Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Mackay suburb profile
Mackay, QLD · Postcode 4740
This Mackay suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Mackay, QLD (postcode 4740). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Mackay with nearby suburbs.
Mackay at a glance
Population
4,026
Median rent
$270/wk
Household income
$1,239/wk
Median age
38
Mackay trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
-1.1% over 10 years
Population
4,026
was 3,659 in 2016
+367 · +10%
Median rent
$270/wk
was $200/wk in 2016
+$70 · +35%
Household income
$1,239/wk
was $976/wk in 2016
+$263 · +26.9%
Median age
38
was 38 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Mackay population growth · Mackay then and now
Mackay vs nearby & QLD
Median Census 2021 figures for Mackay, nearby suburbs (8), and the QLD state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-27% vs area
- Mackay$270/wk
- Nearby$350/wk
- QLD$370/wk
Household income
-27.9% vs area
- Mackay$1,239/wk
- Nearby$1,711/wk
- QLD$1,719/wk
Median age
-2.6% vs area
- Mackay38
- Nearby39
- QLD39
Personal income
+5.6% vs area
- Mackay$835/wk
- Nearby$836.5/wk
- QLD$791/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD.
Socio-economic profile
How Mackay compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Mackay sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 1907.5
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2905.7
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1837.1
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3928.2
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Mackay on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Mackay, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Mackay people
- Population
- 4,026
- Median age
- 38
- Born overseas
- 23.5%
- Average household size
- 1.9
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Mackay income
- Median household income
- $1,239/wk
- Median personal income
- $835/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Mackay housing
- Median rent
- $270/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,387/mo
- Separate houses
- 21.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 23%
- Owned outright
- 13.2%
- Mortgaged
- 11.8%
- Rented
- 52.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 18.4%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Mackay work
- Employment to population
- 52%
- Unemployment rate
- 7.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 45.8%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4740)
Compare Mackay with nearby suburbs
Mackay in numbers
Mackay had 4,026 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 432nd most populous suburb or locality in QLD out of 3,110. The median age is 38, 5% below the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 1.9 people. 23.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 13.2% own their home outright, 11.8% are paying a mortgage, 52.6% rent. Flats and apartments make up 23% of dwellings, with 21.3% separate houses. Median rent was $270/wk, 23% below the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $1,239/wk, 27% below the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 7.2%. 45.8% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 1 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 10% (from 3,659 to 4,026). Median rent moved from $200/wk to $270/wk (+35%).
Mackay suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Mackay, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Mackay was $270/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Mackay, QLD?
- Mackay had 4,026 residents at the 2021 Census, up 10% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Mackay?
- Median household income in Mackay was $1,239/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Mackay?
- 52.6% of occupied homes in Mackay were rented, 13.2% were owned outright and 11.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Mackay suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Mackay. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology