Urban Area · Area profile
Mackay
212 km²
A population explosion defines Mackay, where the community has grown by 222% since 2011. It is a relatively young place, with a typical resident aged 37 and a higher proportion of children than the national figure. The area is characterized by high earners and a strong workforce, with incomes and full-time employment rates which sit well above state and national levels. This blend of family growth and economic strength makes it a distinctive hub within Queensland.
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The community is younger than usual, with 20.1% of people under 15 and a typical age of 37. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.7% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 14.2% of the population. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%, though the proportion of overseas-born residents has risen since 2011.
English is the main language for 83.8% of people. While 7.7% use another language at home—which is higher than most similar areas—this is still far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Half of the population identifies as Christian, and 37.8% report no religion. This last figure is a little below the national average and is lower than in most other similar areas.
There is a strong trend toward higher schooling, with 48.1% of residents completing Year 12, up 19 points since 2011. However, only 14.2% hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Incomes are much higher than in most similar areas; the typical family earns $2,224 a week. This is a little above the Queensland figure of $2,024 and represents a significant increase since 2011.
Residents are generally healthier than in most similar areas. Only 26.9% have a long-term health condition, and the proportion of people needing help with daily activities is much lower than in most other areas.
Unpaid childcare is common here, with 27.9% of people providing this care. In contrast, volunteering is much lower than in most similar areas, falling to 12.6% since 2011.
Families tend to be larger, with 2.5 people per home. Couples with children make up 55.9% of households, while the proportion of people living alone is much lower than in most similar areas.
Most people live in separate houses, and 79.4% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Renting is more common than in most similar areas, and typical weekly rents have risen to $349.
The car is the primary way to get around, with 72.3% of people driving to work. Very few people work from home at 4.2%, which is far below the national figure of 21.0%.
The area is quite mobile, with 42.2% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.2% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure.
Employment is a strong point for Mackay, with 64.8% of people working full-time—well above the national figure of 58.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%, which is lower than most similar areas.
The area is somewhat walkable, especially for those accessing parks and public transport. Over 96% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, far above the Queensland figure of 84%.