Parkwood (Qld)

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 was estimated at 9,157 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 320 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,837. AreaSearch estimates this increase based on resident population data from June 2024 and six validated new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density is 1,646 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78% of recent population gains in Parkwood (Qld).

Population projections for the area are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 using 2021 data. Future population growth is expected to be just below the median for non-metropolitan areas in Australia, with an increase of 1,343 persons anticipated by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.5% over 17 years.

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 averaged approximately 43 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 216 homes were approved, with one more in FY-26 so far. On average, about 0.4 people per year moved to the area for each dwelling built over these years.

This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering buyers greater choice while supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction value of new properties was approximately $398,000. In FY-26, $87,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's residential nature. Comparatively, Parkwood maintains similar construction rates per person when measured against the Rest of Qld, indicating a balanced market consistent with the broader area. Recent construction comprised 7.0% detached dwellings and 93.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 91.0% houses).

This trend suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With around 1824 people per dwelling approval, Parkwood reflects a highly mature market. Looking ahead, AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Parkwood's population to grow by approximately 1,331 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable 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

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes to its local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 31 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable among these are the 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 projects considered 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.

Employment performance in Parkwood has been broadly consistent with national averages

Parkwood's workforce comprises skilled individuals with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.2% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.2% over the preceding year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. As of that date, 5,189 residents were employed, mirroring Rest of Qld's unemployment rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation was 69.6%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses indicated a low home work percentage of 12.4%, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors include 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%. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 1.2%, while labour force grew by 2.0%, raising unemployment by 0.7 percentage points. Rest of Qld recorded higher employment growth (1.7%) but similar labour force and unemployment changes. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parkwood's industry mix suggests local employment could grow by 6.7% in five years and 13.9% in ten years, though these estimates are illustrative and do not account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 on June 15, 2023. Parkwood's median income among taxpayers was $48,663 with an average of $63,270. This is below the national average. Rest of Qld had a median income of $53,146 and an average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Parkwood are approximately $53,486 (median) and $69,540 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows household income ranks at the 69th percentile ($2,064 weekly), while personal income is at the 35th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 37.5% of residents earn $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (3,433 residents). This aligns with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 31.7%. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income. Despite this, disposable income ranks 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

In Parkwood, as per the latest Census evaluation, 90.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 9.3% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Qld's figures, which showed 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkwood stood at 27.7%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 41.9% and rented dwellings making up 30.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,894, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure 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 comprising 6.8%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Parkwood demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 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 prominent, with 36.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 24.5%.

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

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

Parkwood has 41 active public transport stops, offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by five routes, facilitating 1,628 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is considered good, with residents living an average of 209 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport, used by 89% of residents. On average, there are 1.9 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

Only 12.4% of residents work from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 232 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 39 weekly trips per stop.

Parkwood's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Parkwood's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions.

Prevalence of common health issues is low across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of Parkwood's total population (~4,786 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (7.4%) and arthritis (7.3%), with 71.5% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Under-65 population shows better health outcomes than average. Parkwood has 14.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,309 people), lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, matching national rankings for 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 was found to be more linguistically diverse than most local areas, with 17.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Born overseas, 33.3% of Parkwood residents were recorded. Christianity was the predominant religion in Parkwood, comprising 47.2%.

Islam's presence was notably higher in Parkwood at 2.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 0.6%. In terms of ancestry, English (29.0%), Australian (21.9%), and Other (9.9%) were the top groups represented. Notably, New Zealanders made up 1.7% of Parkwood's population versus 0.9% regionally, Maori at 2.0% compared to 0.8%, and Russians at 0.5% against 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 median age of 38. The 15-24 cohort is over-represented in Parkwood at 18.7%, compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 4.3%. This concentration of the 15-24 age group is higher than the national figure of 12.5%. Between 2021 and now, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 13.3% to 15.9%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 17.2% to 18.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 11.8% to 9.7% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 13.6% to 11.8%. By 2041, Parkwood's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is expected to expand by 515 people (35%), growing from 1,455 to 1,971. Conversely, the 15 to 24 group is projected to decrease by 88 residents.