Queensland · Suburb Profile

Macleay Island QLD — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Macleay Island, Queensland. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Macleay Island QLD is 3,193 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Macleay Island is $450 per week ($23,400 per year). Median rent in Macleay Island is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Macleay Island has a median age of 62 years, older than the national median of 38. Macleay Island has a population density of 441.6 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Macleay Island is England. The most common religion is No Religion (48% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Macleay Island is $900.

There were 520 recorded offences in Macleay Island in 2025-26, a rate of 163 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was drug offences (246 offences).

Macleay Island Map

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Macleay Island Population

residents (Census 2021)

Macleay Island Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$450/wk

$23,400 per year

#8639 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$260/wk

$1,127 per month

#5884 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

62years

24 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$900/mo

Avg household size: 1.9 · 0.7 per bedroom

Macleay Island Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.1% (1,603) Female 49.9% (1,595)

Population Density

441.6

people per km²

3,193 people · 7.2 km²

Households

1.9

Avg household size

0.7

Persons per bedroom

$945

Family income/wk

Macleay Island Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Macleay Island Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

69.1% 797 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

30.9% 357 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Macleay Island Country of Birth

Australia

87.4%

England

9.4%

Germany

1.3%

Croatia

0.5%

Fiji

0.3%

Canada

0.2%

France

0.2%

Greece

0.2%

Indonesia

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Macleay Island Religion

No Religion

47.8%

Anglican

16.7%

Catholic

14.3%

Not stated

11.4%

Christian (other)

2.9%

Uniting Church

2.8%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.7%

Buddhism

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Macleay Island Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

42.6%

Year 10 or equivalent

39.4%

Year 11 or equivalent

9.8%

Year 9 or equivalent

8.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Macleay Island Languages Spoken at Home

Other

22.1%

German

20.6%

Italian

13.2%

SAL Tot

10.3%

Thai

8.8%

Afrikaans

7.4%

SAL Tagalog

7.4%

Croatian

5.9%

French

4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Macleay Island Employment

💼

Employed full-time

11.7% 306 people

⏰

Employed part-time

14.1% 367 people

🔍

Unemployed

5.0% 131 people

🏠

Not in labour force

69.2% 1,807 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Macleay Island Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

47.9%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

22.7%

Bachelor Degree

17.5%

Postgraduate Degree

5.6%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

3.8%

Certificate I/II

2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Macleay Island Occupation

Professionals

24.0%

Technicians & Trade Workers

19.6%

Community & Personal Service

15.8%

Managers

11.9%

Clerical & Administrative

9.6%

Labourers

7.9%

Sales Workers

5.6%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Macleay Island Field of Study

Engineering

17.2%

Society & Culture

16.4%

Management & Commerce

14.8%

Health

11.2%

Architecture & Building

10.8%

Education

9.2%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

7.6%

Creative Arts

5.8%

Agriculture & Environment

3.2%

Information Technology

2.6%

Natural & Physical Sciences

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Macleay Island Dwelling Types

Separate house

100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Macleay Island Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

2.7%

$1-$149/wk

0.8%

$150-$299/wk

2.3%

$300-$399/wk

6.4%

$400-$499/wk

17.4%

$500-$649/wk

8.7%

$650-$799/wk

17.2%

$800-$999/wk

10.4%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

9.1%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

3.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

3.1%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

5.9%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

2.1%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.3%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

0.2%

$4,000+/wk

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Macleay Island Marital Status

💍

Married

38.6% 1,139

↔️

Separated

6.8% 199

📋

Divorced

22.2% 654

🕊️

Widowed

8.2% 241

👤

Never married

24.2% 714

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Macleay Island Ancestry

English

35.9%

Australian

23.4%

Irish

11.2%

Scottish

10.2%

Other

5.8%

German

4.5%

Aboriginal Australianralian

2.9%

Dutch

1.6%

Italian

1.5%

New Zealander

1.3%

French

0.9%

Polish

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Macleay Island School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

39.1%

Secondary — Government

25.5%

Vocational Education

16.5%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

11.1%

Pre-school

5.8%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Macleay Island Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

14.4% 835

✅

No need for assistance

85.6% 4,971

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Macleay Island Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

16.6% 448

—

Not a volunteer

83.4% 2,247

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Macleay Island Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

12.9%

$300-$449/mo

7.8%

$450-$599/mo

11.0%

$600-$799/mo

10.3%

$800-$999/mo

12.2%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

22.6%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

12.5%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

8.5%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

1.3%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Macleay Island How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

56.5%

Did not go to work

22.9%

Car (passenger)

7.4%

Walked only

3.4%

Ferry

2.7%

Bicycle

2.2%

Other

1.7%

Bus

1.2%

Truck

1.0%

Taxi/Rideshare

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Macleay Island Car Ownership

0 vehicles

8.6%

1 vehicle

54.6%

2 vehicles

28.0%

3 vehicles

6.7%

4+ vehicles

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Macleay Island Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

6.8%

2 bedrooms

38.4%

3 bedrooms

44.6%

4 bedrooms

8.7%

5 bedrooms

1.0%

6+ bedrooms

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Macleay Island Population Mobility

18.7%

moved in the last year

49.9%

moved in the last 5 years

15.0%

unemployment rate (Census)

30.6%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Macleay Island Indigenous Population

4.3%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

255

Indigenous residents

5,646

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Macleay Island Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

494

Arthritis

247

Heart disease

207

Lung condition

200

Diabetes

141

Cancer

110

Asthma

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Macleay Island Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

10.4%

$1-$149/wk

3.4%

$150-$299/wk

10.5%

$300-$399/wk

15.7%

$400-$499/wk

13.6%

$500-$649/wk

6.8%

$650-$799/wk

10.3%

$800-$999/wk

8.3%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

7.3%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

4.4%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

3.5%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

1.5%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

2.3%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

0.6%

$3,500+/wk

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Macleay Island Family Structure

Couple — no children

57.2%

Couple — children under 15

16.3%

One parent — no children under 15

10.3%

Couple — no children under 15

9.1%

One parent — children under 15

7.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Macleay Island Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

0.2% 5

🏅

Previously served

6.8% 184

👤

Never served

93.0% 2,527

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Macleay Island Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

17.3% 464

—

Did not provide

82.7% 2,215

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Macleay Island Children Ever Born

No children

23.0%

1 child

12.1%

2 children

32.6%

3 children

19.4%

4 children

9.6%

5+ children

3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Macleay Island When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

136

1971–1980

127

1981–1990

139

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2019

2020

2021

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Macleay Island Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

14.9%

5–14 hours

25.9%

15–29 hours

16.5%

30+ hours

13.3%

Did not do domestic work

29.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Macleay Island Household Size

1 person

40.9%

2 persons

43.3%

3 persons

8.4%

4 persons

4.6%

5 persons

1.5%

6+ persons

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Macleay Island Where Residents Moved From

Same address

2,364

Moved from QLD

280

Moved — same area (SA2)

167

Moved from NSW

Moved from VIC

Moved from overseas

Moved from ACT

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Macleay Island Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

70.7%

Step family — no other children

14.3%

Blended family — no other children

12.2%

Other couple — children only

2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Macleay Island Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 520 total

Drug Offences

246

Theft

Assault

Break & Enter

Traffic

Property Damage

Fraud

Domestic Violence

Weapons

Offence trend by year:

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: QLD Police Service — data.qld.gov.au

Macleay Island Schools

schools nearby

government

946

avg ICSEA score

156

total students

MacLeay Island State School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 156 students

946

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Macleay Island with map →

Macleay Island Rent Prices & Affordability

34%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $755/wk

Median Rent $260/wk

Rent-to-Income 34.4%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in Macleay Island

Your weekly income

≈ $3,272/month

Median rent $260/wk

Left after rent $495/wk

Rent share 34.4%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Cardwell

Income: $508/wk Rent: $250/wk Save: $10/wk

Sapphire Central

Income: $437/wk Rent: $160/wk Save: $100/wk

Howard

Income: $456/wk Rent: $248/wk Save: $12/wk

Monto

Income: $491/wk Rent: $170/wk Save: $90/wk

Yarraman (Qld)

Income: $445/wk Rent: $223/wk Save: $37/wk

Jandowae

Income: $495/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $60/wk

Nanango

Income: $472/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $40/wk

Wondai

Income: $527/wk Rent: $225/wk Save: $35/wk

Macleay Island vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in QLD

Cotswold Hills

Pop: 1,620 Income: $912/wk Rent: $390/wk

Booral (Qld)

Pop: 1,636 Income: $585/wk Rent: $335/wk

Gaven

Pop: 1,638 Income: $715/wk Rent: $455/wk

Esk (Qld)

Pop: 1,641 Income: $479/wk Rent: $260/wk

Forest Glen (Qld)

Pop: 1,657 Income: $656/wk Rent: $500/wk

Mapleton

Pop: 1,661 Income: $591/wk Rent: $350/wk

Compare Macleay Island

Macleay Island vs Cotswold Hills →Macleay Island vs Booral (Qld) →Macleay Island vs Gaven →Macleay Island vs Esk (Qld) →

Frequently Asked Questions About Macleay Island

What is the population of Macleay Island QLD?

The population of Macleay Island QLD is 3,193 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 441.6 people per km².Macleay Island is ranked #2,297 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Macleay Island?

The median personal income in Macleay Island QLD is $450 per week, or $23,400 per year.The median household income is $755 per week.Family income is $945 per week.Macleay Island is ranked #8,639 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Macleay Island?

Median rent in Macleay Island QLD is $260 per week ($1,127 per month).Rent represents 34.4% of household income, which is considered moderate.Macleay Island ranks #5,884 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Macleay Island?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Macleay Island QLD is $900. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Macleay Island?

The median age in Macleay Island QLD is 62 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Macleay Island a good suburb to live in?

Macleay Island is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 3,193.The median income is $450/wk, which is below the QLD average of $759/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (34.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 31731. All dollar figures in AUD.