Question 1

Is Mackay a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Mackay is the regional coastal centre built around the Pioneer River and a working harbour, with a riverfront foreshore, botanic gardens and a compact city spine of shops, cafes and services. It attracts a broad mix of residents — from couples and families to professionals working in agriculture, mining support and regional services, and people seeking a relaxed coastal lifestyle. Housing ranges from traditional timber Queenslander homes on tree-lined streets to brick suburban houses and low-rise apartments closer to the river.

About 4,026 people live in Mackay, with a median age of 38 and a median household income of $1,239 a week. The household mix is weighted towards couples without children, with a notable share of couple families with children and one-parent families, and most homes are rented (67.8% rented, 32.2% owner-occupied). Schools, health services and regional transport links make it a practical hub for North Queensland living, and planned hospital, waterfront and transport projects mean there is ongoing local investment to watch. Whether Mackay suits you comes down to the housing type and services you prefer.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Mackay?

Accepted Answer

Housing costs in Mackay 4740 sit above what local households were earning at the last Census. A house rent of $528 a week would take about 42.6% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and a unit rent of $500 a week would take about 40.4%—both a large share of income. On the buying side, the median house price of $512,500 is about 8.0 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census, while the median unit price of $437,000 is about 6.8 times that annual income, which also sits well above local incomes. Whether that feels expensive will depend on your own circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Mackay a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Both house and unit values rose sharply in Mackay over the past 12 months, with house values up 20.8% and unit values up 19.5%. Rents also increased, though by smaller amounts: house rents rose 5.6% (a solid increase) while unit rents rose 11.1% (a strong rise). The figures show capital growth was the bigger mover this year, while unit rental income grew faster than house rental income, so units delivered the stronger rent-side performance even as both property types recorded large value gains.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$513K	$437K
Change in value Past 12 months	20.8%	19.5%
Sold Past 3 months	16	30
Median days on market Past 12 months	33	20
Average rent Past 12 months	$528	$500
Change in rent Past 12 months	5.6%	11.1%

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