Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Parkes (NSW) is $488k, with units at $390k. House values have moved 5.9% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Parkes (NSW) has an estimated 11,427 residents, up from 11,324 at the 2021 Census. 125 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Density is about 12 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Analysis of regional ABS updates alongside new address validation by AreaSearch indicates that the population in the suburb of Parkes (NSW) reached approximately 11,427 as of Aug 2026. Compared to the 11,324 people recorded at the 2021 Census, this represents a modest expansion of 103 people (0.9%). The estimate builds upon an ERP of 11,399 determined by AreaSearch following the June 2025 ABS release, supplemented by 125 validated new addresses since the Census. Across the locality, population density sits at a spacious 11.6 persons per square kilometer. While overall expansion is subdued, the 0.9% gain in the suburb of Parkes (NSW) outpaced the broader SA3 area (-0.4%), with overseas migration serving as the principal contributor by accounting for roughly 66.0% of recent population additions.
Projections for the suburb of Parkes (NSW) incorporate the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 dataset (using 2022 as base), or the 2022 NSW State Government SA2 series (using 2021 as base) where applicable, with age-cohort growth rates projected forward for 2032 to 2041. Looking toward future demographic shifts, anticipated expansion sits slightly below the nationwide regional median, with aggregated SA2 figures forecasting a net addition of 788 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative increase of 6.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
218 new dwellings have been approved in Parkes (NSW) over the past five years, an average of 43 a year. That is 3.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 40 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 68% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 17, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
ABS building approval statistics compiled by AreaSearch indicate an annual average of approximately 43 dwellings approved in Parkes, totaling an estimated 218 homes over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 through FY-25), with 17 approvals registered so far in FY-25. Given previous demographic contraction, residential construction volumes have provided adequate supply for prospective purchasers, with an average construction cost of $503,000 per dwelling sitting slightly above regional benchmarks to reflect a standard of quality. Concurrently, commercial development approvals have reached $38.1 million this financial year, underscoring substantial non-residential investment.
Per capita residential development in Parkes exceeds the Rest of NSW benchmark by 29.0% over the 5 year period, offering options for buyers while sustaining existing market demand despite recent moderation in construction. Recent building activity exhibits a shifting composition of 68.0% detached houses and 32.0% attached dwellings, delivering a broader spectrum of price points and dwelling styles spanning freestanding residences to compact living. This diverges from the established local stock of 89.0% houses, reflecting parcel constraints alongside evolving lifestyle and affordability considerations, while a ratio of 422 people per dwelling approval characterizes a comparatively subdued development tempo. Projections indicate that Parkes will add 760 residents leading up to 2041 based on recent quarterly AreaSearch estimates. At existing construction volumes, incoming residential additions should comfortably satisfy demand, sustaining favourable market conditions and providing headroom to accommodate growth beyond baseline expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Parkes (NSW)
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 16 current infrastructure and development projects inside Parkes (NSW), worth an estimated $1.2 billion. A further 77 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $41.2 billion. 31 are already under construction and 31 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects and regional planning developments play a pivotal role in shaping community economic performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 17 key initiatives with direct local relevance, prominent among them being the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, the Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension, the Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre Redevelopment, and the Rose Street Subdivision (Former Parkes Hospital Site).
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Parkes Special Activation Precinct
A 4,800-hectare master-planned industrial estate and inland port precinct at Parkes, focused on freight and logistics, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, energy and resource recovery. The NSW Government-led precinct has completed planning and is in the delivery phase, with development-ready serviced land, streamlined planning support and business concierge services available. Current works and related approvals include enabling infrastructure, road and utility upgrades, the determined 132kV and 66kV powerline augmentation works, and private developments such as Parkes Gateway retail and light industrial space.
Parkes Water Security Program
An $80 million water infrastructure program upgrading Parkes Shire's ageing water supply network. Works include duplication of 35 kilometres of raw water transfer pipeline, two new pump stations (Eugowra Road and Akuna Road), augmentation of the Lachlan River pump station, a new pre-treatment plant, a new 20ML raw water storage lagoon, bore refurbishments, and solar energy systems. The program will more than double Parkes' current water transfer capacity and future-proof supply for residential and industrial growth linked to the Parkes Special Activation Precinct.
Parkes Wetlands
Parkes Shire Council is transforming the former sewage treatment ponds on Akuna Road into the Parkes Wetlands, a major biodiversity, recreation and ecotourism destination. Stage 1 earthworks were completed in 2023 and the 2.5 km all-abilities walking track was completed in early 2025. Current works include boardwalks, bird hides, viewing platforms, habitat creation, revegetation, interpretive signage, public art and an outdoor learning shelter. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
Middleton Urban Masterplan
A long term strategic framework to transform Middleton from rural residential to urban residential land. The plan facilitates approximately 500 new dwellings and includes upgrades to water, sewer, stormwater, and transport infrastructure. It ensures connectivity to Parkes Hospital and integrates new open spaces and active transport networks to support sustainable population growth in southern Parkes.
East Parkes Master Plan and Servicing Strategy
Comprehensive urban framework guiding the development of the Tanks Road and Harrowvale precincts. The strategy integrates updated 2022 flood modelling to deliver sustainable infrastructure for water, sewer, and electricity, ultimately supporting approximately 3,480 new dwellings to address regional housing shortages.
Parkes National Logistics Hub Infrastructure Extension
Infrastructure servicing works to extend water, sewer, roads and other essential services supporting expansion of the Parkes National Logistics Hub within the Parkes Special Activation Precinct. The works enable further industrial and freight developments associated with the National Logistics Hub and support major logistics operators and intermodal freight growth.
Rose Street Subdivision (Former Parkes Hospital Site)
32-lot residential subdivision on the former Parkes Hospital site. Stage 1 will create 9 initial lots with completion scheduled for March 30, 2026. Project includes bulk earthworks, retaining walls, two new roads, and full servicing infrastructure. Development application was unanimously approved by Council in September 2023.
Wiradjuri Indigenous Cultural Garden
A value-add component of the Recycled Water Rising Main Project aimed at increasing community awareness of local Aboriginal heritage and culture. Part of efforts to preserve and celebrate Wiradjuri language and traditions in Parkes.
5,814 residents of Parkes (NSW) are employed, from a labour force of 6,066. Unemployment sits at 4.2%, with participation at 66.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Parkes supports a diversified workforce across white-collar, blue-collar, and essential service occupations, maintaining a local unemployment rate of 4.2% according to AreaSearch statistical aggregations. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 5,814, aligning closely with the Regional NSW unemployment benchmark of 4.1%, while labour force participation reached 66.0%, notably higher than the Regional NSW rate of 60.6%. Working from home accounted for 9.1% of residents at the Census, a figure subject to prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time. Major resident employers include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety.
Mining represents a prominent local specialisation, employing at 3.9 times the regional concentration. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for 13.2% of the local workforce, trailing the Regional NSW level of 16.9%. Comparisons between Census working numbers and the resident base suggest a constrained volume of employment opportunities within the immediate area. According to ABS and SALM statistical aggregations by AreaSearch, the year leading to March 2026 recorded a 1.2% reduction in the labour force and a 2.3% contraction in employment, driving a 1.1 percentage points increase in the jobless rate. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% dip in employment, a 0.4% decline in the labour force, and a 0.5 percentage points rise in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 suggest broader expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though industry variations apply. Applying these sectoral trajectories to the local industry distribution indicates potential job growth of 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years for Parkes, representing an unadjusted weighting extrapolation based on industry shares without local population factoring.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Parkes (NSW) is $1,401 a week (about $73,000 a year), with median personal income at $731 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $51,175 a year against an average of $63,618. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Postcode ATO figures for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch place Parkes incomes below nationwide benchmarks, recording a median of $51,175 and a mean of $63,618, compared to Regional NSW benchmarks of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Adjusting for a 10.32% Wage Price Index rise since financial year 2023 brings estimated figures to roughly $56,456 (median) and $70,183 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census positioned local personal, family, and household earnings between the 28th and 34th percentiles, with the primary weekly bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 encompassing 30.5% of earners (3,485 residents), closely matching the metropolitan figure of 29.9%.
Income retention after housing expenses stands at 87.0%, while overall disposable income ranks at the 32nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Parkes (NSW) had 4,278 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 89% detached houses and 7% apartments. 34% are owned with a mortgage, 30% rented and 35% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $260 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 18.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, the residential landscape in Parkes was dominated by separate houses at 88.9%, with remaining dwellings (apartments, semi-detached, and other structures) accounting for 11.1%, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings across Regional NSW. Outright home ownership stood at 35.4%, trailing the Regional NSW proportion, while mortgaged properties represented 34.2% and rental tenures comprised 30.4%. Typical housing expenses were comparatively modest, with median monthly mortgage payments of $1,300 and median weekly rent of $260, well below Regional NSW figures ($1,733 and $330) and nationwide averages ($1,863 for mortgages and $375 for rents).
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Parkes (NSW) counted 4,278 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 26% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 31% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 66.9% of all local households, divided between couples without children (27.5%), couples with children (26.0%), and single parent arrangements (12.7%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 33.1%, led by single-person residences at 30.5% and group households at 2.5%. The typical household size stands at 2.4 people, matching Regional NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.1% of adults in Parkes (NSW) hold a university qualification, including 10.4% with a bachelor degree and 2.1% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 86% of areas nationally. A further 31.8% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 1,858 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 932 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in the locality sits well below broader standards, with 14.1% of residents possessing a university qualification against the NSW rate of 32.2%. Among higher education degrees, bachelor programs constitute 10.4%, followed by postgraduate studies (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational training remains prominent, with 40.0% of the population aged 15+ holding technical credentials, comprising advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (31.8%). Formal study engagement is substantial, encompassing 29.0% of the local population. Within this cohort, 11.5% attend primary schools, 9.0% are in secondary education, and 2.0% are enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Parkes (NSW) reaches 547 stops on 40 routes, timetabled for about 750 services a week. The typical home sits about 130 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Parkes is equipped with 547 active public transport stops covering both rail and bus networks. These facilities are linked by 40 separate routes that generate 750 weekly passenger trips, providing strong accessibility with an average distance of 126 meters to the closest stop. Private vehicles serve as the primary commuting choice for 93% of outward journeys, while walking represents 5%, supported by an average rate of 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. Work-from-home participation was recorded at 9.1% at the 2021 Census, subject to potential COVID-19 influences. Weekly network schedules provide an average of 107 trips per day across all active routes, translating to roughly 1 weekly trips per individual stop, with the closest 100 stops displayed on the accompanying location map.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.2% of residents in Parkes (NSW) report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 86% of areas nationally. 7.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic condition incidence and mortality metrics indicate health challenges across younger and older cohorts in Parkes, while private health insurance uptake reaches approximately 52% of the population (~5,954 people), marginally exceeding the SA2 area average. Arthritis and asthma represent the most widespread chronic ailments, diagnosed in 9.7 and 9.6% of residents respectively, whereas 63.2% reported being free of medical conditions, in line with the 63.3% rate across Regional NSW. Elevated chronic illness persists among working-age individuals, while residents aged 65 and over number 2,353 people (20.6% of the population, below the 23.3% Regional NSW share) and exhibit high rates of health vulnerability relative to national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Parkes (NSW) is largely Australian-born, at 93.6% of residents, with 4.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (34.2%) and English (31.0%). 8.9% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Parkes sit below broader averages, with 90.9% of residents holding Australian citizenship, 93.6% born domestically, and 95.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity forms the predominant religious affiliation, encompassing 68.4% of the population compared to 55.9% throughout Regional NSW. The primary reported ancestries across Parkes include Australian (34.2%), English (31.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.9%). Specific comparative variations also appear across other backgrounds, including South Australian representation at 0.3% (against 0.2% regionally), Irish at 8.0% (against 8.8%), and Maltese at 0.3% (against 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Parkes (NSW) is 39. 25.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age structure in the suburb of Parkes (NSW) skews younger than Regional NSW. As of August 2026 estimates, individuals aged 0 - 24 comprise 32.5% of the local population versus 29.3% regionally, while seniors aged 65+ represent 20.6% compared to 23.3% in Regional NSW. The estimated median age of 39 as at August 2026 matches the 2021 Census figure, sitting 4 years below the Regional NSW median of 43 recorded at that Census. Young to middle-aged adults (25 - 44) have risen from 23.0% to an estimated 24.7% since the Census and are projected to generate the majority of future demographic gains by 2041, increasing by 560 residents (20%) to reach 3,382, while cohorts of mature adults and early retirees are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Parkes (NSW)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 16 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 125 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (11,324 at the 2021 Census → 11,427 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL13162). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.