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Mackay vs Rockhampton

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 278 km apart · Mackay profile · Rockhampton profile

Mackay Rockhampton

Mackay and Rockhampton are two major Queensland hubs with similar population sizes. Mackay is more urban in feel, with a street connectivity score far higher than Rockhampton and 81.5% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport, compared to 0.0% in Rockhampton. Mackay also has a higher share of high earners, with 21.6% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, while Rockhampton sees 17.0% in that bracket. In contrast, Rockhampton has more separate houses at 87.8% and a higher share of one-parent families at 19.2%.

Since 2011, the two areas have drifted apart in several ways, with Mackay taking the lead in typical household income and the share of overseas-born residents. Despite these shifts, they remain very alike in their basic makeup. Both have about 20% of their population under 15 and similar levels of university qualifications. They also share the same typical home density, with 2.5 people per home in both areas.

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Where they differ most

Unemployment: 1.4 pts higher in Rockhampton One-parent: 3.5 pts higher in Rockhampton Separate houses: 6.6 pts higher in Rockhampton Needs assistance: 2.0 pts higher in Rockhampton Born overseas: 4.1 pts higher in Mackay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Mackay in Rockhampton +5,040 larger in Mackay gap narrowing

84,333 72nd pct 79,293 72nd pct

Median age in Mackay in Rockhampton +1 yrs older in Mackay gap steady

37 yrs 21st pct 36 yrs 14th pct

Age structure

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

25.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.1 pts 23.5%

20.1% Children (0–14) +0.4 pts ▸ 20.5%

14.9% Seniors (65+) +0.9 pts ▸ 15.7%

12.2% Youth (15–24) +1.0 pts ▸ 13.2%

Marital status

44.2% Married ◂ +1.6 pts 42.6%

36.9% Never married +1.9 pts ▸ 38.8%

9.8% Divorced ◂ +0.5 pts 9.3%

5.1% Widowed +0.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.0% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Mackay Rockhampton

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

77.5% Australia +5.8 pts ▸ 83.3%

2.5% New Zealand ◂ +1.1 pts 1.4%

2.1% Philippines ◂ +0.9 pts 1.2%

2.0% England ◂ +0.8 pts 1.3%

1.3% South Africa ◂ +0.8 pts 0.5%

0.8% India even 0.8%

0.3% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Vietnam +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

36.4% Australian +4.7 pts ▸ 41.1%

38.1% English +0.5 pts ▸ 38.6%

10.7% Irish even 10.7%

10.4% Scottish ◂ +0.7 pts 9.7%

6.1% German +0.3 pts ▸ 6.5%

3.2% Italian ◂ +1.9 pts 1.4%

2.6% Filipino ◂ +1.0 pts 1.6%

1.4% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

1.2% Chinese +0.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.1% Indian even 1.0%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Greek even 0.3%

Language

Language used at home

83.8% English only +1.8 pts ▸ 85.6%

1.1% Tagalog ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

0.4% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Hindi even 0.2%

0.2% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic even 0.1%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.0% Christianity +0.5 pts ▸ 50.5%

37.8% No religion ◂ +0.4 pts 37.4%

9.8% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 9.1%

0.8% Hinduism +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Buddhism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

48.1% Year 12 ◂ +0.1 pts 48.0%

24.9% Year 10 +0.7 pts ▸ 25.6%

9.2% Year 9 or below +1.9 pts ▸ 11.1%

7.5% Year 11 ◂ +1.0 pts 6.5%

Highest qualification level

40.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +2.1 pts 38.1%

17.5% Bachelor degree +1.2 pts ▸ 18.7%

11.9% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.3 pts ▸ 12.2%

3.6% Postgraduate degree +0.8 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.5% Certificate I / II +0.9 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.3 pts ▸ 2.9%

Field of qualification

22.4% Engineering & related ◂ +4.5 pts 17.9%

14.2% Management & commerce +0.2 pts ▸ 14.5%

10.3% Health +1.4 pts ▸ 11.7%

8.8% Society & culture +2.4 pts ▸ 11.2%

7.8% Education +0.4 pts ▸ 8.3%

5.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.2 pts ▸ 5.7%

5.5% Architecture & building ◂ +0.7 pts 4.8%

1.2% Agriculture & environment +0.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences +0.2 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.1% Information technology +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.6% Creative arts ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Mackay in Rockhampton +$103 higher in Mackay gap steady

$886 87th pct $783 70th pct

Household income in Mackay in Rockhampton +$289 higher in Mackay gap widening

$1,834 85th pct $1,545 62nd pct

Family income in Mackay in Rockhampton +$266 higher in Mackay gap widening

$2,224 86th pct $1,958 64th pct

Household income distribution

29.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.4 pts 29.1%

22.4% $650–$1,499 +4.9 pts ▸ 27.4%

14.8% Under $650 +1.9 pts ▸ 16.7%

11.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.9 pts 9.2%

10.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.7 pts 7.8%

Personal income distribution

34.4% Under $650 +3.9 pts ▸ 38.4%

30.2% $650–$1,499 +1.5 pts ▸ 31.7%

20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.2 pts 16.7%

4.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 3.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.4% Mental health +2.4 pts ▸ 10.8%

7.9% Arthritis +1.9 pts ▸ 9.9%

7.8% Asthma +1.8 pts ▸ 9.7%

7.0% Other condition +1.4 pts ▸ 8.4%

4.6% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.2% Heart disease +0.8 pts ▸ 4.9%

2.7% Cancer +0.3 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.8% Lung condition +0.7 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.9% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.8% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.6% None ◂ +3.6 pts 58.0%

18.3% One condition +1.8 pts ▸ 20.1%

5.5% Two conditions +1.5 pts ▸ 7.0%

3.0% Three or more +1.3 pts ▸ 4.3%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Mackay in Rockhampton even gap narrowing

2.5 71st pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

55.9% Couples with children ◂ +2.1 pts 53.8%

27.1% Couples without children ◂ +1.5 pts 25.6%

15.8% One-parent families +3.5 pts ▸ 19.2%

1.2% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

34.5% 2 people ◂ +1.1 pts 33.4%

25.9% 1 person +1.1 pts ▸ 27.0%

15.4% 3 people ◂ +0.4 pts 15.0%

14.7% 4 people +0.2 pts ▸ 14.9%

6.5% 5 people ◂ +0.2 pts 6.3%

3.1% 6 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Mackay in Rockhampton +$59 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$349 71st pct $290 40th pct

Mortgage in Mackay in Rockhampton +$314 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,733 71st pct $1,419 37th pct

People / bedroom in Mackay in Rockhampton even gap steady

0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.6% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.5 pts 36.1%

33.0% Rented ◂ +0.5 pts 32.5%

26.2% Owned outright +2.2 pts ▸ 28.5%

2.1% Other tenure ◂ +0.7 pts 1.4%

2.1% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 1.5%

Types of homes

81.2% Separate house +6.6 pts ▸ 87.8%

12.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.4 pts 6.9%

4.8% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.1 pts 4.7%

1.2% Other dwelling ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

41.3% 3 bedrooms +1.1 pts ▸ 42.5%

32.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +2.3 pts 30.4%

14.3% 2 bedrooms +1.6 pts ▸ 15.9%

5.4% 5 or more +1.1 pts ▸ 6.5%

3.8% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.9 pts 2.9%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

35.0% $200–$349 +18.3 pts ▸ 53.3%

43.7% $350–$549 ◂ +18.8 pts 25.0%

13.1% Under $200 +2.9 pts ▸ 16.0%

3.8% $550–$749 ◂ +2.5 pts 1.3%

0.5% $750 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

40.3% $1,000–$1,799 +5.8 pts ▸ 46.1%

32.1% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +10.5 pts 21.6%

13.4% Under $1,000 +7.7 pts ▸ 21.1%

8.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 5.8%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

72.3% Car (driver) ◂ +2.1 pts 70.1%

5.6% Car (passenger) +1.0 pts ▸ 6.6%

4.2% Worked at home +0.1 pts ▸ 4.2%

1.7% Walked +0.6 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.4% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

0.6% Bicycle ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.5 pts 37.1%

34.0% 1 vehicle +1.9 pts ▸ 36.0%

14.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.9 pts 13.2%

7.1% 4 or more even 7.1%

5.1% No vehicle +1.5 pts ▸ 6.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.0% Health care & social assistance +3.1 pts ▸ 18.1%

11.0% Mining ◂ +6.1 pts 4.9%

7.5% Education & training +2.7 pts ▸ 10.2%

9.7% Retail trade +0.1 pts ▸ 9.8%

8.2% Construction ◂ +0.6 pts 7.7%

6.6% Accommodation & food +0.4 pts ▸ 7.0%

4.3% Public administration & safety +2.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.7% Manufacturing +0.1 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.2% Transport & warehousing even 5.3%

5.1% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 4.5%

4.5% Professional & technical ◂ +1.0 pts 3.5%

3.9% Wholesale trade ◂ +1.0 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

19.6% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.8 pts 15.8%

16.7% Professionals +0.5 pts ▸ 17.2%

11.2% Community & personal service +3.2 pts ▸ 14.3%

11.6% Clerical & administrative +1.0 pts ▸ 12.5%

10.1% Labourers +1.8 pts ▸ 11.9%

11.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.2 pts 8.9%

8.9% Sales workers +0.3 pts ▸ 9.1%

9.0% Managers ◂ +0.6 pts 8.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Mackay in Rockhampton +1.2 higher in Mackay

5.2 59th pct 4.0 25th pct

Types ≤15 min in Mackay in Rockhampton +0.4 more in Mackay

5.0 60th pct 4.6 43rd pct

15-min city in Mackay in Rockhampton +1.3 pts higher in Rockhampton

56.6% 57th pct 57.9% 60th pct

Walk to shops in Mackay in Rockhampton +2.5 pts higher in Mackay

63.9% 75th pct 61.4% 71st pct

Walk to transit in Mackay in Rockhampton +81.5 pts higher in Mackay

81.5% 44th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Mackay in Rockhampton +10.6 pts higher in Rockhampton

64.5% 52nd pct 75.2% 79th pct

Walk to a park in Mackay in Rockhampton +7.8 pts higher in Mackay

96.5% 91st pct 88.7% 47th pct

Walk to health in Mackay in Rockhampton +10.0 pts higher in Rockhampton

43.4% 61st pct 53.4% 85th pct

Amenities/1k in Mackay in Rockhampton +5.4 more in Mackay

14.3 46th pct 8.9 8th pct

Intersections/km² in Mackay in Rockhampton +28 higher in Mackay

43 81st pct 15 37th pct

Mean slope in Mackay in Rockhampton +1.3 pts higher in Rockhampton

3.8% 25th pct 5.1% 51st pct

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

Compare Rockhampton with nearby areas

Yeppoon Gladstone Emerald Bundaberg Mackay Hervey Bay Maryborough Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Kingaroy Gympie Sunshine Coast Toowoomba

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Mackay vs Rockhampton [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3011/mackay/vs/3014/rockhampton