East Mackay vs South Mackay

South Mackay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in East Mackay. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in East Mackay: a median of $700,000, against $605,000 in South Mackay, and rent is higher there too.

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

South Mackay

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 5)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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 $399,500)
  • South Mackay has cheaper houses ($605,000 vs $700,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

East Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 49/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

East Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 49/100)

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

Investors

South Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.9% vs 5.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

East Mackay and South 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 South 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 South Mackay
Walkability 74 / 49
East Mackay — Walkability: 74/100 South Mackay — Walkability: 49/100
Safety 38 / 30
East Mackay — Safety: 38/100 South Mackay — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
East Mackay — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Mackay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Mackay has more residents (6,918 vs 3,725); East Mackay has higher household incomes ($89,336 vs $76,804).

East Mackay South Mackay
Population 3,725 6,918
+86% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.5% +3.2%
Median age 42 39
Median household income $89,336/yr
+14% vs other
 $76,804/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+9% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Mackay South Mackay
0-4 5.0% / 6.1%
East Mackay — 0-4: 5.0% South Mackay — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 12.3% / 12.2%
East Mackay — 5-14: 12.3% South Mackay — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 6.0% / 5.9%
East Mackay — 15-19: 6.0% South Mackay — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.7% / 6.0%
East Mackay — 20-24: 5.7% South Mackay — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 12.1% / 13.8%
East Mackay — 25-34: 12.1% South Mackay — 25-34: 13.8%
35-44 11.2% / 12.8%
East Mackay — 35-44: 11.2% South Mackay — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 14.3% / 12.4%
East Mackay — 45-54: 14.3% South Mackay — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 13.2% / 13.5%
East Mackay — 55-64: 13.2% South Mackay — 55-64: 13.5%
65-74 9.9% / 9.7%
East Mackay — 65-74: 9.9% South Mackay — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 5.7% / 5.6%
East Mackay — 75-84: 5.7% South Mackay — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 4.6% / 2.0%
East Mackay — 85+: 4.6% South Mackay — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

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%
South Mackay 44.9% lone person
South Mackay — Lone Person: 44.9% South Mackay — Couple Families: 30.8% South Mackay — One Parent Families: 17.8% South Mackay — Group Household: 4.6% South Mackay — Other Families: 1.9%
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%
South Mackay 39.1% renting
South Mackay — Owned Outright: 27.9% South Mackay — Mortgage: 33.0% South Mackay — Renting: 39.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 South Mackay
Philippines 1.8% / 4.8%
East Mackay — Philippines: 1.8% South Mackay — Philippines: 4.8%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.6%
East Mackay — New Zealand: 2.1% South Mackay — New Zealand: 2.6%
England 1.7% / 1.4%
East Mackay — England: 1.7% South Mackay — England: 1.4%
South Africa 1.0% / 0.5%
East Mackay — South Africa: 1.0% South Mackay — South Africa: 0.5%
India 0.8% / 0.5%
East Mackay — India: 0.8% South Mackay — India: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

Qualifications

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

East Mackay South Mackay
Certificate III & IV 18.0% / 20.0%
East Mackay — Certificate III & IV: 18.0% South Mackay — Certificate III & IV: 20.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 7.0%
East Mackay — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% South Mackay — Bachelor Degree: 7.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 5.1%
East Mackay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% South Mackay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 1.1%
East Mackay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% South Mackay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.0%
East Mackay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% South Mackay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

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%
South Mackay 73.5% houses
South Mackay — Houses: 73.5% South Mackay — Townhouses: 24.5% South Mackay — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

East Mackay South Mackay
Median house price $700,000 $605,000
Median unit price $360,000 $399,500
Median land price $372,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 37 sales
 28 days
from 58 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 South Mackay
2 bed $483K / $550K
East Mackay — 2 bed: $483K (9 sales) South Mackay — 2 bed: $550K (27 sales)

9 vs 27 sales

3 bed $655K / $600K
East Mackay — 3 bed: $655K (46 sales) South Mackay — 3 bed: $600K (138 sales)

46 vs 138 sales

4 bed $778K / $670K
East Mackay — 4 bed: $778K (36 sales) South Mackay — 4 bed: $670K (38 sales)

36 vs 38 sales

5 bed $1.01M / $640K
East Mackay — 5 bed: $1.01M (8 sales) South Mackay — 5 bed: $640K (7 sales)

8 vs 7 sales

Development activity

East Mackay South 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 South Mackay
Houses 4.9%
$665/wk on $699K
 4.9%
$650/wk on $684K
Units 5.1%
$445/wk on $450K
 6.9%
$510/wk on $384K

Ranking within QLD

East Mackay South Mackay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of QLD Higher than 48% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 78% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 86% 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
same for both
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD

Liveability

East Mackay is more walkable (74 vs 49); East Mackay scores higher overall (54 vs 48).

East Mackay South Mackay
Grade B C
Score 54/100 48/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

East Mackay South Mackay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 High
70/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
97/100
 High
89/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

East Mackay South Mackay
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

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 South Mackay

  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Mackay State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Patrick's College - Mercy Campus Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

East Mackay South Mackay
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 5 18
Childcare 4 3
GPs 1 0
Beaches 2 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

East Mackay South Mackay
Walkability score 74/100 49/100
Distance to Brisbane 968 km 966.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 665 min 664 min
Public transport score 44/100
Bus
 59/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 20.8
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 South Mackay
Car (driver) 85.0% / 83.4%
East Mackay — Car (driver): 85.0% South Mackay — Car (driver): 83.4%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 7.1%
East Mackay — Car (passenger): 5.8% South Mackay — Car (passenger): 7.1%
Worked from Home 4.9% / 3.9%
East Mackay — Worked from Home: 4.9% South Mackay — Worked from Home: 3.9%
Walked Only 1.3% / 2.3%
East Mackay — Walked Only: 1.3% South Mackay — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus 1.8% / 1.6%
East Mackay — Bus: 1.8% South Mackay — Bus: 1.6%

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

Setting

East Mackay South Mackay
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 660 m
556 m to a named beach
 1.7 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

East Mackay South Mackay
Connectivity score 100/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,806 premises
 98%
3,418 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

East Mackay South 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 South 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

South Mackay

Affordable Coastal Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Mackay

East Mackay vs Mackay East Mackay vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with South Mackay

South Mackay vs West Mackay South Mackay vs Mackay South Mackay vs Paget South Mackay vs Coral Sea
Full data on East Mackay Full data on South Mackay
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or