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 is 11,043 as of August 2025. This shows a 124-person increase (1.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported 10,919 people. The change is inferred from ABS's June 2024 estimate of 11,024 and an additional 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 47 persons per square kilometer. Parkes' growth exceeded its SA3 area's 0.3% increase, making it a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.1% of recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year. For uncovered areas, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a 2021 base year, are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Projected demographic shifts indicate a population increase just below Australia's non-metropolitan median by 2041, with an expected expansion of 803 persons (6.9% total increase) based on the latest numbers.

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

Parkes has averaged approximately 27 new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totalling 136 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25, with two recorded so far in FY-26. The area has experienced population decline, suggesting that new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $458,000.

There have also been $38.0 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. When compared to the Rest of NSW, Parkes shows moderately higher building activity, with 39.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New building activity shows 64.0% detached dwellings and 36.0% medium and high-density housing, indicating an expanding range of medium-density options creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns, which are currently 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 expected to grow by 760 residents through to 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 17 such projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones include the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, Inland Rail - Stockinbingal to Parkes Section (scheduled for completion in mid-2022), Parkes-Peak Hill Water Supply Project (commenced in late 2019 and expected to finish in early 2023), and Parkes Parks and Recreation Irrigation Upgrades (beginning in late 2021). The following list details those considered 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 in New South Wales (NSW) has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, well-represented essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 3.0% as of June 2025. There are 5,709 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 0.7% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is similar to the rest of NSW at 56.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance (13.2%), retail trade (12.8%), and mining (9.4%). The area has a strong specialization in mining, with employment share 3.9 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is lower at 13.2% compared to the regional average of 16.9%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparisons. In the 12 months prior, labour force decreased by 2.4%, and employment declined by 3.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1% and unemployment rose by 0.4%. State-level data as of Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parkes's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for local population projections.

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 those for Rest of NSW, which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By March 2025, estimated median and average incomes in Parkes are approximately $56,452 and $70,220, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Parkes rank modestly, between the 28th and 34th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 30.2% of individuals (3,334 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region at 29.9%. Housing costs are manageable, with 86.8% retained, 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

Parkes' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census evaluation, comprised 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 was at 34.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.1% and rented ones at 31.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Parkes was $1,300, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,200. Median weekly rent in Parkes was recorded at $260, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $220. Nationally, Parkes' median monthly mortgage repayment is lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and median weekly rent is 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 constitute 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%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas (8.1%) and certificates (31.6%).

Educational participation is high at 28.9%, including 11.4% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education. Six schools operate within Parkes, educating approximately 1,858 students. The educational mix includes four primary, one secondary, 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 operational public transport stops, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 40 distinct routes, together facilitating 613 weekly passenger trips. The city's transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents on average residing 125 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 87 trips per day, translating to roughly 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, as indicated by its health data. Both younger and older age groups have a notable prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 51% of Parkes' total population (~5,654 people) has private health cover, slightly lower than the average SA2 area's rate of 58.3%. This compares to Rest of NSW's rate of 48.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions in Parkes are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.7% and 9.7% of residents respectively. Conversely, 62.8% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 62.4% across Rest of NSW. As of the latest data (2016), Parkes has 19.9% of its population aged 65 and over (2,197 people), lower than the 23.8% recorded in Rest of NSW. The health outcomes among seniors in Parkes generally align with those of the broader 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 has a low cultural diversity, with 90.8% of its population being citizens, 93.5% born in Australia, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 68.2%, compared to 70.4% regionally. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (34.0%), English (31.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (9.1%).

Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Irish representation is higher at 8.0% (vs regional 8.9%), French is slightly higher at 0.4% (vs 0.3%), and South African representation is also higher at 0.3% (vs 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 closely 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 proportion of residents aged 25-34 increased from 11.9% to 13.5%, while the proportion of residents aged 5-14 decreased from 14.2% to 13.2%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Parkes's age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 23%, reaching 1,835 residents from the current 1,488. Conversely, the 65-74 and 55-64 age groups are projected to experience population declines.