Mackay vs West Mackay
West Mackay (median $458,500) is roughly 2% cheaper to buy into than Mackay ($466,000).
Buying in Mackay or West Mackay?
Selling in Mackay? The free selling guide
Mackay and West Mackay side by side
| Measure | Mackay | West Mackay |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $466,000 | $458,500 |
| Median unit | $301,000 | $325,000 |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $340/wk | $700/wk |
| Unit rent | $480/wk | $550/wk |
| Owner occupied | 31.0% | 62.0% |
| Renter occupied | 64.0% | 34.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 982 | 982 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 100 | 16 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 4,026 | 6,536 |
| Median age | 38 | 42 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1507 mm | 1487 mm |
| Mean max, January | 30.7°C | 30.8°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Mackay scores higher on walkability (100/100 vs 16/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. West Mackay skews owner-occupied (62%), Mackay runs more rental-dense (31% owner).
- For buyers
- West Mackay is the lower entry point at $458,500 median, 2% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- West Mackay offers the higher gross rental yield (7.94% vs 3.79%), favouring cash-flow investors.
- For families
- West Mackay has a heavier family-household mix (63% vs 46%), which typically signals stronger demand for family-amenable infrastructure (parks, schools, supermarkets).
Mackay vs West Mackay: common questions
Is Mackay or West Mackay cheaper to buy in?
West Mackay has the lower median house price at $458,500, roughly 2% below Mackay ($466,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which is more walkable, Mackay or West Mackay?
Mackay scores 100/100 on walkability vs 16/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Mackay or West Mackay?
Gross rental yield on houses is 7.94% in West Mackay vs 3.79% in Mackay. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
Keep comparing
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