1.9 pts 9.0%

9.8% Labourers +0.3 pts ▸ 10.1%

9.6% Sales workers ◂ +0.7 pts 8.9%

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns in Mackay +0.5 higher in Cairns

5.7 77th pct 5.2 59th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns in Mackay +0.3 more in Cairns

5.4 74th pct 5.0 60th pct

15-min city in Cairns in Mackay +9.9 pts higher in Cairns

66.5% 76th pct 56.6% 57th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns in Mackay +4.4 pts higher in Cairns

68.3% 81st pct 63.9% 75th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns in Mackay +4.0 pts higher in Cairns

85.5% 60th pct 81.5% 44th pct

Walk to school in Cairns in Mackay +0.6 pts higher in Mackay

64.0% 50th pct 64.5% 52nd pct

Walk to a park in Cairns in Mackay +0.3 pts higher in Mackay

96.3% 90th pct 96.5% 91st pct

Walk to health in Cairns in Mackay +0.7 pts higher in Cairns

44.2% 62nd pct 43.4% 61st pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns in Mackay +1.3 more in Mackay

13.0 30th pct 14.3 46th pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns in Mackay +22 higher in Cairns

66 93rd pct 43 81st pct

Mean slope in Cairns in Mackay +1.7 pts higher in Cairns

5.6% 59th pct 3.8% 25th pct

Compare Cairns with nearby areas

Townsville Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Mackay Emerald Not in any Significant Urban Area Mount Isa Rockhampton Yeppoon Gladstone Bundaberg Hervey Bay Maryborough

Compare Mackay with nearby areas

Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Rockhampton Yeppoon Emerald Townsville Gladstone Not in any Significant Urban Area Bundaberg Cairns Hervey Bay Maryborough Kingaroy

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns vs Mackay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3004/cairns/vs/3011/mackay