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

Based on analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Parkes's population is estimated at around 11,424 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 100 people (0.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,324 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 11,398 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 86 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 11.6 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person for the suburb of Parkes (NSW). Parkes's growth rate of 0.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 0.4%, though growth remains modest. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Parkes (NSW) is expected to increase by 828 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 6.8% in total over the 17-year period.

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

Parkes has seen approximately 43 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, around 215 homes were approved, with an additional 3 approved in FY-26 as of the current date. Despite a decrease in population during this period, development activity has been relatively adequate, which is positive for buyers.

The average value of new homes being built is approximately $458,000. In Parkes, around $38.0 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered in the current financial year, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Parkes shows moderately higher development activity, with 33.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balance supports both buyer choice and current property values.

Recent construction in Parkes comprises 64.0% standalone homes and 36.0% medium to high-density housing, demonstrating an expanding range of medium-density options. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 89.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for more diverse, affordable housing options. Parkes has around 303 people per dwelling approval, characteristic of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Parkes is forecasted to gain approximately 782 residents by the year 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Parkes has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Parkes Special Activation Precinct, Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension, Middleton Urban Masterplan, and Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

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The employment landscape in Parkes presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 2.9%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Parkes has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented.

The unemployment rate is 2.9%, as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of June 2025, 5,916 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% lower than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation stands at 58.5%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety.

Notably, mining has a high concentration with employment levels at 3.9 times the regional average. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, comprising only 13.2% of Parkes's workforce compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by a lower Census working population vs resident population count. In the past year, labour force decreased by 2.4%, and employment declined by 3.6%, leading to a 1.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.1%, labour force expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project overall employment growth by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parkes's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Parkes had a median income among taxpayers of $51,177 and an average of $63,622. This was slightly lower than the national average. The median income in Rest of NSW was $49,459 with an average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Parkes would be approximately $57,630 (median) and $71,645 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Parkes rank modestly between the 28th and 34th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. The income distribution shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.5% of residents (3,484 people), similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing costs are manageable with 87.0% retained, but disposable income is 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, consisted of 88.9% houses and 11.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkes was 35.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.2% and rented ones at 30.4%. 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 $260, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $220. Nationally, Parkes' mortgage repayments were lower at $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 constitute 66.9% of all households, including 26.0% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 12.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.1%, with lone person households at 30.5% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is 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 14.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (31.8%). Educational participation is high at 29.0%, comprising 11.5% in primary, 9.0% in secondary, and 2.0% in tertiary education.

Six schools operate within Parkes, educating approximately 1,858 students. The area's educational conditions index (ICSEA) is 932. The school 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 564 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 40 routes, offering 618 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 125 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency across all routes averages 88 trips per day, equating to roughly one trip per week 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 health data. Both younger and older age groups have high prevalence rates for common health conditions.

Private health cover is more prevalent in Parkes than the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~5,953 people), compared to 48.3% across Rest of NSW. The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.7 and 9.6% of residents respectively. However, 63.2% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the 62.4% in Rest of NSW. Parkes has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.7% (2,250 people), compared to 23.8% in Rest of NSW. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, generally aligned 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' population showed low cultural diversity, with 90.9% being Australian citizens, 93.6% born in Australia, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 68.4%, compared to 70.4% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.2%), English (31.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.9%).

Notably, South African ancestry was higher at 0.3% in Parkes versus 0.2% regionally, Irish ancestry was 8.0% compared to 8.9%, and Maltese ancestry remained the same at 0.3%.

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 (13.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (10.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 11.8% to 13.3%, while the proportion of those aged 5-14 has decreased from 14.2% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Parkes's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 23%, reaching 1,872 people from the current 1,519. Conversely, the 65-74 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.