South Mackay, QLD 4740
South Mackay property market
South Mackay's busiest market is house sales, but only just, with 129 sales (down 16.8%) at around $636k (up 15.3%) as of July 2026, taking about 26 days to sell (up a lot from 9 days last year), mostly 3-bedroom (around two-thirds).
House rentals sit just behind, with 83 leases (up 9.2%) at $650 a week (up 4.8%), renting out in about 21 days (up from 19 days last year), mostly 3-bedroom (around two-thirds). Rounding it out, 71 unit rentals at $495 a week (up), with rents growing faster than most unit rental markets nationally. 41 unit sales at around $446k (among the country's strongest unit price gains).
Who lives hereA middle-income, renter-heavy, mixed-age suburb, with a strong trades and blue-collar workforce.
House covers houses, duplexes, semi-detached and terraces; Unit covers apartments, units, townhouses and villas.
South Mackay demographics & population
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) 2021 · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
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InsideWho lives here · What homes cost to buy & rent · How fast homes are selling · How much is for sale or rent · How it compares to nearby suburbs · Schools nearby
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Who lives in South Mackay?
The age structure, household make-up, and cultural fabric of the people who call this suburb home.
Share of all residents by 5-year band · hover a band for the count + split
A strongly multicultural community with deep migrant heritage.
2020–21 understated — COVID border closures.
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Housing & affordability in South Mackay
What it costs to live here, who owns versus rents, and the shape of the housing stock.
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Income & employment in South Mackay
Incomes, employment, and the occupation mix of the people who live here.
A typical household earns about 1.7× the typical individual here.
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Getting around South Mackay
How people get to work, and how car-dependent the suburb is — the clearest tell of inner-urban versus outer-suburban living.
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Education · ACARA My School 2025
Schools in and around South Mackay
2 schools inside South Mackay, plus the closest options around it. Families can choose from 1 primary school in South Mackay and its surrounds, and 1 high school covering the secondary years. Distances are straight-line from the suburb centre and are not enrolment catchments — always confirm zones with the school.
ICSEA is ACARA’s official measure of a school’s socio-educational advantage — based mainly on parents’ education and occupation, plus the school’s location and student mix.
- Within South Mackay · 2Order by
- 1St Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolCatholic · Primary · Co-ed · Years Prep-6 · Within suburbState RankTop 50%English★★★★★★★★★★Maths★★★★★★★★★★Students391Multilingual50%ICSEA Rank50th
- 2Mackay State High SchoolGovernment · Secondary · Co-ed · Years 7-12 · Within suburbState Rank—English—Maths—Students391Multilingual50%ICSEA Rank50th
Why are some State Rank and star ratings blank? Schools can choose not to publish their results. In practice, schools that score well above their state average almost always publish theirs — so a blank rating more often reflects a school opting out than a top result being hidden. Academic results also tend to rise with ICSEA Rank, so higher-ICSEA schools more often carry a strong State Rank as well.
School profile and ICSEA data sourced from ACARA — © Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (data year 2025) · State Rank & star columns are Micromarkets-compiled academic ratings from publicly available school results · Distances are straight-line from the suburb centre, not catchments.
Turnover
How settled or transient the community is — and where newcomers came from.
South Mackay median house price & rent
Headline price, rent, yield and time on market for South Mackay — choose a property type and size below.
House & unit prices by bedroom
Every segment this suburb tracks — sales and rentals side by side, ranked by total activity over the last twelve months.
South Mackay property growth
Where each segment sits against its peers in the chosen geography — past the midline means it's outperforming the rest.
Market demandHow fast this market is moving — a velocity index built from trailing-year transaction volume and median days on market. Strong volume lifts the score; days on market drags it down, with the drag growing sharply once listings start lingering. Ranked against peers in the chosen geography.
Houses
Units
Buying vs renting in South Mackay
What it costs each week to own a property versus renting the same one — positive means buying carries the premium, negative means rent covers the mortgage.
How strong is demand, and which way is it heading?
Two questions on one chart — how strong demand is right now, and which way it's heading year-on-year.
Sales market velocity
South Mackay against the neighbourhood
Eight diagnostic views cutting the data a different way each time — South Mackay in blue, peers in colour.
How fast — and is it getting faster?
Housing supply & months of stock
How long current listings would take to clear at the recent rate of sales or leases. Critical shortage and Oversupply only fire at the genuine tails of the national distribution — sales tip in under 0.7 months, rentals far faster, under 0.3.
Sales market
| Segment | Band | Months of supply left | YoYYoY change12-month change in months of supply. Down means stock is tightening (fewer months than a year ago); up means stock is loosening. | ListedListedActive listings in this segment right now, derived from months of supply multiplied by the recent transaction rate. | SoldSold (last year)Total sold transactions completed in this segment over the last 12 months. | Per monthPer monthAverage monthly absorption — how many properties are sold each month in this segment, over the last 12 months. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced | 2.7 | ▲ +2.7 | 5 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Loose | 4.0 | ▲ +3.1 | 8 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Loose | 5.5 | ▲ +4.5 | 11 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Loose | 5.6 | ▲ +4.1 | 11 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Loose | 6.2 | ▲ +5.2 | 12 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Oversupply | 7.3 | — | 15 | 24 | 2.0 |
Rental market
| Segment | Band | Months of supply left | YoYYoY change12-month change in months of supply. Down means stock is tightening (fewer months than a year ago); up means stock is loosening. | ListedListedActive listings in this segment right now, derived from months of supply multiplied by the recent transaction rate. | LeasedLeased (last year)Total leased transactions completed in this segment over the last 12 months. | Per monthPer monthAverage monthly absorption — how many properties are leased each month in this segment, over the last 12 months. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National typical | 0.7 | ▼ -2.1 | 1 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Loose | 1.2 | ▼ -0.7 | 2 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Loose | 1.5 | ▼ -0.4 | 3 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Loose | 1.8 | ▲ +0.7 | 4 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Oversupply | 2.3 | ▲ +0.1 | 5 | 24 | 2.0 | |
| Oversupply | 2.5 | ▲ +1.3 | 5 | 24 | 2.0 |
Who's transacting — buyers or tenants?
Out of every property transaction in this suburb, what share are sales versus leases — each point a rolling twelve-month window.
South Mackay — Units & Houses, all bedrooms
South Mackay median house price & rent history
Each tape traces one metric across sixty months for the selected segment — every point a trailing twelve-month figure, matching the headline KPIs above.
Five-year summaryAs of Jun 2026, the median house sale price in South Mackay rose from $250k (Jul 2021) to $405k (Jun 2026) — +62.4% growth over five years — peaking at $474k between Feb 2025 and Jan 2026. Median house rent went from $341/wk to $553/wk (+62.2%) over the same period. For units, the median sale price rose from $139k to $355k (+155.5%), with rent up from $270/wk to $372/wk (+37.8%) over the same period.
Suburbs near South Mackay: prices compared
The nearest suburbs to South Mackay, ranked by distance — each lined up against South Mackay on the same measures, so the differences jump out at a glance.
Suburbs like South Mackay
Suburbs anywhere in QLD that behave like South Mackay — matched on price, growth, selling speed and demand, not on distance. A shortlist of markets that move the same way — including ones far away you'd never think to compare. (Want the suburbs right next door instead? See Nearby markets above.)
South Mackay vs West Mackay: the closest sales-market match trades at a median of $360k against South Mackay's $414k — about 13% lower, with homes selling in 15 days versus 24 days here.
Comparable sales markets to South Mackay: West Mackay median house price, Sarina property market, North Mackay property prices, Andergrove property growth and East Mackay property market.
South Mackay's closest rental-market twins: North Mackay market trends, West Mackay property market, Andergrove property growth, Sarina property growth and East Mackay property market. Each link opens that suburb's full market report.
Frequently asked · South Mackay
26 data-driven answers about South Mackay's property market — every one computed from the metrics above.
What things cost
Prices, rent, yield, ownership costWhat is the median house price in South Mackay?
#The median house price in South Mackay, QLD 4740 is $414k as of June 2026, based on 32 sales over the past 12 months. Houses there have moved +50.0% year-on-year. Prices vary by bedroom count, from compact two-bedroom homes to larger four-bedroom houses. See the bedroom-level breakdown below for 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom medians.
What is the median unit price in South Mackay?
#The median unit price in South Mackay, QLD 4740 is $414k as of June 2026, based on 32 sales over the past 12 months. Units have moved +50.0% year-on-year and currently trade at roughly 100% of the median house price.
How much does it cost to rent in South Mackay?
#The median weekly house rent in South Mackay is $399 as of June 2026, drawn from 21 leases over the past 12 months. Units rent for around $399 per week. House rents have moved +50.0% year-on-year. Current vacancy pressure is shown in the supply section above.
How much is rent for a 3 bedroom house in South Mackay?
#A 3 bedroom house in South Mackay rents for a median $399 per week as of June 2026, drawn from 21 leases over the past 12 months. Across other house sizes: 2-bedroom $399/week, 4-bedroom $399/week. Unit rents: 1-bedroom $399/week, 2-bedroom $399/week, 3-bedroom $399/week. Figures cover only segments with enough recent leases to be statistically meaningful; sparse segments are excluded. The segment breakdown covers rent, yield and days on market for every property type and bedroom count.
What is the gross rental yield in South Mackay?
#Gross rental yield in South Mackay is 4.92% for houses and 4.92% for units as of June 2026, compared with the QLD unit median of 2.45%. Gross yield is annual rent divided by purchase price — it doesn't account for ownership costs like council rates, strata, maintenance or vacancy.
How much is a 3 bedroom house in South Mackay?
#As of June 2026, South Mackay medians by bedroom count:
| Property | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houses | — | $414k | $414k | $414k | $414k |
| Units | $414k | $414k | $414k | — | $414k |
Figures cover only segments with enough recent transactions to be statistically meaningful; sparse segments are excluded.
What does it cost to own versus rent at the South Mackay median?
#At the median South Mackay house ($414k purchase, $399/week rent), weekly mortgage repayments sit at roughly $408 — about $9 more per week than renting. That gap is the ownership premium. For the median unit ($414k purchase, $399/week rent), repayments run about $408 per week. Figures assume 80% LVR, a 6.0% interest rate and a 30-year principal-and-interest loan.
How the market is moving
Speed, supply, growth, cycle phaseWhat are South Mackay's property market trends?
#South Mackay's property market trends to June 2026: house prices rose +50.0% year-on-year and units +50.0%; weekly house rents moved +50.0%; homes now sell in a median 24 days — slower than a year ago by 9; sales supply sits at 7.3 months (saturated). Read together — price, rent, selling speed and supply — they show which way the South Mackay market is leaning. The 5-year tape and demand cycle charts above plot the full trajectory.
What does the data say about South Mackay as an investment?
#As of June 2026 in South Mackay, house prices rose +50.0% over the year, gross rental yield is 4.92% against a QLD median of 2.58%, houses take a median 24 days to sell, sales supply is 7.3 months (saturated). Capital growth, rental yield, selling speed and supply are the signals investors weigh — but these figures describe the market, not a recommendation. This is data, not financial advice; always do your own research and consider a licensed adviser.
How quickly do houses sell in South Mackay?
#Houses in South Mackay sell in a median 24 days on market as of June 2026, with units clearing slightly similarly at 24 days. Days on market have lengthened by 9 days versus a year ago. Faster clearance typically coincides with stronger buyer demand and lower supply.
Is South Mackay a tight or loose property market right now?
#South Mackay's sales market sits at 7.3 months of supply for houses as of June 2026 — classified as Saturated (extreme oversupply) against the Australian distribution. Under 1.7 months is Severe (extreme shortage); over 4.5 months is Loose. The rental side is tighter still at 1.8 months of supply.
Have property prices in South Mackay gone up or down?
#House prices in South Mackay moved +50.0% over the 12 months to June 2026, while units moved +50.0%. The 5-year tape above plots the full monthly trajectory — showing where the market changed character rather than just crossing round numbers.
How active is the rental market in South Mackay?
#South Mackay's house rental market sits at 1.8 months of supply as of June 2026 — classified as Balanced, with 24 houses leased over the past 12 months. Units sit at 1.2 months. Tighter supply typically corresponds to faster letting and upward pressure on rents.
Where is South Mackay in its property market cycle?
#South Mackay's house market is currently in the 'in_demand_easing' phase as of June 2026 — combining above-median sales velocity nationally with year-on-year loosening in days on market. The demand cycle chart above plots all eight segments on the same demand-versus-direction axes.
How it compares
Vs state, vs nearby, vs popularHow does South Mackay compare to other QLD suburbs?
#South Mackay's median house price ($414k) is 37% below the QLD median ($655k) as of June 2026. On selling speed, houses clear in 24 days vs 18 days state median. On gross yield, South Mackay sits at 4.92% vs 2.58% state median.
How does South Mackay compare to neighbouring suburbs?
#South Mackay's most-similar nearby market is West Mackay (1.9 km away) with a median house price of $360k — about 13% cheaper. The Nearby and Similar markets sections above rank every peer within radius and by composite similarity across price, days on market, yield, ownership cost and cycle phase.
What's the most popular property type in South Mackay?
#The most-transacted segment in South Mackay over the 12 months to June 2026 is 2 bed houses with 24 sales. 3 bed houses come second at 24 sales. The buying-versus-renting section above breaks down the top segments with weekly mortgage, rent and ownership-cost detail.
How many properties were sold and leased in South Mackay last year?
#South Mackay recorded 24 house sales and 24 unit sales over the 12 months to June 2026 — a combined 48 transactions. On the rental side, 24 houses and 24 units were leased. Segments with statistically thin samples are excluded from displayed figures.
About the area
Population, income, who lives here, schoolsWhat postcode is South Mackay in?
#South Mackay is in postcode 4740, in the Mackay & Whitsundays region of QLD. Addresses there are written as South Mackay, QLD 4740.
What is the population of South Mackay?
#South Mackay, QLD 4740 is home to 5,419 residents (ABS Census 2021). The median resident age is 24, and the average household holds 1.7 people. The "Who lives here" section above breaks the community down by age, life stage and tenure.
What is the median household income in South Mackay?
#The median household in South Mackay earns $1k per week — roughly $63k a year (ABS Census 2021). Median personal income runs $710/week. Income, rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income context sits in the "Who lives here" section above.
What is the unemployment rate in South Mackay?
#The unemployment rate in South Mackay is 50.0% (ABS Census 2021). That sits right around the median for Australian suburbs. The rate counts people who are working or actively looking for work — not a share of all residents. Workforce participation sits at 50%. The local economy section above covers incomes, employment status and the occupation mix.
Do people own or rent in South Mackay?
#South Mackay is mostly owner-occupied: about 100% of households are owner-occupiers and 50% rent (ABS Census 2021). Of owners, 50% own outright and 50% are paying off a mortgage.
What schools are near South Mackay?
#South Mackay has 38 schools within reach, 2 of them inside the suburb itself — including Mackay State High School, St Mary's Catholic Primary School. The Schools section above maps each one with sector, year range, enrolment, Micromarkets-compiled academic ratings and ICSEA (ACARA).
Is South Mackay a good place to live?
#South Mackay, QLD 4740 has a population of 5,419, a median age of 24, a median household income around $1k/week, 50% of households renting (ABS Census 2021). There are 38 schools within reach. Whether it's the right fit depends on your priorities — these figures describe the community, housing mix and amenity rather than offer a verdict.
About this data
Methodology and update cadenceWhen was this South Mackay market data last updated?
#This South Mackay market data was last updated July 2026, covering the 12 months to June 2026. Figures are computed monthly from 12-month rolling windows of recorded sales and leases, with five years of monthly history behind the trend charts. Methodology, glossary and data sources are linked in the footer.