Parkes
High vacancy, detached housing and slow population change are the defining signals in Parkes. The suburb has 11,324 residents spread across 983.11 sq km, so density is only 11.5 people per sq km compared with metropolitan norms. Compared with nearby Peak Hill and Trundle, Parkes functions more as the regional service centre, helped by 6 schools and a $460,000 median house price. Household income sits at the 40.3 percentile, while university attainment is 11.2 percentage points below the national level.
Population
11,324
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,401/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
129
Median House
$460K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
For buyers, Parkes is mostly a house market: 88.9% of dwellings are separate houses vs 6.6% apartments, with 43.5% having 3 bedrooms and 37.4% having 4 or more. A $460,000 median house price and $1,300 monthly mortgage support family-scale buying because mortgage costs take 21.4% of income. That sits below typical stress levels, while rent-to-income is 18.6%, giving households some buffer compared with higher-cost NSW markets.
For Buyers
For buyers, Parkes is mostly a house market: 88.9% of dwellings are separate houses vs 6.6% apartments, with 43.5% having 3 bedrooms and 37.4% having 4 or more. A $460,000 median house price and $1,300 monthly mortgage support family-scale buying because mortgage costs take 21.4% of income. That sits below typical stress levels, while rent-to-income is 18.6%, giving households some buffer compared with higher-cost NSW markets.
For Investors
Parkes gives investors yield-style affordability but also a clear vacancy warning. Renters make up 30.4% of households compared with 35.3% owned outright and 34.3% with a mortgage, so demand is present but not dominant. Weekly rent is $260, while the vacancy rate is 11.6%, which is higher than a tight rental market and can slow leasing. The 114 development applications add supply-side competition, even as rents have risen 55.7% over the longer shift period.
Development Activity
Total DAs
704
Last 12 Months
129
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Parkes iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Parkes Christian School
K-12 · 402 students
Holy Family Parish School
K-6 · 171 students
Parkes East Public School
K-6 · 281 students
Parkes Public School
K-6 · 363 students
Parkes High School
7-12 · 467 students
Demographics
Parkes is older-local and Anglo-leaning rather than migrant-led. The median age is 39, which is 1.0 year below the national comparison, but overseas-born residents are only 6.4%, or 15.2 percentage points below national. University attainment is 18.9%, 11.2 points below national, because the economy leans more toward services, mining, administration and trades. English ancestry is the largest count at 4,660, with Irish at 1,200 and Scottish at 961.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.9%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
6.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Parkes is broad-block and ownership-heavy. The latest price series moved from $440,000 in 2024 to $465,000 in 2025, a 5.7% rise, with the 2025 result also the peak. Separate houses at 88.9% rank far above apartments at 6.6%, so buyers are mainly comparing house quality, land and renovation level rather than unit stock. Ownership is split between 35.3% outright, 34.3% mortgaged and 30.4% renting, while the house price is about 6.3 times annual household income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$731
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.6%
Unoccupied
563
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.5%
Couples, no children
8,502
Total families
Economy & Employment
Parkes has a service-and-industry employment base rather than a single-sector profile. Healthcare leads at 15.7% of workers, followed by Public Admin at 12.2%, Education at 12.0%, Mining at 11.4% and Construction at 7.2%. The occupation mix is practical: Professionals number 785, Managers 616 and Machinery or Drivers 606. Unemployment is 5.2% with participation at 55.3%. SEIFA is below advantaged-area levels, with IEO decile 2, IER decile 3, IRSD decile 2 and IRSAD decile 2, reflecting modest incomes despite mining-linked jobs.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
5,851
Unemployed
241
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.0%
Part-time
26.8%
Participation
55.3%
Employed
4,709
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.9%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
6.4%
Dwellings
4,248
Transport to Work
Parkes is practical for car-based households. Public transport use is only 0.3% compared with 87.0% driving, while 5.2% walk or cycle, so access to work, school and shops depends heavily on vehicle convenience. The school network is a strength, with 6 local schools across Government, Catholic and Independent sectors and an ICSEA range from 891 to 1014. Parkes Christian School leads at 1014 with 402 enrolments, followed by Holy Family Parish School at 988 and Parkes East Public School at 949. IRSAD decile 2 points to lower area advantage.
Drive
87.0%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.06%/yr
(-7 people/yr)
EstablishedParkes is forecast to be broadly flat to slightly lower, not a high-growth market. The trend rate is -0.06% a year, equal to about -7 people annually, and the medium scenario moves from 11,033 in 2026 to 11,000 in 2031. Migration is mixed: overseas migration is the primary driver at +33 people a year, but average net internal migration is -48, so local outflow more than offsets arrivals. The age shift also matters, with young share down 2.5 points and seniors up 2.4. Current gentrification is scored 0 and labelled Not gentrifying.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+33
Net Internal / yr
-48
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Parkes compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parkes a good suburb to live in?
Parkes suits buyers wanting space, schools and regional services at a lower entry price. It has 11,324 residents, 88.9% separate houses and 6 local schools, but car reliance is high with 87.0% driving to work and only 0.3% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Parkes?
The median house price in Parkes is $460,000, while the latest price series shows $465,000 in 2025. Prices rose from $440,000 in 2024 to $465,000 in 2025, a 5.7% increase over 1 year.
What schools are in Parkes?
Parkes has 6 local schools. The highest ICSEA is Parkes Christian School at 1014 with 402 enrolments, followed by Holy Family Parish School at 988 and Parkes East Public School at 949. The sector mix includes Independent, Catholic and Government options.
Is Parkes safe?
No suburb-level crime rate is available for Parkes, so safety needs street-level checks rather than a simple rank. For context, it is a 11,324-person centre with 87.0% of commuters driving, so lighting, parking and routes near work or school matter.
Is Parkes good for property investment?
Parkes has investor appeal through a $260 weekly rent, 30.4% renting households and 55.7% rent growth over the longer shift period. The caution is vacancy: 11.6% is high, and 114 recent development applications may add leasing competition.
How is Parkes's population changing?
Parkes is close to flat but slightly declining. The forecast trend is -0.06% a year, or about -7 people annually, with the medium scenario moving from 11,033 in 2026 to 11,000 in 2031. Internal migration averages -48 a year, partly offset by +33 overseas migration.
Is there much development in Parkes?
Yes. Parkes recorded 114 development applications over 12 months, including new dwelling and shed applications. That level of activity can refresh older stock, but it also matters for investors because extra supply may add pressure when vacancy is already 11.6%.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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