Parkwood

An assessment of population growth drivers in Parkwood reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Parkwood's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 9,157. This figure represents a growth of 320 people, a 3.6% increase from the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 8,837. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,145 in June 2024 and an additional six validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density stands at 1,474 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 77.8% to recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. However, these state projections lack age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort are applied where necessary. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to increase by 1,343 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.5% over the 17-year period, as per the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Parkwood, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Parkwood has recorded approximately 43 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 216 homes. As of FY-26, one approval has been recorded. On average, 0.4 people have moved to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of these dwellings is $492,000, slightly above the regional average.

In this financial year, $11.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing moderate levels of commercial development. Parkwood maintains similar construction rates per person compared to the rest of Queensland, preserving market equilibrium with surrounding areas. The majority of new building activity consists of townhouses or apartments (93.0%), with a smaller proportion being standalone homes (7.0%). This shift from the current housing mix of 91.0% houses reflects reduced development site availability and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Parkwood has an established market, with approximately 1901 people per dwelling approval.

By 2041, it is projected to grow by 1,331 residents (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Parkwood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects that could affect the region. Notable initiatives include Griffith University Gold Coast Campus Expansion, New Coomera Hospital, Coomera Connector Stage 1 - Central Section, and Urbana (Coomera Urban Village) Stage 3. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Parkwood maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Parkwood has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 4.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.2%. As of September 2025, there were 5,189 residents employed, and the unemployment rate was in line with Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation was 69.5%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 12.4% of residents worked from home. The key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence with 0.3% employment compared to the regional average of 4.5%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data showing fewer working residents than total population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.2%, labour force grew by 2.0%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7%, labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parkwood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Parkwood SA2 had median income among taxpayers at $51,204 with average income standing at $64,171. These figures are lower than national averages which stood at $53,146 and $66,593 respectively for Rest of Qld during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.91% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $56,278 while average income would reach around $70,530 by then. As per 2021 Census data, household income ranks at the 69th percentile with weekly earnings of $2,064, while personal income stands at the 35th percentile. Income distribution shows that 37.5% of locals (3,433 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 category, slightly higher than the surrounding region's 31.7%. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income but strong earnings place disposable income at the 68th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Parkwood is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Parkwood's dwelling structure, as evaluated in 2016 Census data, consisted of 90.7% houses and 9.3% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and others. This compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkwood was at 27.7%, with mortgaged properties at 41.9% and rented ones at 30.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,894, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Parkwood was recorded at $538, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Parkwood's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Parkwood features high concentrations of group households and family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 80.6% of all households, including 38.1% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 19.4%, with lone person households at 12.8% and group households at 6.8%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Parkwood performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 26.8% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 18.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.9% and certificates for 24.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in tertiary education, 9.0% in primary education, and 7.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

Parkwood has 43 operational public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These are served by five distinct routes, facilitating 1628 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is deemed good with residents positioned an average of 209 meters from their nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Parkwood residents commute outward, with cars being the primary mode at 89%. Each dwelling owns an average of 1.9 vehicles, exceeding regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, services run 232 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 37 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Parkwood are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Parkwood shows below-average health indicators according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are higher than average for both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~4,688 people). The most common medical conditions are asthma (7.4%) and arthritis (7.3%). 71.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Under-65 health outcomes are better than average. The area has 14.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,312 people), lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Senior health outcomes are above average, ranking higher nationally than the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Parkwood was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Parkwood's population showed greater linguistic diversity, with 17.9% speaking a language other than English at home, compared to its local markets. Born overseas, 33.3% of Parkwood residents were recorded. Christianity was the predominant religion in Parkwood, accounting for 47.2%.

Islam, however, was more prevalent in Parkwood at 2.6%, exceeding Rest of Qld's 0.6%. The top three ancestry groups in Parkwood were English (29.0%), Australian (21.9%), and Other (9.9%). Notably, New Zealanders comprised 1.7% of Parkwood's population, higher than the regional average of 0.9%. Maori residents made up 2.0%, surpassing the regional figure of 0.8%. Korean residents also stood out at 0.8%, compared to the region's 0.2%.

Parkwood's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Parkwood's median age is 36, which is lower than Rest of Qld's figure of 41 and Australia's figure of 38 years. The 15-24 cohort in Parkwood is notably over-represented at 18.7%, compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 4.3%. This 18.7% is higher than the national figure of 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 13.3% to 15.9%, while the 15-24 cohort has risen from 17.2% to 18.7%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 11.8% to 9.8% and the 45-54 group has dropped from 13.6% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Parkwood's age profile will significantly change. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to expand by 511 people (35%), from 1,459 to 1,971. Meanwhile, the 15-24 group is expected to decrease by 86 residents.