South Mackay vs West Mackay

South Mackay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in West Mackay. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses.

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 7)
  • carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 85/100)
  • But West Mackay has more childcare (8 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

South Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($399,500 vs $442,500)

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

West Mackay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 49/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (964.2 km vs 966.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

West Mackay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 49/100)
  • But South Mackay carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 85/100)

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

Investors

West Mackay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.5% vs 4.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

South Mackay 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.

South Mackay 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.

South Mackay West Mackay
Walkability 49 / 81
South Mackay — Walkability: 49/100 West Mackay — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 30 / 15
South Mackay — Safety: 30/100 West Mackay — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
South Mackay — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Mackay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West Mackay has higher household incomes ($88,192 vs $76,804); West Mackay rents higher ($320/wk vs $290/wk).

South Mackay West Mackay
Population 6,918
+6% vs other
 6,536
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.2% +5.2%
Median age 39 42
Median household income $76,804/yr $88,192/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $320/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Mackay West Mackay
0-4 6.1% / 5.2%
South Mackay — 0-4: 6.1% West Mackay — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 12.2% / 11.6%
South Mackay — 5-14: 12.2% West Mackay — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.9% / 4.9%
South Mackay — 15-19: 5.9% West Mackay — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 6.0% / 6.3%
South Mackay — 20-24: 6.0% West Mackay — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 13.8% / 12.0%
South Mackay — 25-34: 13.8% West Mackay — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 12.8% / 13.0%
South Mackay — 35-44: 12.8% West Mackay — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 12.4% / 13.2%
South Mackay — 45-54: 12.4% West Mackay — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 13.5% / 12.3%
South Mackay — 55-64: 13.5% West Mackay — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 9.7% / 9.7%
South Mackay — 65-74: 9.7% West Mackay — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 5.6% / 6.6%
South Mackay — 75-84: 5.6% West Mackay — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 2.0% / 5.4%
South Mackay — 85+: 2.0% West Mackay — 85+: 5.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
West Mackay 44.2% lone person
West Mackay — Lone Person: 44.2% West Mackay — Couple Families: 34.5% West Mackay — One Parent Families: 14.4% West Mackay — Group Household: 5.8% West Mackay — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Mackay 39.1% renting
South Mackay — Owned Outright: 27.9% South Mackay — Mortgage: 33.0% South Mackay — Renting: 39.1%
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.

South Mackay West Mackay
Philippines 4.8% / 4.1%
South Mackay — Philippines: 4.8% West Mackay — Philippines: 4.1%
New Zealand 2.6% / 1.9%
South Mackay — New Zealand: 2.6% West Mackay — New Zealand: 1.9%
England 1.4% / 1.5%
South Mackay — England: 1.4% West Mackay — England: 1.5%
India 0.5% / 0.9%
South Mackay — India: 0.5% West Mackay — India: 0.9%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.5%
South Mackay — South Africa: 0.5% West Mackay — South Africa: 0.5%

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

Qualifications

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

South Mackay West Mackay
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 18.2%
South Mackay — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% West Mackay — Certificate III & IV: 18.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.0% / 10.4%
South Mackay — Bachelor Degree: 7.0% West Mackay — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 5.6%
South Mackay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% West Mackay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 1.9%
South Mackay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% West Mackay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.1%
South Mackay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% West Mackay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

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

South Mackay West Mackay
Median house price $605,000 $630,250
Median unit price $399,500 $442,500
Median land price — $437,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 58 sales
 29 days
from 65 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.

South Mackay West Mackay
2 bed $400K / $435K
South Mackay — 2 bed: $400K (28 sales) West Mackay — 2 bed: $435K (19 sales)

28 vs 19 sales

3 bed $418K / $490K
South Mackay — 3 bed: $418K (11 sales) West Mackay — 3 bed: $490K (11 sales)

11 vs 11 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.

South Mackay West Mackay
2 bed $550K / $520K
South Mackay — 2 bed: $550K (27 sales) West Mackay — 2 bed: $520K (29 sales)

27 vs 29 sales

3 bed $600K / $620K
South Mackay — 3 bed: $600K (138 sales) West Mackay — 3 bed: $620K (85 sales)

138 vs 85 sales

4 bed $670K / $720K
South Mackay — 4 bed: $670K (38 sales) West Mackay — 4 bed: $720K (43 sales)

38 vs 43 sales

5 bed $640K / $860K
South Mackay — 5 bed: $640K (7 sales) West Mackay — 5 bed: $860K (11 sales)

7 vs 11 sales

Development activity

South Mackay 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.

South Mackay West Mackay
Houses 4.9%
$650/wk on $684K
 5.5%
$720/wk on $675K
Units 6.9%
$510/wk on $384K
 7.1%
$548/wk on $399K

Ranking within QLD

South Mackay West Mackay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 48% of QLD —
Schools Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 41% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD

Liveability

West Mackay is more walkable (81 vs 49).

South Mackay West Mackay
Grade C B
Score 48/100 52/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

West Mackay carries more crime risk (85 vs 70).

South Mackay West Mackay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
70/100
 High
85/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
89/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

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

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

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

South Mackay West Mackay
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 18 7
Childcare 3 8
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 3
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 0 5

Mobility

South Mackay sits further from the CBD (966.3 km vs 964.2 km).

South Mackay West Mackay
Walkability score 49/100 81/100
Distance to Brisbane 966.3 km 964.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 664 min 660 min
Public transport score 59/100
Bus
 56/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 20.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.2
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.

South Mackay West Mackay
Car (driver) 83.4% / 82.2%
South Mackay — Car (driver): 83.4% West Mackay — Car (driver): 82.2%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 6.3%
South Mackay — Car (passenger): 7.1% West Mackay — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Worked from Home 3.9% / 4.7%
South Mackay — Worked from Home: 3.9% West Mackay — Worked from Home: 4.7%
Walked Only 2.3% / 4.2%
South Mackay — Walked Only: 2.3% West Mackay — Walked Only: 4.2%
Bicycle 1.6% / 1.6%
South Mackay — Bicycle: 1.6% West Mackay — Bicycle: 1.6%
Bus 1.6% / 0.9%
South Mackay — Bus: 1.6% West Mackay — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.4%).

Setting

South Mackay West Mackay
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 4.1 km
4.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

South Mackay West Mackay
Connectivity score 99/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 98%
3,418 premises
 93%
3,303 premises

Climate

South Mackay 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)

South Mackay 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

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

Federal electorate

South Mackay West 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

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

Tags

South Mackay

Affordable Coastal Parks Townhouses

West Mackay

Affordable Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Mackay

South Mackay vs Mackay South Mackay vs East Mackay South Mackay vs Paget South Mackay vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with West Mackay

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