Parkwood (WA)

Parkwood 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 ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census Parkwood's population is estimated at around 6,341 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 346 people (5.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,995 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,341, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and an additional 30 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,732 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 87.0% 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 any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national statistical areas is expected, with the area expected to increase by 519 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting with an increase of 8.2% in total over the 16 years.

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

Parkwood's residential building figures, sourced from AreaSearch calculations of statistical area data from the ABS, show a yearly average of approximately 35 new home approvals. Within the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), 176 residences were approved, alongside 16 approvals recorded so far during FY-26. Given that only a single person annually has relocated to the district for every home constructed during the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the volume of housing supply aligns with or exceeds local demand. This scenario grants prospective purchasers a wider selection while supporting the possibility of population growth exceeding forecasted figures, all while new properties are being established at a mean valuation of $343,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals reached $2.4 million in the current financial year, highlighting that the neighborhood remains predominantly residential.

Relative to Greater Perth, the pace of construction in Parkwood is moderately elevated, sitting 11.0% above the regional average per capita over the 5 year period. This dynamic preserves options for purchasers and maintains demand for the existing housing stock, even though overall building activity has slowed down in recent times. Furthermore, recent development projects have consisted entirely of standalone dwellings, reinforcing the low-density suburban character of the area with a concentration of spacious properties well-suited for family living. This new construction trends more heavily toward detached properties than the existing housing profile indicates (84.0% at Census), showing that demand for family-sized dwellings remains strong despite overall pressure for higher density. With a ratio of approximately 436 people for each approval, Parkwood exhibits the characteristics of a mature property market.

Demographic projections indicate that Parkwood will add 519 new inhabitants by 2041, starting from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given the current pace of construction, the supply of housing is anticipated to sufficiently satisfy local demand, creating advantageous conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population expansion that outpaces current forecasts.

Parkwood has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning policies are key drivers of local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 4 projects that are anticipated to influence the local area. The main developments of interest include METRONET Tulloch Way Housing Development, Warehouse Style Sports Centre at 39 Magnet Road, Market City Wholesale Fresh Produce Market, and 4WD Supa Centre Warehouse DC and Retail Showroom, with details provided below for those most relevant to the suburb.

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 environment in Parkwood shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Parkwood is characterized by a highly educated workforce with strong representation in key service sectors, showing an unemployment rate of just 3.4% and an estimated employment growth of 1.2% over the prior year, according to AreaSearch compilation of statistical area datasets. As of March 2026, there are 3,420 employed locals, with the unemployment rate tracking 0.8% below the Greater Perth figure of 4.2%. However, the rate of labor force participation is slightly lower than the regional baseline, at 66.4% compared to 70.2% for Greater Perth. Census records indicate that a small proportion of residents, only 6.3%, worked from home, though this figure should be interpreted in light of local COVID-19 lockdown measures.

The primary employment fields for local workers are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The neighborhood exhibits a particularly high concentration of manufacturing workers, with employment levels in this sector reaching 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, the construction sector is underrepresented, employing only 7.2% of the Parkwood workforce compared to 9.3% across Greater Perth. The heavily residential character of the suburb appears to offer few jobs within its own boundaries, as demonstrated by the imbalance between the Census working population and the resident population.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from the surrounding region, the 12 months leading up to March 2026 saw local employment rise by 1.2% while the total labor force also expanded by 1.2%, leaving the unemployment rate virtually unchanged. This differs from the broader Greater Perth region, where employment grew by 2.0%, the labor force increased by 2.5%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. The national employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding future labor demand in Parkwood. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to estimate future employment trends. While total employment nationwide is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the growth trajectories vary widely by industry. Weighting these sectoral projections against the local employment profile suggests that Parkwood's employment could grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a basic weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes that excludes localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to the latest ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the suburb of Parkwood's income level is below the national average. The suburb of Parkwood's median income among taxpayers is $50,572 and the average income stands at $64,783, which compares to figures for Greater Perth's of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $56,100 (median) and $71,864 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Parkwood, between the 36th and 41st percentiles. Income analysis reveals the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 33.2% of residents (2,105 people), aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort likewise represents 32.0%. After housing, 86.6% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Parkwood is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The mix of housing types in Parkwood at the time of the latest Census consisted of 84.0% separate houses and 15.9% other dwelling styles, such as semi-detached homes and apartments, compared to a breakdown of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership was significantly more common in Parkwood than in the broader Perth metro area, with 42.6% of properties owned outright, while the remaining homes were occupied by residents with a mortgage (37.7%) or tenants (19.6%). The median monthly payment for home loans in the suburb stood at $1,677, which was substantially lower than the Perth metro median of $1,907. Weekly rent payments had a median value of $350, matching the Perth metro median of $350. On a national level, Parkwood's mortgage costs are below the Australian median of $1,863, and local rents are also lower than the country-wide median of $375.

Parkwood has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the vast majority of households at 72.9%, which includes couples with children at 32.7%, couples without children at 27.1%, and single-parent households at 11.9%. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.1% of the total, with single-person households representing 24.4% and group households making up 2.7%. The median number of occupants per household is 2.5, which is slightly below the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Parkwood aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational attainment levels in Parkwood are lower than the regional averages, with 29.0% of residents aged 15 and over having earned a university degree, compared to 38.6% within the broader SA3 area. This difference points to opportunities for future educational growth and vocational training. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher qualification at 20.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 6.1% and graduate diplomas at 2.5%. Vocational and technical education is highly prevalent, with 32.4% of the population aged 15 and over holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 22.0%.

The level of enrollment in educational institutions is quite high, with 25.6% of the population actively participating in some form of structured learning. This group includes 8.4% attending primary schools, 5.8% studying at tertiary institutions, and 5.7% enrolled in secondary education.

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

Analysis of the local transit network shows 47 active public transport stops operating in the suburb of Parkwood (WA), consisting of bus services. These locations are linked by 6 distinct routes, which together accommodate 1,734 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transit is highly convenient, with residents living an average of 179 meters from their nearest stop. Because the suburb is primarily residential, the majority of working residents commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice at 83% and rail travel accounting for 8%. Household car ownership stands at an average of 1.5 vehicles per home. A comparatively small share of the population, 6.3%, worked from home, based on the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic-related conditions.

Across all transit routes, services run at an average frequency of 247 trips per day, which translates to approximately 36 weekly services for each individual stop.

The level of general health in Parkwood is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and the occurrence of long-term illnesses, Parkwood records positive health profiles, with low rates of common medical conditions observed across both younger and older age brackets. The proportion of residents with private health insurance is slightly ahead of the typical SA2 area, representing approximately 53% of the population (~3,355 people), which compares to 59.0% across the Greater Perth region.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnoses among local residents, affecting 7.5% and 6.7% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 70.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% for the Greater Perth area. Health profiles for working-age individuals are generally standard. Residents aged 65 and older represent 21.4% of the community (1,356 people), which exceeds the 16.1% average across Greater Perth. The health of the senior population is particularly strong, showing national rankings that align closely with the broader population.

Parkwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Parkwood exhibits a high degree of multiculturalism, with 33.9% of the local population communicating in a language other than English when at home, and 48.0% of residents having been born overseas. Christianity stands as the primary religious affiliation, claimed by 42.4% of the community. Notably, Buddhism shows a significant local concentration, with 8.1% of residents identifying with the faith, which is substantially higher than the Greater Perth average of 2.7%.

Regarding ethnic heritage based on parental birthplaces, the largest ancestry groups in Parkwood are English at 23.7%, Australian at 17.5%, and Chinese at 16.4%, with the Chinese cohort being notably larger than the metropolitan Perth average of 4.0%. Several other ethnic backgrounds show distinct concentrations compared to regional trends, including Korean at 1.1% of the local population (compared to 0.3% across the region), Dutch at 1.8% (compared to 1.5%), and South Australian at 0.8% (compared to 1.0%).

Parkwood's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age of 42 years in the suburb of Parkwood (WA) is significantly higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 years and also older than the national median of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age bracket is well represented at 12.3% compared to Greater Perth, while the 25 - 34 age group is less common at 12.1%. Demographic data compiled since the 2021 Census shows that the 15 to 24 age cohort has increased from 10.1% to 11.5% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 6.0% to 7.1%. In contrast, the proportion of residents aged 55 to 64 has fallen from 14.0% to 12.1%. Demographic projections for 2041 point to major changes in the suburb of Parkwood (WA). The 75 to 84 cohort will see the most significant growth, increasing by 43% (194 people) to reach 645 residents from an initial 450. Overall, the combined cohorts aged 65 and older are expected to make up 54% of the total population growth, highlighting the aging character of the area. On the other hand, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to contract.