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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Parkes (NSW) is $485k, with units at $387k. House values have moved 6.1% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Parkes (NSW) has an estimated 11,026 residents, up from 10,919 at the 2021 Census — a change of 107 people, or 1.0%. 123 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Density is about 47 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, evaluations by AreaSearch place the population of Parkes at approximately 11,026 residents. This total represents a rise of 107 people (1.0%) compared to the 10,919 people counted in the 2021 Census. Such demographic movement is derived from the ABS Estimated Resident Population figure of 10,998 recorded in June 2025 alongside 123 validated new addresses registered following the Census. With 47 persons per square kilometer, the locality maintains a low density ratio that affords generous space per resident. Although local expansion has been moderate, the 1.0% uptick in Parkes outperformed the wider SA3 area (-0.4%).
The primary catalyst for local demographic expansion was overseas migration, accounting for roughly 76.8% of net population additions in recent periods. Projections compiled by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 using 2022 as their starting baseline, are utilised by AreaSearch across SA2 locations, while missing SA2 sections rely on NSW State Government projections released in 2022 based on 2021. For the period spanning 2032 to 2041, age-specific growth trajectories from these datasets are further applied across all localities. Future population trends point to an expansion rate sitting marginally below the regional Australian median, with the community projected to add 747 persons by 2041 according to the most recent annual ERP metrics, translating to an overall growth rate of 6.5% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
201 new dwellings have been approved in Parkes (NSW) over the past five years, an average of 40 a year. That is 3.7 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 40 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 68% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals in Parkes have averaged roughly 40 homes annually, accumulating to 201 homes over the preceding 5 financial years. Even with an earlier dip in headcount, new housing supply appears well matched with demand to provide healthy options for purchasers, with newly permitted dwellings carrying an average expected construction cost of $433,000. In addition, commercial development momentum has been underscored by $38.0 million in commercial approvals lodged in the current financial year. Residential building activity across Parkes outpaces the Rest of NSW benchmark by 32.0% per person over the 5 year period, sustaining healthy options for buyers alongside existing property valuations despite a recent moderation in building volume.
Detached dwellings constitute 68.0% of recent approvals, while townhouses or apartments make up 32.0%, broadening medium-density choices across diverse budget levels from standard family dwellings to accessible compact formats. Because existing housing stock is 88.0% houses, this transition reflects tighter land availability, shifts in lifestyle tastes, and an emphasis on affordability. The prevailing quiet building environment is illustrated by an estimated ratio of 496 people per approved dwelling. Demographic projections from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate indicate that Parkes is set to add 719 residents by 2041. Under prevailing development conditions, incoming dwelling construction should comfortably satisfy requirement levels, fostering favorable purchasing conditions and potentially enabling demographic expansion beyond existing estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Parkes (NSW)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 15 current infrastructure and development projects inside Parkes (NSW), worth an estimated $1.01 billion. A further 90 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $47.2 billion. 32 are already under construction and 34 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, energy and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Community outcomes and performance are strongly guided by major public works, planning masterplans, and infrastructure enhancements. AreaSearch has pinpointed 16 projects likely to shape the surrounding district. Prominent undertakings among these include the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, the Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension, the Middleton Urban Masterplan, and the Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre Redevelopment.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Parkes Special Activation Precinct
A 4,800-hectare master-planned industrial estate and inland port precinct at Parkes, focused on freight and logistics, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, energy and resource recovery. The NSW Government-led precinct has completed planning and is in the delivery phase, with development-ready serviced land, streamlined planning support and business concierge services available. Current works and related approvals include enabling infrastructure, road and utility upgrades, the determined 132kV and 66kV powerline augmentation works, and private developments such as Parkes Gateway retail and light industrial space.
Parkes Water Security Program
An $80 million water infrastructure program upgrading Parkes Shire's ageing water supply network. Works include duplication of 35 kilometres of raw water transfer pipeline, two new pump stations (Eugowra Road and Akuna Road), augmentation of the Lachlan River pump station, a new pre-treatment plant, a new 20ML raw water storage lagoon, bore refurbishments, and solar energy systems. The program will more than double Parkes' current water transfer capacity and future-proof supply for residential and industrial growth linked to the Parkes Special Activation Precinct.
Parkes Wetlands
Parkes Shire Council is transforming the former sewage treatment ponds on Akuna Road into the Parkes Wetlands, a major biodiversity, recreation and ecotourism destination. Stage 1 earthworks were completed in 2023 and the 2.5 km all-abilities walking track was completed in early 2025. Current works include boardwalks, bird hides, viewing platforms, habitat creation, revegetation, interpretive signage, public art and an outdoor learning shelter. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
Middleton Urban Masterplan
A long term strategic framework to transform Middleton from rural residential to urban residential land. The plan facilitates approximately 500 new dwellings and includes upgrades to water, sewer, stormwater, and transport infrastructure. It ensures connectivity to Parkes Hospital and integrates new open spaces and active transport networks to support sustainable population growth in southern Parkes.
East Parkes Master Plan and Servicing Strategy
Comprehensive urban framework guiding the development of the Tanks Road and Harrowvale precincts. The strategy integrates updated 2022 flood modelling to deliver sustainable infrastructure for water, sewer, and electricity, ultimately supporting approximately 3,480 new dwellings to address regional housing shortages.
Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension
Infrastructure servicing works to extend water, sewer, roads and other essential services supporting expansion of the Parkes National Logistics Hub within the Parkes Special Activation Precinct. The works enable further industrial and freight developments associated with the National Logistics Hub and support major logistics operators and intermodal freight growth.
Wiradjuri Indigenous Cultural Garden
A value-add component of the Recycled Water Rising Main Project aimed at increasing community awareness of local Aboriginal heritage and culture. Part of efforts to preserve and celebrate Wiradjuri language and traditions in Parkes.
Rose Street Subdivision (Former Parkes Hospital Site)
32-lot residential subdivision on the former Parkes Hospital site. Stage 1 will create 9 initial lots with completion scheduled for March 30, 2026. Project includes bulk earthworks, retaining walls, two new roads, and full servicing infrastructure. Development application was unanimously approved by Council in September 2023.
5,602 residents of Parkes (NSW) are employed, from a labour force of 5,844. Unemployment sits at 4.1%, with participation at 66.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour pool across Parkes displays a sound distribution of white-collar and blue-collar roles with substantial representation in essential service industries, accompanied by an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Employed residents stood at 5,602 as of March 2026, matching the Regional NSW unemployment rate of 4.1%, while workforce participation reached 66.2%, notably exceeding the Regional NSW benchmark of 60.6%. Census figures showed a modest 8.5% working from home, though pandemic restrictions during that period may have influenced this figure. Major employment sectors among the local workforce comprise mining, retail trade, and health care & social assistance.
Local employment concentration in mining is particularly pronounced, reaching 3.9 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for 13.2% of the local workforce, trailing the regional standard of 16.9%. Comparisons between resident counts and Census workplace numbers suggest that local job availability within the immediate boundary is comparatively restricted. Drawing on ABS and SALM figures analysed by AreaSearch, the twelve months to March 2026 saw the local labour force contract by 1.2% while employment declined by 2.4%, pushing local unemployment up by 1.1 percentage points. Across Regional NSW over the same timeframe, jobs fell by 0.9%, the workforce diminished by 0.4%, and joblessness rose by 0.5 percentage points. Looking ahead, national forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide context for future workforce requirements. Over five and ten-year horizons, nationwide employment is projected to expand by 6.6% and 13.7% respectively, though sectoral rates vary. Applying these industry weightings to the Parkes workforce profile indicates potential local job increases of 5.7% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, representing a simple weighted illustration that excludes localized demographic projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Parkes (NSW) is $1,389 a week (about $72,000 a year), with median personal income at $728 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $53,484 a year against an average of $62,998. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to the latest ATO tax statistics released for financial year 2023 at the postcode level, taxpayers in the Parkes SA2 recorded a median income of $53,484 and an average income of $62,998, trailing nationwide figures and comparing to Regional NSW metrics of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Following an increase of 10.32% in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated figures are estimated at $59,004 for median income and $69,499 for average income as of March 2026. Across personal, family, and household earnings, Census measures place the district between the 27th and 34th percentiles.
In terms of earnings distribution, 30.2% of the local community (3,329 individuals) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, closely tracking the 29.9% regional proportion. Dwellings retain 86.8% of income after housing expenses, though disposable earnings sit at the 31st percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Parkes (NSW) had 4,148 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 89% detached houses and 7% apartments. 34% are owned with a mortgage, 31% rented and 35% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $260 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 18.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to Census findings, standalone houses constituted 88.5% of housing stock in Parkes with 11.4% accounted for by other residential forms such as apartments and semi-detached units, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Fully owned properties stood at 34.9%, trailing Regional NSW, while mortgaged homes accounted for 34.1% and rented dwellings comprised 31.0%. Monthly mortgage commitments averaged a median of $1,300, well beneath the Regional NSW figure of $1,733 and the nationwide benchmark of $1,863. Median weekly rents were registered at $260, sitting considerably lower than the Regional NSW average of $330 and the national mark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Parkes (NSW) counted 4,148 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 26% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 31% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of dwellings at 66.6%, consisting of couples without children at 27.2%, couples with children at 25.5%, and single parent families at 12.9%. Non-family living arrangements represent 33.4% of homes, which includes lone person residences at 30.9% and group arrangements at 2.6%. The typical household size stands at a median of 2.4 people, equalling the standard across Regional NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.3% of adults in Parkes (NSW) hold a university qualification, including 10.4% with a bachelor degree and 2.2% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 87% of areas nationally. A further 31.6% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 1,858 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 932 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational outcomes in the area show lower rates of tertiary attainment, with university credentials held by 14.3% of residents compared to the NSW statewide benchmark of 32.2%. Among higher education qualifications, bachelor degrees represent 10.4%, postgraduate credentials stand at 2.2%, and graduate diplomas comprise 1.7%. Vocational education and technical qualifications remain prominent, with 39.7% of persons aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of 31.6% in certificates and 8.1% in advanced diplomas. Student participation in formal study is strong, with 28.9% of the local population engaged in coursework. This comprises 11.4% attending primary schools, 9.0% enrolled in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Parkes (NSW) reaches 499 stops on 40 routes, timetabled for about 750 services a week. The typical home sits about 130 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity within Parkes encompasses 499 active stops covering buses and trains, linked across 40 distinct routes delivering 745 weekly passenger trips. Proximity to transport networks is strong, with an average distance of 126 meters from homes to the closest departure point. As an outward-commuting residential population, 93% of commuter travel occurs by car, while 5% walk. Households maintain an average of 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. Meanwhile, 8.5% of workers worked from home according to 2021 Census data collected under pandemic circumstances. Local public transit operations maintain an average frequency of 106 trips per day across the network, corresponding to roughly 1 weekly trips per individual stop.
The accompanying spatial chart illustrates the 100 nearest stops relative to the centerpoint.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.8% of residents in Parkes (NSW) report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 86% of areas nationally. 7.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of mortality statistics and long-term health condition prevalence by AreaSearch highlights notable health considerations in Parkes, with widespread incidence observed in older as well as younger demographics. Private health insurance participation is moderate, covering approximately 50% of residents (~5,557 people), which falls below the national rate of 55.7%. The two most prevalent health conditions recorded locally are asthma and arthritis, each diagnosed in 9.7 and 9.7% of the population, while 62.8% of individuals reported no chronic medical issues compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents experience an elevated incidence of chronic conditions.
Persons aged 65 and over make up 20.4% of the population (2,252 people), beneath the 23.3% regional benchmark, with senior health indicators showing challenges that align with wider national rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Parkes (NSW) is largely Australian-born, at 93.5% of residents, with 4.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (34.0%) and English (31.1%). 9.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Parkes demonstrates a relatively uniform cultural demographic, where 90.8% of residents hold Australian citizenship, 93.5% were born in Australia, and 95.8% speak only English at home. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, encompassing 68.2% of the local population relative to 55.9% observed across Regional NSW. Regarding reported parental heritage, the most common ancestral backgrounds in Parkes are Australian at 34.0%, English at 31.1%, and Australian Aboriginal at 9.1%. Distinct local variations also appear among other ancestries, including Irish background at 8.0% (compared to 8.8% regionally), French at 0.4% (vs 0.4%), and South Australian heritage at 0.3% (vs 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Parkes (NSW) is 39. 25.6% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age distribution of Parkes aligns closely with Regional NSW, showing a maximum variance of 2.9 percentage points across four broad brackets. The median age remains estimated at 39, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 4 years below the Regional NSW median of 43 from that same Census. The most noticeable demographic shift since the Census occurred in the 25 - 44 cohort, which expanded from 23.0% to an estimated 24.8%. This 25 - 44 age bracket is anticipated to lead local expansion toward 2041, increasing by 559 residents (20%) to reach 3,296, whereas middle-aged and early-retirement brackets are forecasted to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Parkes (NSW)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 15 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 123 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (10,919 at the 2021 Census → 11,026 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (103021067). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.