Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in West Mackay

West Mackay sits on the western banks of the Pioneer River and has a practical, lived-in feel. The housing mix ranges from older timber Queenslander homes and brick houses to more recent infill, and tree-lined streets, riverfront parks and sports fields give plenty of outdoor space. Local shops, schools and neighbourhood services are within easy reach, and main roads and public transport links connect residents to the Mackay CBD, which makes it a suburb that suits families and people who work in the city or nearby industrial areas.

The community is largely made up of families, the suburb is home to 6,536 people with a median age of 42, and most homes are owner-occupied (64.4%). West Mackay is the focus of a major flood-resilience project to extend and upgrade the Pioneer River levee along its southern bank, and nearby Mackay Base Hospital is planning a significant expansion including 128 additional beds and new children’s and women’s health facilities. Whether it suits you will depend on whether that mix of established housing, river reserves and local services matches what you’re after.

On these figures for West Mackay, buying a house at a median price of $710,500 works out to about 8.1 times a typical local household's annual income as recorded at the most recent Census, which puts buying well above what people locally earned at that Census. Renting looks less stretched: an average house rent of $650 a week would take about 38.3% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, while unit rent of $515 a week would take about 30.3%. On the figures, renting — and particularly renting a unit — represents a smaller share of local household income than buying a house does.

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

Unit values in West Mackay jumped 31.6% over the past year, a strong rise in what a unit is worth. Unit rents rose 8.4% in the same period, a solid increase in the rent a unit earns. House values also rose, up 14.5% over the year, a strong increase, while house rents increased 3.2%, a modest rise.

For someone weighing West Mackay as an investment, the value figures point to capital growth over the year while the rent figures show how rental income moved. Units have outpaced houses both on price growth and on rent growth this year, so the units side was the stronger performer over the past 12 months. Whether that pattern fits your plans depends on your goals and circumstances.

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.