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Hervey Bay vs Mackay

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 597 km apart · Hervey Bay profile · Mackay profile

Hervey Bay Mackay

Mackay and Hervey Bay are two different types of Queensland hubs. Mackay is a younger, wealthier area where the typical resident is 37 and the usual weekly family income is $2,224. It is also more walkable, with a score of 5.2 (somewhat walkable) and far better access to public transport. In contrast, Hervey Bay is a retirement destination where residents are far older, with a typical age of 51 and 31.9% of people aged 65 and over. This age profile is reflected in the local housing market, as homes are far more likely to be owned outright in Hervey Bay (43.3%) compared to Mackay (26.2%).

The gap in typical family income has widened since 2011, with Mackay pulling further ahead. Despite this, the two areas share some basic characteristics, such as a similar amount of detached houses and almost identical typical weekly rents of around $340. Both areas also have similar levels of volunteers and a very small share of people who speak little or no English.

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Where they differ most

Median age: 14 yrs older in Hervey Bay Personal income: $334 higher in Mackay Family income: $912 higher in Mackay Participation: 20.5 pts higher in Mackay Household income: $751 higher in Mackay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Hervey Bay in Mackay +26,611 larger in Mackay gap widening

57,722 65th pct 84,333 72nd pct

Median age in Hervey Bay in Mackay +14 yrs older in Hervey Bay gap widening

51 yrs 91st pct 37 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

31.9% Seniors (65+) ◂ +17.1 pts 14.9%

18.0% Young adults (25–44) +9.3 pts ▸ 27.3%

25.7% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.2 pts 25.6%

15.4% Children (0–14) +4.7 pts ▸ 20.1%

8.9% Youth (15–24) +3.2 pts ▸ 12.2%

Marital status

47.8% Married ◂ +3.6 pts 44.2%

27.1% Never married +9.8 pts ▸ 36.9%

12.5% Divorced ◂ +2.7 pts 9.8%

8.2% Widowed ◂ +3.2 pts 5.1%

4.3% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 4.0%

Age & sex structure

Hervey Bay Mackay

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

75.5% Australia +2.0 pts ▸ 77.5%

5.7% England ◂ +3.7 pts 2.0%

3.5% New Zealand ◂ +1.0 pts 2.5%

0.8% Philippines +1.3 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.7% South Africa +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% India +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Italy even 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

45.3% English ◂ +7.2 pts 38.1%

37.0% Australian ◂ +0.6 pts 36.4%

11.1% Scottish ◂ +0.7 pts 10.4%

10.5% Irish +0.2 pts ▸ 10.7%

7.1% German ◂ +0.9 pts 6.1%

2.0% Italian +1.3 pts ▸ 3.2%

1.1% Filipino +1.6 pts ▸ 2.6%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.4%

0.9% Chinese +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.7% Indian +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% Greek even 0.3%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

89.1% English only ◂ +5.3 pts 83.8%

0.2% Tagalog +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Italian even 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.4% Christianity +1.6 pts ▸ 50.0%

41.3% No religion ◂ +3.5 pts 37.8%

8.0% Not stated +1.8 pts ▸ 9.8%

0.9% Buddhism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.5% Hinduism +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Other religions even 0.5%

0.4% Islam even 0.4%

0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

40.7% Year 12 +7.3 pts ▸ 48.1%

29.9% Year 10 ◂ +5.0 pts 24.9%

13.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +4.2 pts 9.2%

8.2% Year 11 ◂ +0.7 pts 7.5%

Highest qualification level

38.0% Certificate III / IV +2.1 pts ▸ 40.1%

16.2% Bachelor degree +1.4 pts ▸ 17.5%

15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.3 pts 11.9%

3.9% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.3 pts 3.6%

2.8% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.2 pts 2.6%

2.7% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%

Field of qualification

15.0% Engineering & related +7.3 pts ▸ 22.4%

14.4% Management & commerce ◂ +0.1 pts 14.2%

12.5% Society & culture ◂ +3.7 pts 8.8%

12.5% Health ◂ +2.1 pts 10.3%

8.8% Education ◂ +1.0 pts 7.8%

6.8% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.3 pts 5.6%

6.1% Architecture & building ◂ +0.6 pts 5.5%

1.9% Creative arts ◂ +0.3 pts 1.6%

1.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

1.3% Natural & physical sciences +0.2 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.3% Information technology ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Hervey Bay in Mackay +$334 higher in Mackay gap widening

$552 2nd pct $886 87th pct

Household income in Hervey Bay in Mackay +$751 higher in Mackay gap widening

$1,083 5th pct $1,834 85th pct

Family income in Hervey Bay in Mackay +$912 higher in Mackay gap widening

$1,312 2nd pct $2,224 86th pct

Household income distribution

37.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +15.0 pts 22.4%

22.4% $1,500–$2,999 +7.1 pts ▸ 29.5%

22.9% Under $650 ◂ +8.1 pts 14.8%

5.1% $3,000–$3,999 +6.0 pts ▸ 11.1%

4.0% $4,000 or more +6.5 pts ▸ 10.5%

Personal income distribution

52.5% Under $650 ◂ +18.1 pts 34.4%

27.6% $650–$1,499 +2.6 pts ▸ 30.2%

9.9% $1,500–$2,999 +10.1 pts ▸ 20.0%

1.7% $3,000 or more +3.1 pts ▸ 4.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

16.2% Arthritis ◂ +8.2 pts 7.9%

12.3% Mental health ◂ +3.9 pts 8.4%

10.7% Other condition ◂ +3.7 pts 7.0%

9.8% Asthma ◂ +1.9 pts 7.8%

7.5% Heart disease ◂ +3.3 pts 4.2%

6.8% Diabetes ◂ +2.2 pts 4.6%

5.1% Cancer ◂ +2.4 pts 2.7%

5.0% Lung condition ◂ +3.2 pts 1.8%

1.9% Stroke ◂ +1.0 pts 0.9%

1.3% Dementia ◂ +0.6 pts 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

51.6% None +10.0 pts ▸ 61.6%

23.0% One condition ◂ +4.7 pts 18.3%

9.9% Two conditions ◂ +4.3 pts 5.5%

7.0% Three or more ◂ +3.9 pts 3.0%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Hervey Bay in Mackay +0.2 larger in Mackay gap narrowing

2.3 14th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

41.3% Couples with children +14.7 pts ▸ 55.9%

39.5% Couples without children ◂ +12.4 pts 27.1%

18.1% One-parent families ◂ +2.4 pts 15.8%

1.1% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

42.9% 2 people ◂ +8.4 pts 34.5%

27.6% 1 person ◂ +1.7 pts 25.9%

12.6% 3 people +2.8 pts ▸ 15.4%

9.7% 4 people +5.0 pts ▸ 14.7%

4.5% 5 people +2.0 pts ▸ 6.5%

2.6% 6 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 3.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Hervey Bay in Mackay +$14 higher in Mackay gap widening

$335 66th pct $349 71st pct

Mortgage in Hervey Bay in Mackay +$325 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,408 36th pct $1,733 71st pct

People / bedroom in Hervey Bay in Mackay +0.10 higher in Mackay gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

43.3% Owned outright ◂ +17.1 pts 26.2%

24.6% Owned with a mortgage +12.1 pts ▸ 36.6%

27.7% Rented +5.3 pts ▸ 33.0%

2.5% Other tenure ◂ +0.5 pts 2.1%

1.9% Not stated +0.2 pts ▸ 2.1%

Types of homes

82.2% Separate house ◂ +1.0 pts 81.2%

12.5% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.2 pts 12.3%

3.0% Flat or apartment +1.9 pts ▸ 4.8%

1.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

Bedrooms per home

39.0% 3 bedrooms +2.3 pts ▸ 41.3%

34.3% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.6 pts 32.7%

16.2% 2 bedrooms ◂ +1.9 pts 14.3%

5.1% 5 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.1% 1 bedroom +0.6 pts ▸ 3.8%

0.6% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

42.1% $350–$549 +1.7 pts ▸ 43.7%

43.1% $200–$349 ◂ +8.1 pts 35.0%

9.7% Under $200 +3.3 pts ▸ 13.1%

1.7% $550–$749 +2.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

0.3% $750 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

46.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +5.8 pts 40.3%

20.7% $1,800–$2,999 +11.3 pts ▸ 32.1%

22.0% Under $1,000 ◂ +8.6 pts 13.4%

5.0% $3,000 or more +3.3 pts ▸ 8.3%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

69.0% Car (driver) +3.3 pts ▸ 72.3%

6.9% Worked at home ◂ +2.7 pts 4.2%

5.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.2 pts 5.6%

2.2% Walked ◂ +0.4 pts 1.7%

0.3% Bus +1.0 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.9% Bicycle ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

43.3% 1 vehicle ◂ +9.2 pts 34.0%

34.5% 2 vehicles +5.1 pts ▸ 39.6%

10.7% 3 vehicles +3.5 pts ▸ 14.2%

5.3% 4 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 7.1%

6.3% No vehicle ◂ +1.2 pts 5.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

24.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +9.0 pts 15.0%

11.6% Retail trade ◂ +1.9 pts 9.7%

1.5% Mining +9.5 pts ▸ 11.0%

9.4% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.8 pts 6.6%

9.1% Education & training ◂ +1.7 pts 7.5%

9.1% Construction ◂ +0.9 pts 8.2%

3.6% Manufacturing +2.1 pts ▸ 5.7%

5.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.3 pts 4.3%

3.1% Transport & warehousing +2.2 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.3% Other services +0.8 pts ▸ 5.1%

3.5% Professional & technical +1.0 pts ▸ 4.5%

1.3% Wholesale trade +2.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

Occupations people work in

13.7% Technicians & trades +5.9 pts ▸ 19.6%

19.0% Professionals ◂ +2.3 pts 16.7%

18.0% Community & personal service ◂ +6.9 pts 11.2%

10.8% Clerical & administrative +0.7 pts ▸ 11.6%

11.1% Labourers ◂ +1.0 pts 10.1%

5.4% Machinery operators & drivers +5.6 pts ▸ 11.1%

10.7% Sales workers ◂ +1.8 pts 8.9%

9.3% Managers ◂ +0.3 pts 9.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Hervey Bay in Mackay +2.2 higher in Mackay

3.0 10th pct 5.2 59th pct

Types ≤15 min in Hervey Bay in Mackay +1.7 more in Mackay

3.3 11th pct 5.0 60th pct

15-min city in Hervey Bay in Mackay +24.3 pts higher in Mackay

32.4% 9th pct 56.6% 57th pct

Walk to shops in Hervey Bay in Mackay +10.0 pts higher in Mackay

54.0% 49th pct 63.9% 75th pct

Walk to transit in Hervey Bay in Mackay +81.5 pts higher in Mackay

0.0% 0th pct 81.5% 44th pct

Walk to school in Hervey Bay in Mackay +13.7 pts higher in Mackay

50.9% 24th pct 64.5% 52nd pct

Walk to a park in Hervey Bay in Mackay +10.5 pts higher in Mackay

86.1% 39th pct 96.5% 91st pct

Walk to health in Hervey Bay in Mackay +25.1 pts higher in Mackay

18.3% 9th pct 43.4% 61st pct

Amenities/1k in Hervey Bay in Mackay +9.4 more in Mackay

4.9 0th pct 14.3 46th pct

Intersections/km² in Hervey Bay in Mackay +13 higher in Hervey Bay

56 89th pct 43 81st pct

Mean slope in Hervey Bay in Mackay +0.5 pts higher in Hervey Bay

4.3% 33rd pct 3.8% 25th pct

Compare Hervey Bay with nearby areas

Maryborough Bundaberg Gympie Sunshine Coast Kingaroy Gladstone Brisbane Toowoomba Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Yeppoon Warwick Rockhampton

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). Hervey Bay vs Mackay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3009/hervey-bay/vs/3011/mackay