East Mackay vs Mackay

Mackay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in East Mackay. In East Mackay, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Mackay, most households rent and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in East Mackay: a median of $700,000, against $540,000 in Mackay, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Mackay tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

East Mackay

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (71% vs 26%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 30%)
  • carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 98/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • East Mackay has cheaper units ($360,000 vs $400,000)
  • Mackay has cheaper houses ($540,000 vs $700,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mackay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (68% vs 38%)
  • has cheaper rent ($270/wk vs $320/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 74/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mackay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (74% vs 28%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 74/100)
  • But East Mackay carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 98/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Mackay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (10.0% vs 4.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.8% vs 5.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

East Mackay and Mackay drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

East Mackay Mackay
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

East Mackay Mackay
Walkability 74 / 92
East Mackay — Walkability: 74/100 Mackay — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 38 / 2
East Mackay — Safety: 38/100 Mackay — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
East Mackay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mackay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

East Mackay has higher household incomes ($89,336 vs $64,428); East Mackay rents higher ($320/wk vs $270/wk).

East Mackay Mackay
Population 3,725 4,026
+8% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.5% +10.0%
Median age 42 38
Median household income $89,336/yr
+28% vs other
 $64,428/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+16% vs other
 $270/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Mackay Mackay
0-4 5.0% / 3.9%
East Mackay — 0-4: 5.0% Mackay — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 12.3% / 8.3%
East Mackay — 5-14: 12.3% Mackay — 5-14: 8.3%
15-19 6.0% / 4.6%
East Mackay — 15-19: 6.0% Mackay — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 5.7% / 9.9%
East Mackay — 20-24: 5.7% Mackay — 20-24: 9.9%
25-34 12.1% / 18.5%
East Mackay — 25-34: 12.1% Mackay — 25-34: 18.5%
35-44 11.2% / 14.7%
East Mackay — 35-44: 11.2% Mackay — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 14.3% / 13.4%
East Mackay — 45-54: 14.3% Mackay — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 13.2% / 13.6%
East Mackay — 55-64: 13.2% Mackay — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 9.9% / 7.9%
East Mackay — 65-74: 9.9% Mackay — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 5.7% / 3.7%
East Mackay — 75-84: 5.7% Mackay — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 4.6% / 1.6%
East Mackay — 85+: 4.6% Mackay — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Mackay 44.1% lone person
East Mackay — Lone Person: 44.1% East Mackay — Couple Families: 33.0% East Mackay — One Parent Families: 15.3% East Mackay — Group Household: 6.0% East Mackay — Other Families: 1.6%
Mackay 59.6% lone person
Mackay — Lone Person: 59.6% Mackay — Couple Families: 16.7% Mackay — One Parent Families: 13.2% Mackay — Group Household: 7.8% Mackay — Other Families: 2.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

East Mackay 38.5% renting
East Mackay — Owned Outright: 28.6% East Mackay — Mortgage: 32.9% East Mackay — Renting: 38.5%
Mackay 67.8% renting
Mackay — Owned Outright: 17.0% Mackay — Mortgage: 15.2% Mackay — Renting: 67.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

East Mackay Mackay
Certificate III & IV 18.0% / 16.0%
East Mackay — Certificate III & IV: 18.0% Mackay — Certificate III & IV: 16.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 9.4%
East Mackay — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Mackay — Bachelor Degree: 9.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 5.3%
East Mackay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Mackay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 2.9%
East Mackay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% Mackay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.1%
East Mackay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Mackay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

East Mackay Mackay
Philippines 1.8% / 6.0%
East Mackay — Philippines: 1.8% Mackay — Philippines: 6.0%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.9%
East Mackay — New Zealand: 2.1% Mackay — New Zealand: 2.9%
England 1.7% / 1.8%
East Mackay — England: 1.7% Mackay — England: 1.8%
India 0.8% / 2.5%
East Mackay — India: 0.8% Mackay — India: 2.5%
China 0.3% / 0.9%
East Mackay — China: 0.3% Mackay — China: 0.9%
South Africa 1.0% / —
East Mackay — South Africa: 1.0% Mackay — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

East Mackay 71.4% houses
East Mackay — Houses: 71.4% East Mackay — Townhouses: 25.5% East Mackay — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Mackay 26.1% houses
Mackay — Houses: 26.1% Mackay — Townhouses: 42.7% Mackay — Flats / Apartments: 31.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

East Mackay Mackay
Median house price $700,000 $540,000
Median unit price $360,000 $400,000
Median land price $372,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 37 sales
 34 days
from 42 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

East Mackay Mackay
1 bed $270K / $334K
East Mackay — 1 bed: $270K (8 sales) Mackay — 1 bed: $334K (20 sales)

8 vs 20 sales

2 bed $375K / $380K
East Mackay — 2 bed: $375K (21 sales) Mackay — 2 bed: $380K (77 sales)

21 vs 77 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

East Mackay Mackay
2 bed $483K / $480K
East Mackay — 2 bed: $483K (9 sales) Mackay — 2 bed: $480K (23 sales)

9 vs 23 sales

3 bed $655K / $550K
East Mackay — 3 bed: $655K (46 sales) Mackay — 3 bed: $550K (37 sales)

46 vs 37 sales

4 bed $778K / $650K
East Mackay — 4 bed: $778K (36 sales) Mackay — 4 bed: $650K (17 sales)

36 vs 17 sales

5 bed $1.01M / $755K
East Mackay — 5 bed: $1.01M (8 sales) Mackay — 5 bed: $755K (7 sales)

8 vs 7 sales

Development activity

East Mackay Mackay
New dwellings approved 574
across Mackay
same for both
Approvals change year on year -6%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

East Mackay Mackay
Houses 4.9%
$665/wk on $699K
 4.8%
$500/wk on $539K
Units 5.1%
$445/wk on $450K
 5.8%
$500/wk on $449K

Ranking within QLD

East Mackay Mackay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of QLD Higher than 30% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 40% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 41% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD

Liveability

East Mackay scores higher overall (54 vs 31); Mackay is more walkable (92 vs 74).

East Mackay Mackay
Grade B D
Score 54/100 31/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Mackay carries more crime risk (98 vs 62).

East Mackay Mackay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 High
98/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
97/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

East Mackay Mackay
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in East Mackay

  • Victoria Park State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre - East Mackay Campus Independent · Primary · Special school

Schools in Mackay

  • Mackay Central State School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Patrick's College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

East Mackay Mackay
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 0 20
Parks & reserves 5 7
Childcare 4
same for both
GPs 1 11
Pharmacies 0 7
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 13
Fuel stations 0 5
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 2 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

East Mackay Mackay
Walkability score 74/100 92/100
Distance to Brisbane 968 km 966.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 665 min 663 min
Public transport score 44/100
Bus
 75/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 60.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4740
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 4740
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

East Mackay Mackay
Car (driver) 85.0% / 72.9%
East Mackay — Car (driver): 85.0% Mackay — Car (driver): 72.9%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 9.8%
East Mackay — Car (passenger): 5.8% Mackay — Car (passenger): 9.8%
Walked Only 1.3% / 9.3%
East Mackay — Walked Only: 1.3% Mackay — Walked Only: 9.3%
Worked from Home 4.9% / 3.4%
East Mackay — Worked from Home: 4.9% Mackay — Worked from Home: 3.4%
Bicycle 1.2% / 2.8%
East Mackay — Bicycle: 1.2% Mackay — Bicycle: 2.8%
Bus 1.8% / 1.8%
East Mackay — Bus: 1.8% Mackay — Bus: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.0%).

Setting

East Mackay Mackay
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 660 m
556 m to a named beach
 2.8 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

East Mackay Mackay
Connectivity score 100/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,806 premises
 92%
4,433 premises

Climate

East Mackay Mackay
Annual rainfall 1,517 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 12.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

East Mackay Mackay
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

East Mackay Mackay
Average residential rate $1,873/yr
same for both
Council Mackay
same for both

Federal electorate

East Mackay Mackay
Division Dawson
same for both
Member Andrew Willcox
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

East Mackay Mackay
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

East Mackay

Beach Coastal Parks Quiet Townhouses

Mackay

Affordable Coastal Nightlife Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Mackay

East Mackay vs South Mackay East Mackay vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Mackay

Mackay vs South Mackay Mackay vs West Mackay Mackay vs North Mackay Mackay vs Mount Pleasant
Full data on East Mackay Full data on Mackay
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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