Moving to Mackay QLD 4740
What the official numbers say about living in Mackay — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $270 a week, against a median household income of $1,239 a week.
About 32% of homes are owner-occupied and 66% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the townhouse.
Who you'll be living with
Mackay shrank 1% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (4,072 → 4,026 people).
Around 46% of households are families, averaging 1.9 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: Philippines, New Zealand, India; most spoken languages besides English: Tagalog, Filipino, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Mackay scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (83% of workers).
Nearest train station: Mackay, 3.9 km south-west.
Nearest railway halt: Mackay Miniature Railway, 4.8 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Mackay Airport, 2.8 km south.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 804 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 20 schools · 27 cafes & restaurants · 7 supermarkets · 28 parks · 3 beaches — see them all on the Mackay profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Central State School 300 m · St Patricks College 700 m · St Mary's Catholic Primary School 950 m · Mercy College 1.1 km · Mackay State High School 1.1 km · Victoria Park State School 1.1 km · Mackay West State School - Junior Campus 2.2 km · St Josephs Catholic Primary School 2.4 km
Groceries: Nicks Shakespeare Street IGA 850 m · Woolworths 850 m · De Campo's Mini Market 900 m · Coles 1 km · Coles 2.2 km · Nicks Super IGA 2.2 km · Foodworks 2.6 km
Parks and reserves: Jubilee Park 350 m · Railway Park 450 m · Kemmis Park 800 m · Mackay Showgrounds 850 m · Caneland Park 950 m · Gold Street Park 1.2 km · Queens Park 1.3 km · Fairfield Park 1.3 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Mackay, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Magpie-lark · Australasian Figbird · Torresian Crow · Willie Wagtail · Rainbow Lorikeet.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Mackay, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackay here | 4,026 | — | 2/10 | 15% |
| South Mackay | 6,918 | — | 2/10 | 9% |
| East Mackay | 3,725 | — | 4/10 | 26% |
| West Mackay | 6,536 | — | 4/10 | 13% |
| North Mackay | 6,194 | — | 2/10 | 25% |
| Mount Pleasant | 4,694 | — | 5/10 | 10% |
| Paget | 339 | — | 1/10 | 11% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Mackay — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Dawson — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4740 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Mackay profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $270 a week, and about 66% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 1% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 4,072 people to 4,026. It sits about 804 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Mackay station is roughly 3.9 km away. Local government is Mackay council, and the federal seat is Dawson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Mackay vs South Mackay · Mackay vs East Mackay.
Nearby guides: South Mackay · East Mackay · West Mackay · North Mackay · Mount Pleasant · Paget.
Keep an eye on Mackay
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