Suburb / Locality · Area profile
West Mackay
6 km²
A much higher proportion of people need help with daily activities in West Mackay compared to the rest of the state. This community is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 42 and a large population of seniors. It is a well-connected area where most residents live within a short walk of parks, shops, and schools. While the population is growing, it remains a predominantly Australian community with a strong presence of separate houses.
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The typical resident is 42, making the area noticeably older than both Queensland and Australia. This is reflected in the senior population, which is well above the national figure at 21.6%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a far lower proportion of overseas-born people compared to the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
While much higher than similar areas, the proportion of people using another language at home is still well below the state figure. English is the main language for 81.8% of the community.
Religious affiliation is higher here than in other similar areas, with 57.1% of people identifying as Christian. The share of people with no religion is well below the national figure.
Many residents hold a Certificate III or IV, though the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree is far below the national average. The area has a higher number of schools per child than most similar places.
Typical weekly incomes for households and individuals are higher than those in most similar areas. Weekly family income is a little above the state figure at $2,232.
Daily living needs are a significant feature here, with 9.6% of people requiring help, which is well above the national figure. Long-term health conditions are a little more common than average.
Participation in unpaid work is lower than in most areas, including a lower rate of volunteers at 13.1%. This is also seen in the lower number of people caring for children unpaid.
There are 281 First Nations people in the area, and their Year 12 completion rate is well above the national average. Personal income for this group is also well above the national figure.
A high number of people live alone, which is well above the state average. This contributes to a smaller typical household size of 2.3 people.
Rental properties are much more common here than in most similar areas. Most homes are separate houses, though they tend to have fewer bedrooms than the state average.
Very few people work from home, a figure far below the national average. Most residents rely on cars, though 7.8% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The area has seen a lot of movement, with a much higher share of recent overseas arrivals than both the state and the nation.
Full-time employment is well above the national average at 66.0%. The most common industries for workers are health care and social assistance, followed by mining.
The area is very walkable, with 97.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of essential services. This is far above the state average for access to groceries, parks, and schools.