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Mackay, Australia

Queensland · Australia

Mackay is a large city in Queensland, Australia with a population of 121,691. Elevation: 36 ft (11 m). Average temperature: 70°F (21°C).

3.0 /5.0
B Good
121,691 Population 410/sq mi density
36 ft Elevation 11 meters
70°F Avg Temperature 21°C
67.4 in Annual Rain
Australia / Brisbane Timezone
$28,223 Median Income
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.4 / 5.0
$28,223 median income, 7.2% unemployment
B+
Affordability
3.6 / 5.0
$152,000 home value, $760/mo rent

Discover Mackay, Australia

Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.

Full City Profile

People

Population121,691
Median Age38.0 yrs
Density410/mi²

Economy

C
Median Income$28,223
Per Capita$28,223
Unemployment7.2%

Housing

B+
Home Value$152,000
Rent$760
Ownership32.2%
Housing Units48,676

Climate

Avg Temp70°F (21°C)
Rain67.4 in/yr
Sunny Days336/yr
Elevation36 ft (11 m)
Population121,691
Population Density410 / sq mi
Elevation36 ft (11 m)
Coordinates-21.1535°, 149.1655°
TimezoneAustralia/Brisbane
Country🇦🇺 Australia
State / ProvinceQueensland
Average Temperature70°F (21°C)
January Average75°F (24°C)
July Average63°F (17°C)
Annual Precipitation67.4 inches (1,712 mm)
Annual Snowfall0.0 inches (0 cm)
Median Household Income$28,223
Median Age38.0 years

About Mackay

Mackay is a large city in Australia (Queensland) with a population of 121,691. The city sits at an elevation of 36 feet (11 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 70°F (21°C). Temperatures range from 75°F in January to 63°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 67.4 inches. The timezone is Australia/Brisbane.

Mackay has a population of 121,691 with a density of 410 people per square mile, spread across 297.0 square miles. The median age is 38.0 years, 2% younger than the national median of 38.9.

Population

121,691
Total Population
410
People / sq mi
38.0yrs
Median Age
2% below Australia avg
297.0mi²
Land Area

Language Spoken at Home

Other Languages 100.0%

Social Characteristics

Mackay vs Australia Average

The median household income in Mackay is $28,223, which is 62% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $28,223 (below the $39,052 national figure). The average weekly wage is $543, 62% lower than the U.S. average. The unemployment rate is 7.2% (above the 3.6% US average). The area has 68 business establishments, including 26 restaurants.

Income: Mackay vs Australia

Commute Mode

Income

Median HH Income$28,223
62% below Australia avg
Per Capita Income$28,223
Avg Weekly Wage$543

Employment & Poverty

Unemployment7.2%
100% above Australia avg
Establishments (County)68

Business (County)

Restaurants26
Healthcare14
Retail11

Tax & Cost of Living

Commute & Transportation

Walkability

The median home value in Mackay is $152,000, 46% below the national median of $281,900. Monthly rent averages $760 (35% below the national average of $1,163). 32.2% of housing units are owner-occupied (below the 65.4% national rate). There are 48,676 total housing units in the city. The home price-to-income ratio is 5.4x, above the traditionally affordable threshold of 3-4x.

Home Value Sources

Ownership Split

Home Values

Census Median$152,000
46% below Australia avg

Real Estate Market (Redfin)

Rental Costs

Census Median Rent$760
35% below Australia avg

Ownership & Property

Homeownership32.2%
Owner-Occupied32.2%
Renter-Occupied67.8%
Housing Units48,676

Property Tax

Climate in Mackay

Mackay has an average annual temperature of 23.2°C (74°F). The hottest month is Jan (27.2°C), the coldest is Jul (17.7°C). Average annual precipitation is 1510 mm.

Month Avg °C / °F Min / Max °C Rain (mm)
Jan 27.2°C / 81°F 24° / 30.5° 264.2
Feb 27°C / 81°F 23.8° / 30.1° 321.4
Mar 25.8°C / 78°F 22.7° / 29° 254.3
Apr 23.7°C / 75°F 20.5° / 26.9° 139.2
May 21°C / 70°F 17.5° / 24.4° 95.7
Jun 18.6°C / 65°F 14.9° / 22.2° 56.9
Jul 17.7°C / 64°F 13.7° / 21.7° 31.6
Aug 18.7°C / 66°F 14.4° / 23° 32.4
Sep 21.5°C / 71°F 17.2° / 25.9° 23.0
Oct 24°C / 75°F 19.9° / 28.1° 30.3
Nov 25.8°C / 78°F 21.9° / 29.7° 92.0
Dec 27°C / 81°F 23.3° / 30.7° 169.3
Mackay enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 70°F (21°C). Winters average 75°F in January while summers reach 63°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 336 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 67.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 36 feet, near sea level.

Temperature

75°F Jan (24°C) 63°F Jul (17°C)
Annual Average70.2°F
30% above Australia avg
January Average75°F (24°C)
July Average63°F (17°C)
Sunny Days336 days/yr

Geography

Elevation36 ft (11 m)
Area297.0 sq mi (769.3 km²)
Population Density410/sq mi
Coordinates-21.1535°N, 149.1655°W
TimezoneAustralia/Brisbane

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 67.4"
77% above Australia avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Feb) 15.04"
Driest Month (Sep) 0.94"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

1 earthquake (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M3.6 on Apr 12, 2002.

Apr 12, 2002 35 km NNW of Moranbah, Australia M3.6 146 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

8 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Debbie (2017).

Year Name Category Closest
2017 Debbie Category 4 109 km
2015 Marcia Category 4 139 km
2010 Ului Category 1 107 km
2009 Hamish Category 4 189 km
1996 Celeste Category 1 172 km
1989 Aivu Category 3 248 km
1983 Elinor Category 1 170 km
1980 Simon Category 3 206 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 75°F (24°C) 11.7 in
February 80°F (26°C) 15.0 in Wettest
March 78°F (26°C) 10.2 in
April 74°F (24°C) 5.5 in
May 70°F (21°C) 4.1 in
June 65°F (18°C) 1.9 in
July 63°F (17°C) 1.6 in Coldest
August 65°F (18°C) 1.3 in
September 70°F (21°C) 0.9 in Driest
October 75°F (24°C) 2.2 in
November 78°F (26°C) 4.1 in
December 80°F (27°C) 7.5 in Warmest

Mackay has a seasonal temperature swing of 17°F / from 63°F in July to 80°F in December. Total annual precipitation is 66.0 inches, with February being the wettest month (15.0") and September the driest (0.9").

View full weather details →

Colleges & Universities in Mackay

Institution Type Founded Website
Central Queensland University Mackay City College
Central Queensland University Mackay Ooralea University
James Cook University - Mackay Campus University
MCC Agricultural Department College
Trade Training Centre College

Schools in Mackay

1 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).

School Level Enrollment Teachers Student/Teacher
Mackay West State School - Junior Campus
View full schools details →

Radio Stations near Mackay

1 stations within ~55 km.

Station Genre Quality
4MK 1026 AM Mackay mackay, oldies AAC+ 64 kbps

Libraries in Mackay

NameAddressStaffAnnual VisitsCirculationCollectionPrograms
Dudley Denny City Library0.0
Gordon White Library0.0
Walkerston Library0.0

Farmers Markets in Mackay

NameAddressSeasonHoursOrganicWebsite
Victoria Street Markets

Hotels in Mackay

1 hotels within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Casa Nostra Motel Mackay

Restaurants in Mackay

2 restaurants within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Pizza Hut
Souths Suburban Bowles Club

Veterinaries in Mackay

1 veterinaries within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

AU #2391537510

Gas Stations in Mackay

2 gas stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Caltex Nebo Road
Shell Fourways

Airports Near Mackay

12 airports within the area.

AirportIATAType
Mackay AirportMKYMedium Airport
Proserpine Whitsunday Coast AirportPPPMedium Airport
Brampton Island AirportBMPSmall Airport
KESWICK ISLAND AIRSTRIPSmall Airport
Lakeside AirparkSmall Airport
Lindeman Island AirportLDCSmall Airport
Midge PointSmall Airport
Nebo AirstripSmall Airport
Palmyra AirstripSmall Airport
temple island airstripSmall Airport
Tierawoomba Homestead AirportSmall Airport
Turtle Park AirstripSmall Airport

Post Offices in Mackay

1 post offices.

Post OfficeAddress
Mackay West Mail Centre

Explore Near Mackay

UFO Sightings
2
Reported UFO sightings from the National UFO Reporting Center database
View all →

Quick Facts

Timezone
Australia/Brisbane

Around Mackay

Places within 5 km radius — OpenStreetMap data

Schools 23
Hospitals 4
Pharmacies 10
Restaurants 26
Cafes 9
Bars 2
Supermarkets 11
Banks 4
Hotels 2
Libraries 1
Parks 243
Police Stations 2
Fire Stations 1
Places of Worship 16

Things to See Near Mackay

22 places within 15 km

⚱️ Archaeological Sites (3)
  • • Old Balnagowan State School
  • • Old Nindaroo School
  • • Old Pleystowe State School
🏖️ Beaches (9)
  • • Blacks Beach
  • • Bucasia Beach
  • • Eimeo Beach
  • • Far Beach
  • • Harbour Beach
  • + 4 more
⛰️ Peaks (5)
  • • Black Mountain
  • • Falls Hill
  • • Mount Bassett
  • • Mount Oscar
  • • Radio Hill
🎢 Theme Parks (1)
  • • Blue Water Quay
🌄 Viewpoints (4)
  • • Lamberts Lookout
  • • Mount Bassett Lookout
  • • Shady Lagoon
  • • Sunny Lagoon

🇦🇺 About Australia

Capital Canberra
Population 24,992,369
Area 7,686,850 km²
GDP (USD) $1,734,451,264,656
GDP per capita $65,058
HDI 0.946
Life expectancy 83.1 years
Internet users 97.1%
Urban population 87.5%
Currency AUD (Dollar)
Languages English
Calling code +61
TLD .au
Driving side left

Public Holidays in Australia

25 public holidays this year

Date Holiday Local Name
Jan 1 New Year's Day New Year's Day
Jan 26 Australia Day Australia Day
Mar 2 Labour Day Labour Day
Mar 9 Adelaide Cup Day Adelaide Cup Day
Mar 9 Canberra Day Canberra Day
Mar 9 Eight Hours Day Eight Hours Day
Mar 9 Labour Day Labour Day
Apr 3 Good Friday Good Friday
Apr 4 Holy Saturday Easter Eve
Apr 5 Easter Sunday Easter Sunday
Apr 6 Easter Monday Easter Monday
Apr 25 Anzac Day Anzac Day
Apr 27 Anzac Day Anzac Day
May 4 Labour Day Labour Day
May 4 May Day May Day
Jun 1 Reconciliation Day Reconciliation Day
Jun 1 Western Australia Day Western Australia Day
Jun 8 King's Birthday King's Birthday
Aug 3 Picnic Day Picnic Day
Sep 28 King's Birthday King's Birthday
Oct 5 King's Birthday King's Birthday
Oct 5 Labour Day Labour Day
Nov 3 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup
Dec 25 Christmas Day Christmas Day
Dec 28 St. Stephen's Day Boxing Day

Download Full City Report

Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Mackay.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mackay

What is the population of Mackay?

Mackay has a population of 121,691 residents and is located in Australia. The population density is 410 people per square mile, spread across 297.0 square miles. The median age of residents is 38.0 years.

Is Mackay expensive to live in?

The median household income is $28,223, 62% below the national average of $75,149. The median home value is $152,000 (46% below the U.S. median). Renters pay a median of $760 per month, below the national average of $1,163. The home price-to-income ratio is 5.4x, which means housing is a stretch relative to local earnings.

What is the weather like in Mackay?

Mackay enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 70°F (21°C). Winter temperatures average 75°F in January, while summers reach an average of 63°F in July. The area receives 336 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 67.4 inches.

How is the job market in Mackay?

The unemployment rate in Mackay is 7.2%, somewhat above the national average of 3.6%. Job seekers may face moderate competition. The average weekly wage is $543. There are 68 business establishments in the area, including 26 restaurants and food service locations.

How much does housing cost in Mackay?

The median home value in Mackay is $152,000. For renters, the median monthly rent is $760. The homeownership rate is 32.2%.

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