West Mackay vs Mackay

West Mackay (median $458,500) is roughly 2% cheaper to buy into than Mackay ($466,000).

Buying in West Mackay or Mackay?

The free buying guide: what you can really spend, the schemes and stamp duty in your state, inspecting, and making the offer.
Get the free buying guide

Selling in West Mackay? The free selling guide

West Mackay and Mackay side by side

MeasureWest MackayMackay
Price and market
Median house$458,500$466,000
Median unit$325,000$301,000
Renting
House rent$700/wk$340/wk
Unit rent$550/wk$480/wk
Owner occupied62.0%31.0%
Renter occupied34.0%64.0%
Schools
Schools nearby2020
Average ICSEA982982
Lifestyle and people
Walk score16100
Transit score00
Bike score100100
Population6,5364,026
Median age4238
Climate
Annual rainfall1487 mm1507 mm
Mean max, January30.8°C30.7°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 (16/100 vs 100/100 ), 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).

West Mackay vs Mackay: common questions

Is West Mackay or 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, West Mackay or 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, West Mackay or 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.