Parkes (NSW)
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Parkes' NSW population was 10,919 as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it is estimated to be around 11,043, an increase of 124 people (1.1%). This growth reflects an estimated resident population of 11,024 in June 2024 and 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 47 persons per square kilometer. Parkes' growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area, which was 0.3%. Overseas migration contributed about 66.1% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the population is projected to increase by just below Australia's non-metropolitan median, reaching 11,712 persons with a total increase of 6.9% over 17 years.

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

Parkes has averaged approximately 43 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 215 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 2 approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline has resulted in adequate housing supply relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice, with new homes averaging an expected construction cost value of $458,000. This financial year has seen $38.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Parkes exhibits moderately higher building activity, 38.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, while preserving buyer options and sustaining existing property demand. New building activity comprises 64.0% detached dwellings and 36.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a significant shift from the current 88.0% houses, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The location has approximately 293 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, Parkes is projected to grow by 760 residents through to 2041.

At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Parkes has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that could impact the area. Key projects include Parkes Special Activation Precinct, Parkes-Peak Hill Water Supply Project, Parkes Parks and Recreation Irrigation Upgrades, and Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.0%, Parkes has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Parkes NSW has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and mining.

As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 3.0%. The area has 5,709 residents in work, which is 0.7% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%, but workforce participation is similar at 56.4%. Mining is particularly strong with an employment share 3.9 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 13.2% compared to the regional average of 16.9%.

The area may have limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. In the year ending June 2025, labour force decreased by 2.4%, and employment declined by 3.7%, leading to a 1.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) suggest national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local growth patterns may differ based on industry-specific projections for Parkes' employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Parkes's median income among taxpayers was $51,042 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $63,490 during the same period. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's median and average incomes of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated median income is approximately $57,478 as of September 2025. Estimated average income by the same date is around $71,496. Census data shows household incomes rank at the 30th percentile in Parkes, family incomes at the 28th percentile, and personal incomes at the 34th percentile. Income distribution reveals that 30.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 - $2,999 annually, consistent with surrounding regions' trends of 29.9%. Housing costs allow for retention of 86.8% of income, but disposable income ranks below average at the 32nd percentile.

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

Dwelling structure in Parkes, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 88.5% houses and 11.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkes stood at 34.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.1% and rented ones at 31.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,200. Median weekly rent in Parkes was $260, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $220. Nationally, Parkes's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Parkes features high concentrations of lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 66.6% of all households, including 25.5% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.4%, with lone person households at 30.9% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.1%) and certificates (31.6%).

Educational participation is high at 28.9%, including primary education (11.4%), secondary education (9.0%), and tertiary education (2.0%). Six schools operate within Parkes, educating approximately 1,858 students, with educational conditions varying across the area. These include four primary schools, one secondary school, and one K-12 school.

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

Parkes has 508 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 40 routes that collectively facilitate 613 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents on average located 125 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 87 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Parkes faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of Parkes' total population (~5,654 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area rate of 58.3%.

This compares to a rate of 48.3% across Rest of NSW. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.7% and 9.7% of residents respectively. Conversely, 62.8% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, similar to the 62.4% reported in Rest of NSW. Parkes has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.9% (2,197 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 23.8%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with the overall population's health profile.

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 had a cultural diversity below average, with 90.8% citizens, 93.5% born in Australia, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 68.2%, compared to 70.4% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.0%), English (31.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (9.1%).

Notable differences included Irish, overrepresented at 8.0% in Parkes versus 8.9% regionally, French at 0.4% versus 0.3%, and South African at 0.3% versus 0.2%.

Parkes's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Parkes is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but aligns with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Parkes has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (13.5%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (10.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group increased from 11.9% to 13.5% of Parkes' population, while the 5-14 cohort decreased from 14.2% to 13.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Parkes' age structure. Notably, the 25-34 group is expected to grow by 23%, reaching 1,835 people from 1,488. Conversely, the 65-74 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.