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James McCay

James is a devoted husband, father, and history buff. He studied Creative and Professional Writing at QUT, and is often buried in a book. He writes on a variety of topics, hoping to make a positive difference for readers through his writing.

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Stories by James McCay

Illustration of a house with solar panels, a person carrying moving boxes, and a large sign reading ‘The Energy Tax on Single Living.

18 Feb 2026 12:31

Why living alone costs more energy

Written by James McCay

What is the singles tax? New survey data reveal that living alone drives higher energy, household, and electricity costs than shared living.

Illustration titled ‘The Global Birth Rate Index,’ showing expecting parents getting an ultrasound, which is performed by a female doctor.

18 Feb 2026 09:29

Which Countries Have the Highest Birth Rates?

Written by James McCay

Which countries have the highest birth rates? We explore the highest birth rate countries and how this may impact fertility behaviour and social structures.

Illustration of a doctor treating a patient in an exam room beneath a sign that reads ‘Urgent Care Dependency.

17 Feb 2026 10:50

The urgent care dependency report

Written by James McCay

Our new healthcare access survey reveals rising urgent care usage in Australia and how households decide between urgent care vs GP for non-emergency care.

Illustrated map labeled ‘Energy Bills Anxiety Map,’ surrounded by photos of individuals checking energy bills and budgeting.

13 Feb 2026 11:34

Energy bills anxiety index 2026

Written by James McCay

Our energy bills anxiety index shows which parts of Australia and the US worry the most about their electricity costs. Read on to see where your area ranks.

Family with accidental death insurance play on beach

10 Feb 2026 13:50

Australian cities some of the best in the world to raise a family

Written by James McCay, reviewed by Stephen Zeller

New data by Compare the Market finds Australian cities are some of the best in the world to raise a family.

A cartoon image of three women in an apartment using smartphones and laptops, with a title overlay reading "Screen Time & Vision Health Index"

10 Feb 2026 09:35

Screen Time and Vision Health Index

Written by James McCay

Read our report into global screen time statistics and what they mean for vision health. Explore rankings by country and how digital habits link to eye strain

10 Feb 2026 09:30

Best Cities for Nature Lovers

Written by James McCay

Read our report into the world’s best cities for nature lovers. You can use this list of nature-friendly cities to help guide your next home buying decision.

A child embracing their mother with a text box saying "Best cities to raise a family"

5 Feb 2026 09:59

The best cities to raise a family

Written by James McCay

Compare the Market ranks 50 cities across the globe to find the best cities to raise a family in, using a number of metrics. Read the results here.

Social image for the most common home anxieties

30 Jan 2026 10:09

Home Maintenance Anxiety Index

Written by James McCay

Not everyone wants to deal with home repairs, but which countries have the most anxious homeowners based on their searches for home maintenance issues?

An illustration of a person working at a desk with a laptop, while another person lounges on a bed using a smartphone. A sign above them reads ‘Global Screen Time and Energy Costs,’ and digital screens and cityscape elements appear in the background.

30 Jan 2026 09:09

Global cost of screen time in 2026

Written by James McCay

What is the true cost of our screen time? Explore our practical energy saving tips and discover smarter habits to help reduce your monthly electricity bills.

An image of a wall-mounted Electric Vehicle charger with a title 'EV battery replacement cost'.

29 Jan 2026 10:58

EV battery replacement cost index 2026

Written by James McCay

In this index, we explore the countries where it is cheapest for an out-of-warranty electric vehicle battery replacement.

A side profile image of a car with text above the car reading "Most Searched Cars 2025"

19 Jan 2026 14:25

Most searched car brands 2025

Written by James McCay

Compare the Market AU's eighth annual Most Searched Car Brands report finds the most searched car brands across the world for 155 countries. Read the results here.

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