Parkes (NSW)

Parkes is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Parkes is approximately 11,007 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 88 residents (0.8%) compared to the 10,919 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. The updated figure is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 10,998, combined with 92 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population level yields a density of 46 persons per square kilometer, which ensures residents have plenty of personal space. Although this 0.8% increase since the 2021 census is small, it outperformed the SA3 region which experienced a decline of -0.6%. The primary driver of this population growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 76.8% of the total demographic gains in recent times.

For each SA2 locality, AreaSearch uses projections published in 2024 by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as the base year. Where these figures are unavailable, projections at the SA2 level from the NSW State Government's 2022 release (with a 2021 base year) are applied. Age bracket growth trends derived from these sources are extended to project figures from 2032 to 2041. Based on these anticipated demographic transformations, population expansion is projected to run slightly below the median for non-metropolitan Australian localities, with the region expected to grow by 753 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a total increase of 6.8% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Parkes according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

In Parkes, residential building approvals have averaged approximately 43 per annum, totaling 215 dwelling approvals over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) alongside 14 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Amidst recent population declines, the supply of housing has successfully aligned with demand to maintain a balanced market offering favorable options for purchasers, with newly constructed residences averaging a cost of $367,000. Additionally, commercial development shows strong upward momentum, evidenced by $38.0 million in commercial approvals during the current financial year.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, development activity in Parkes is slightly elevated, running 38.0% above the regional per capita average over the 5 year period, which supports local property values while preserving options for purchasers. The mix of recent building approvals consists of 64.0% freestanding houses and 36.0% townhouses or multi-family units, indicating a growing diversity of attached dwellings that provide varied choices across different price points, ranging from large family residences to compact, affordable properties. This represents a notable shift from the established housing profile, which is currently 88.0% standalone houses, reflecting a scarcity of development sites as well as evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs. The area displays about 294 people for every residential approval, pointing to a low density development landscape.

Projections for the future indicate that Parkes will add 744 residents by 2041, measured from the latest quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. In light of prevailing building trends, the supply of new housing is anticipated to easily satisfy this demand, maintaining favorable purchasing conditions and potentially paving the way for population gains that outpace current forecasts.

Parkes has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Local performance is strongly shaped by modifications to infrastructure, major projects, and planning schemes. AreaSearch has identified a total of 16 projects expected to influence the local area. Key initiatives include the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, the Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension, the Middleton Urban Masterplan, and the Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre Redevelopment, with the most relevant developments detailed in the list below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Parkes has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

The workforce in Parkes is evenly distributed between white and blue collar occupations, with a strong presence of essential services and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. In March 2026, the employed resident population stood at 5,602, matching the Regional NSW unemployment rate of 4.1%, while the participation rate of 66.2% significantly exceeded the Regional NSW average of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a modest 8.5% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and mining. The region displays a high concentration of mining jobs, with a employment share that is 3.9 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance has a smaller footprint, employing 13.2% of the local workforce compared to 16.9% across the region. Comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests that local employment opportunities within the immediate area are somewhat limited.

AreaSearch's analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that during the 12-month period, the total labour force shrank by 1.2% and overall employment fell by 2.4%, leading to a 1.1 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 0.9%, the labour force decrease by 0.4%, and unemployment increase by 0.5 percentage points. Future local demand trends can be evaluated using national employment forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five-year and ten-year national projections have been combined with the local workforce composition to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but individual sectors show highly variable trajectories. Weighting these sectoral forecasts against the current employment structure of Parkes indicates that local jobs could grow by 5.7% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this calculation represents a simple extrapolation and does not incorporate local population forecasts.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to the most recent Australian Taxation Office data compiled by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023, the income level in Parkes SA2 falls below the national average. The median income for taxpayers in this area is $53,484 while the average income reaches $62,998. These figures contrast with those for Regional NSW, which are $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. When adjusted for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates place the median at approximately $59,004 and the average at approximately $69,499 as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Parkes occupy a modest position, falling between the 27th and 34th percentiles. The earnings distribution reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band accounts for 30.2% of the community, representing 3,324 individuals. This rate closely mirrors regional levels, where 29.9% of people fall into the same bracket. Housing affordability remains relatively strong with 86.8% of income retained, although disposable income ranks below average at the 31st percentile.

Parkes is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

At the time of the most recent Census, the housing stock in Parkes consisted of 88.5% standalone houses and 11.4% alternative dwellings, such as semi-detached homes and apartments, compared to Regional NSW averages of 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings. Home ownership in Parkes stood at 34.9%, trailing Regional NSW, with the remaining residences being held under a mortgage (34.1%) or rented (31.0%). The median mortgage payment in the area was $1,300 per month, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $260, compared to $330 in Regional NSW. Nationally, the monthly mortgage commitments in Parkes are substantially lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national figure of $375.

Parkes features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Families comprise the majority of households at 66.6%, consisting of couples with children at 25.5%, couples without children at 27.2%, and single parent households at 12.9%. The remaining 33.4% are non-family households, which are made up of single-person households at 30.9% and group households at 2.6%. The median household size is 2.4 people, matching the average across Regional NSW.

Parkes faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Educational attainment presents an area for improvement, with only 14.3% of residents holding a university qualification, which is lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This gap highlights opportunities for focused educational programs. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.2% and graduate diplomas at 1.7%. Technical and vocational qualifications are highly prevalent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15 and over possessing vocational training, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.1% and certificates at 31.6%.

Engagement in learning is high, with 28.9% of the population currently participating in formal studies. This enrollment consists of 11.4% in primary schools, 9.0% in secondary schools, and 2.0% in higher education institutions.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transit statistics show 499 active transit stops in Parkes, consisting of bus and train options. These stops are served by 40 distinct routes that together provide 683 passenger trips weekly. Transit access is high, with residents living an average of 126 meters from the nearest stop. Because the area is primarily residential, most workers commute out of the district, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 93% and walking accounting for 5%. The average rate of vehicle ownership is 1.4 per household. Working from home is relatively uncommon at 8.5% of residents, as recorded in the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Across all transit routes, service frequency averages 97 trips per day, which represents approximately 1 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest transit stops relative to the center of the area.

Health performance in Parkes is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Analysis by AreaSearch regarding mortality and the occurrence of long-term illnesses suggests that Parkes faces significant health challenges. Chronic health conditions are prevalent in both older and younger demographics, and the rate of private health insurance is low, covering approximately 50% of the population (~5,547 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most common chronic illnesses reported by residents are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.7 and 9.7% of the population respectively, while 62.8% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Chronic disease rates are elevated among the working-age cohort. Residents aged 65 and older make up 20.2% of the local population (representing 2,224 people), which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Senior health outcomes show some challenges, with national comparative ranks generally mirroring those of the overall local population.

The latest Census data sees Parkes placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Parkes displays lower levels of cultural diversity compared to wider averages, with citizens making up 90.8% of the population, 93.5% of residents born in Australia, and 95.8% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 68.2% of the local population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages in Parkes are Australian at 34.0%, English at 31.1%, and Australian Aboriginal at 9.1%. There are minor differences in the representation of other ethnic backgrounds, with Irish heritage accounting for 8.0% of the population (compared to 8.8% regionally), French heritage at 0.4% (compared to 0.4%), and South Australian heritage at 0.3% (compared to 0.2%).

Parkes's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Parkes is 39 years, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 43 and close to the Australian average of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Parkes has a larger proportion of residents aged 25 - 34 (13.3%) but a smaller proportion aged 65 - 74 (10.5%). Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age bracket has increased from 11.9% to 13.3% of the population, while the 55 to 64 bracket has decreased from 12.4% to 11.3%. Demographic forecasts for 2041 indicate notable changes in the age profile, led by a 20% expansion in the 25 to 34 age group (adding 289 people to grow from 1,469 to 1,759), while the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 cohorts are projected to shrink.