Fastest growing Mackay suburbs (2016-2021)
Richmond grew fastest in percentage terms, at +75%. Rural View added the most residents, 864. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available.
This ranking shows which Mackay suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.
Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Mackay's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.
Mackay suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021
Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.
Richmond
QLD 4740 · 852 residents366 residents added · +75% · 852 residents in 2021
Erakala
QLD 4740 · 763 residents216 residents added · +40% · 763 residents in 2021
Bakers Creek
QLD 4740 · 1,590 residents428 residents added · +37% · 1,590 residents in 2021
Mackay Harbour
QLD 4740 · 686 residents130 residents added · +24% · 686 residents in 2021
Rural View
QLD 4740 · 5,657 residents864 residents added · +18% · 5,657 residents in 2021
Shoal Point
QLD 4750 · 1,104 residents127 residents added · +13% · 1,104 residents in 2021
Mackay
QLD 4740 · 4,026 residents366 residents added · +10% · 4,026 residents in 2021
Ooralea
QLD 4740 · 3,691 residents325 residents added · +10% · 3,691 residents in 2021
Blacks Beach
QLD 4740 · 4,153 residents291 residents added · +8% · 4,153 residents in 2021
Beaconsfield
QLD 4740 · 5,899 residents409 residents added · +8% · 5,899 residents in 2021
Mount Pleasant
QLD 4740 · 4,694 residents250 residents added · +6% · 4,694 residents in 2021
Andergrove
QLD 4740 · 9,924 residents504 residents added · +5% · 9,924 residents in 2021
West Mackay
QLD 4740 · 6,536 residents326 residents added · +5% · 6,536 residents in 2021
East Mackay
QLD 4740 · 3,725 residents161 residents added · +4% · 3,725 residents in 2021
North Mackay
QLD 4740 · 6,194 residents261 residents added · +4% · 6,194 residents in 2021
Ranked from 20 qualifying suburbs.
Mackay suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021
Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.
Rural View
QLD 4740 · 5,657 residents864 residents added · +18% · 5,657 residents in 2021
Andergrove
QLD 4740 · 9,924 residents504 residents added · +5% · 9,924 residents in 2021
Bakers Creek
QLD 4740 · 1,590 residents428 residents added · +37% · 1,590 residents in 2021
Beaconsfield
QLD 4740 · 5,899 residents409 residents added · +8% · 5,899 residents in 2021
Mackay
QLD 4740 · 4,026 residents366 residents added · +10% · 4,026 residents in 2021
Richmond
QLD 4740 · 852 residents366 residents added · +75% · 852 residents in 2021
West Mackay
QLD 4740 · 6,536 residents326 residents added · +5% · 6,536 residents in 2021
Ooralea
QLD 4740 · 3,691 residents325 residents added · +10% · 3,691 residents in 2021
Blacks Beach
QLD 4740 · 4,153 residents291 residents added · +8% · 4,153 residents in 2021
North Mackay
QLD 4740 · 6,194 residents261 residents added · +4% · 6,194 residents in 2021
Mount Pleasant
QLD 4740 · 4,694 residents250 residents added · +6% · 4,694 residents in 2021
Erakala
QLD 4740 · 763 residents216 residents added · +40% · 763 residents in 2021
South Mackay
QLD 4740 · 6,918 residents211 residents added · +3% · 6,918 residents in 2021
East Mackay
QLD 4740 · 3,725 residents161 residents added · +4% · 3,725 residents in 2021
Bucasia
QLD 4750 · 4,915 residents144 residents added · +3% · 4,915 residents in 2021
Ranked from 20 qualifying suburbs.
100% population growth, ranked within Mackay's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.
Common questions about this ranking
What are the fastest growing Mackay suburbs (2016-2021)?
Richmond grew fastest in percentage terms, at +75%. Rural View added the most residents, 864. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available.
What period does this cover?
The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.
Why are there two different lists?
Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.
Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?
This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.
Which suburbs are eligible?
Suburbs in Mackay with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.
Same list in other cities
- Fastest growing Sydney suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Melbourne suburbs (2016-2021)
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Related
Rankings last computed 28 September 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.
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