Parkes Surrounds

Parkes Surrounds has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Parkes Surrounds' population is around 3,081 as of May 2026. This reflects a decrease since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,262 people. The change is inferred from ABS estimates: 3,079 in June 2025 and two additional validated addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 0.60 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 55.3% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median of locations outside capital cities. By 2041, Parkes Surrounds is expected to increase by 248 persons, reflecting an 8.0% total increase over the 16 years based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

The level of residential development activity in Parkes Surrounds is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Parkes Surrounds had 2 dwelling approvals annually on average from 2016 to 2020, totaling 11 approvals. This low development level is typical of rural areas due to modest housing needs and limited construction activity influenced by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Yearly growth figures can vary significantly with such low approval numbers.

Compared to Rest of NSW and national averages, Parkes Surrounds shows notably less construction activity. All new constructions were detached dwellings, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 2326 people in the area. By 2041, Parkes Surrounds is projected to grow by 246 residents according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to meet population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Parkes Surrounds has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects that may affect the region. Notable projects include Ridgey Creek Battery Energy Storage System, Stevens Group BP Highway Service Centre - Northern Gateway, Parkes Hospital (Lachlan Health Service), and Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension. Below is a list of those most likely to be relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market performance in Parkes Surrounds lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Parkes Surrounds has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 5.7% as of December 2025. The area's employment rate is 1.7% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, with workforce participation at 66.4%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 22.9% of residents work from home.

Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training, with a notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing at 6.6 times the regional average. Construction employment is under-represented at 3.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.6% while employment declined by 4.9%, increasing unemployment rate by 2.3 percentage points.

This contrasts with Regional NSW where employment fell by 1.2%, labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Parkes Surrounds' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.9% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The Parkes Surrounds SA2 had an income level below the national average in the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $45,200 and the average income stood at $49,246. These figures compared to Regional NSW's of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $49,865 (median) and $54,328 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Parkes Surrounds all fell between the 13th and 14th percentiles nationally. The income distribution showed that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominated with 27.3% of residents (841 people), aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represented 29.9%. Housing costs were modest with 91.1% of income retained, but the total disposable income ranked at just the 21st percentile nationally.

Parkes Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Parkes Surrounds, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.5% houses and 4.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkes Surrounds was higher at 50.7%, with the rest being mortgaged (26.9%) or rented (22.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent was $180, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Parkes Surrounds' mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,083 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.8% of all households, including 25.2% couples with children, 28.6% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.2%, with lone person households at 31.0% and group households making up 2.3%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Vocational credentials are held by 39.8% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 8.0% and certificates at 31.8%. Educational participation is high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 13.1% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Parkes Surrounds has 307 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 34 individual routes, providing a total of 397 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 194 meters to the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward using cars as the dominant mode at 88%, while 10% walk. The average vehicle ownership is 1.8 per dwelling, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 22.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 56 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per individual stop. The provided map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Parkes Surrounds faces substantial health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 46% of the total population (~1,417 people), which is lower than Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.0% and 9.3% of residents respectively. However, 63.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to Regional NSW's 63.3%. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Parkes Surrounds has 24.4% of residents aged 65 and over (751 people), higher than Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population.

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

Parkes Surrounds had a cultural diversity level below average, with 88.7% of its population being citizens, 95.1% born in Australia, and 97.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 72.2% of Parkes Surrounds' population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.2%), English (30.2%), and Australian Aboriginal (10.8%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 4.6%.

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 3.6%, compared to 3.1% regionally, while Lebanese ancestry remained consistent at 0.2%. Irish ancestry was slightly underrepresented at 7.8%, compared to 8.8% regionally.

Parkes Surrounds hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Parkes Surrounds has a median age of 44 years, similar to Regional NSW's 43 and above the national average of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, Parkes Surrounds has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (6.9%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 6.4% to 8.3%, while the 35 to 44 age group increased from 10.1% to 11.7%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group declined from 9.4% to 6.9%, and the 55 to 64 age group dropped from 16.3% to 14.2%. By 2041, Parkes Surrounds is projected to experience significant changes in its age composition. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 27%, reaching 323 people from the current 254. Meanwhile, the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 age groups are anticipated to decrease in population.