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

Parkes' population is estimated at 11,407 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 83 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,324. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 11,398 residents following examination of ABS' ERP data release in June 2025 and validation of 93 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 11.6 persons per square kilometer. Parkes' growth rate of 0.7% since the 2021 census exceeded its SA3 area's -0.6%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.0% 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 are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group 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 795 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 6.9% over the 16 years.

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 FY-21 and FY-25, around 216 homes were approved, with another 7 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to population change.

The average value of new homes being built is $458,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment. This year, $38.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the rest of NSW, Parkes records elevated construction levels, with 34.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. Recent construction comprises 65.0% standalone homes and 35.0% medium and high-density housing, showing an expanding range of medium-density options.

This shift indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles. Parkes has around 303 people per dwelling approval, characteristic of a low density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 786 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Parkes 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 identified 17 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Parkes Special Activation Precinct, Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension, Rose Street Subdivision (Former Parkes Hospital Site), and Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre Redevelopment. The following list details those most 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 employment landscape in Parkes shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Parkes has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation in December 2025. There are 5,820 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.2% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation stands at 66.2%, exceeding Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 9.1% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety. Parkes has a notable concentration in mining, with employment levels at 3.9 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 13.2% of Parkes's workforce compared to 16.9% in Regional NSW. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, labour force decreased by 2.5%, while employment declined by 4.1%, leading to a 1.6 percentage point rise in unemployment rate compared to Regional NSW's 0.4 percentage point increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 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, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Parkes' median income among taxpayers is $51,175. The average income in the suburb is $63,618. Both figures are lower than national averages. Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $56,456 (median) and $70,183 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Parkes rank modestly, between the 28th and 34th percentiles. Income distribution data shows that 30.5% of residents (3,479 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, 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' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.9% houses and 11.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkes was at 35.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.2% and rented ones at 30.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Parkes was $260, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Parkes' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,300 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $260 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 33.1%, with lone person households at 30.5% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

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 prevalent, 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%, with 11.5% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.5% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Parkes has 547 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 40 routes providing 688 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent with residents typically 126 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes are outward-bound, with cars being the dominant mode at 93%. Walking accounts for 5% of journeys. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 9.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 98 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop. The map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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 according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. The area has approximately 52% private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.7% and 9.6% of residents respectively. Around 63.2% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, similar to the 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 20.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,327 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present notable challenges, with national rankings higher than those for the general population.

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 shows low cultural diversity: 90.9% are citizens, 93.6% were born in Australia, and 95.9% speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, with 68.4%, compared to Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top ancestry groups are Australian (34.2%), English (31.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.9%).

Some ethnic groups have different representations: South Australian at 0.3% in Parkes vs regional 0.2%, Irish at 8.0% vs 8.8%, Maltese at 0.3% vs 0.4%.

Parkes's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Parkes is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Parkes has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (13.2%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (10.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group increased from 11.8% to 13.2%, while the 55-64 cohort decreased from 12.5% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Parkes's age structure. The 25-34 group is expected to grow by 19% (287 people), reaching a total of 1,793 from the current 1,505. Conversely, the 65-74 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.