Racecourse vs West Mackay

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Racecourse, most households are couple families. On these figures, Racecourse tends to suit couples, while West Mackay suits 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

West Mackay

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Racecourse is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 49%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

West Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 9/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

West Mackay

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 9/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 14%)

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

Investors

West Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.2% vs -1.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Racecourse and West 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.

Racecourse West 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.

Racecourse West Mackay
Walkability 9 / 81
Racecourse — Walkability: 9/100 West Mackay — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 10 / 15
Racecourse — Safety: 10/100 West Mackay — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Racecourse — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Mackay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West Mackay has more residents (6,536 vs 181).

Racecourse West Mackay
Population 181 6,536
+3511% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.6% +5.2%
Median age 42
same for both
Median household income $96,200/yr
+8% vs other
 $88,192/yr
Median weekly rent $345/wk
+7% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Racecourse West Mackay
0-4 7.2% / 5.2%
Racecourse — 0-4: 7.2% West Mackay — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 13.3% / 11.6%
Racecourse — 5-14: 13.3% West Mackay — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 7.2% / 4.9%
Racecourse — 15-19: 7.2% West Mackay — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 2.2% / 6.3%
Racecourse — 20-24: 2.2% West Mackay — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 9.9% / 12.0%
Racecourse — 25-34: 9.9% West Mackay — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 13.8% / 13.0%
Racecourse — 35-44: 13.8% West Mackay — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 13.3% / 13.2%
Racecourse — 45-54: 13.3% West Mackay — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 18.2% / 12.3%
Racecourse — 55-64: 18.2% West Mackay — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 7.2% / 9.7%
Racecourse — 65-74: 7.2% West Mackay — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 1.7% / 6.6%
Racecourse — 75-84: 1.7% West Mackay — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 5.0% / 5.4%
Racecourse — 85+: 5.0% West Mackay — 85+: 5.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Racecourse 56.8% couple families
Racecourse — Couple Families: 56.8% Racecourse — Lone Person: 27.0% Racecourse — One Parent Families: 16.2% Racecourse — Group Household: 0.0% Racecourse — Other Families: 0.0%
West Mackay 34.5% couple families
West Mackay — Couple Families: 34.5% West Mackay — Lone Person: 44.2% West Mackay — One Parent Families: 14.4% West Mackay — Group Household: 5.8% West Mackay — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Racecourse 27.3% renting
Racecourse — Owned Outright: 43.6% Racecourse — Mortgage: 29.1% Racecourse — Renting: 27.3%
West Mackay 35.6% renting
West Mackay — Owned Outright: 30.4% West Mackay — Mortgage: 34.0% West Mackay — Renting: 35.6%
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.

Racecourse West Mackay
New Zealand 3.3% / 1.9%
Racecourse — New Zealand: 3.3% West Mackay — New Zealand: 1.9%
Philippines — / 4.1%
Racecourse — Philippines: not among its largest West Mackay — Philippines: 4.1%
England — / 1.5%
Racecourse — England: not among its largest West Mackay — England: 1.5%
India — / 0.9%
Racecourse — India: not among its largest West Mackay — India: 0.9%
South Africa — / 0.5%
Racecourse — South Africa: not among its largest West Mackay — South Africa: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

Qualifications

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

Racecourse West Mackay
Certificate III & IV 17.7% / 18.2%
Racecourse — Certificate III & IV: 17.7% West Mackay — Certificate III & IV: 18.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.7% / 10.4%
Racecourse — Bachelor Degree: 7.7% West Mackay — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.4% / 5.6%
Racecourse — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.4% West Mackay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 1.9%
Racecourse — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% West Mackay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.1%
Racecourse — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest West Mackay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Racecourse 100.0% houses
Racecourse — Houses: 100.0% Racecourse — Townhouses: 0.0% Racecourse — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
West Mackay 77.5% houses
West Mackay — Houses: 77.5% West Mackay — Townhouses: 19.4% West Mackay — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Racecourse West Mackay
Median house price — $630,250
Median unit price — $442,500
Median land price — $437,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 29 days
from 65 sales

Development activity

Racecourse West 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.

Racecourse West Mackay
Houses — 5.5%
$720/wk on $675K
Units — 7.1%
$548/wk on $399K

Ranking within QLD

Racecourse West Mackay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 69% of QLD —
Schools — Higher than 75% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 40% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 97% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 96% of QLD

Liveability

West Mackay is more walkable (81 vs 9).

Racecourse West Mackay
Grade — B
Score — 52/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Racecourse West Mackay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 High
85/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Racecourse

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in West Mackay

  • Catherine McAuley College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Mackay West State School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Racecourse West Mackay
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 3
Parks & reserves 0 7
Childcare 0 8
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 5
same for both

Mobility

Racecourse West Mackay
Walkability score 9/100 81/100
Distance to Brisbane 963.8 km 964.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 659 min 660 min
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.

Racecourse West Mackay
Car (driver) 78.0% / 82.2%
Racecourse — Car (driver): 78.0% West Mackay — Car (driver): 82.2%
Worked from Home 12.2% / 4.7%
Racecourse — Worked from Home: 12.2% West Mackay — Worked from Home: 4.7%
Car (passenger) 9.8% / 6.3%
Racecourse — Car (passenger): 9.8% West Mackay — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only — / 4.2%
Racecourse — Walked Only: not among its largest West Mackay — Walked Only: 4.2%
Bicycle — / 1.6%
Racecourse — Bicycle: not among its largest West Mackay — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.2%).

Setting

Racecourse West Mackay
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.1 km 4.1 km
4.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Racecourse West Mackay
Connectivity score 64/100 97/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
85 premises
 93%
3,303 premises

Climate

Racecourse West 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Racecourse West Mackay
Division Capricornia Dawson
Member Michelle Landry Andrew Willcox
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Racecourse

Quiet River Rural

West Mackay

Affordable Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Racecourse

Racecourse vs Ooralea Racecourse vs Bakers Creek Racecourse vs Erakala Racecourse vs Te Kowai

Other comparisons with West Mackay

West Mackay vs South Mackay West Mackay vs North Mackay West Mackay vs Mount Pleasant West Mackay vs Mackay West Mackay vs Ooralea West Mackay vs Paget
Full data on Racecourse Full data on West 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.

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