Parkside
Parkside combines a 31-year median age with a 24.8% vacancy rate, an unusual pairing for a compact suburb of 1.48 sq km and 1,530 people. Household income sits at the 89.2nd percentile, while age is 9 years below the national figure, pointing to a relatively young, income-strong base despite an aging trajectory. Detached housing makes up 75.0%, and 46.4% of households rent, creating a mix of family stock and mobile tenants. Compared with nearby Soldiers Hill, buyers should focus on the exact dwelling and street because Parkside's high vacancy can produce a different rental experience. Mining supplies 35.2% of jobs, linking local conditions to resource-sector cycles.
Local council: Mount Isa
Population
1,530
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,347/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Parkside suits buyers who value detached housing and manageable recurring costs, but no current median sale price is available, so recent comparables matter more than a suburb-wide headline. Mortgage repayments are $1,428 monthly, while median weekly rent is $320 and mortgage costs equal 14.1% of household income. The mix is more detached than apartment-based: 75.0% separate houses, 17.6% semi-detached dwellings and 7.5% apartments. Three-bedroom homes lead at 42.0%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 29.7%. Compared with an apartment-led market, Parkside provides more ground-oriented stock, although 46.4% renting means buyers should test tenant demand street by street.
For Buyers
Parkside suits buyers who value detached housing and manageable recurring costs, but no current median sale price is available, so recent comparables matter more than a suburb-wide headline. Mortgage repayments are $1,428 monthly, while median weekly rent is $320 and mortgage costs equal 14.1% of household income. The mix is more detached than apartment-based: 75.0% separate houses, 17.6% semi-detached dwellings and 7.5% apartments. Three-bedroom homes lead at 42.0%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 29.7%. Compared with an apartment-led market, Parkside provides more ground-oriented stock, although 46.4% renting means buyers should test tenant demand street by street.
For Investors
Parkside has a renter-heavy tenure profile: 46.4% rent, 16.0% own outright and 30.6% pay a mortgage. Weekly rent is $320, but the 24.8% vacancy rate is higher than a tight rental market would support, so reletting periods deserve conservative modelling. Parkside recorded 0 development projects over the past 12 months, limiting a near-term supply signal. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while mining accounts for 35.2% of employment and can make demand cyclical. Compared with lower-vacancy markets, investors need a larger buffer for vacancy and maintenance because no median house price is available for a reliable gross yield.
Schools in Parkside
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Spinifex State College - Mount Isa Education and Training Precinct
Demographics
Parkside's median age is 31, 9 years below the national comparison, but the suburb is on an aging trajectory: senior share rose 6.1 percentage points while working share fell 4.2. University attainment is 25.6%, 4.5 points below nationally, and 19.6% were born overseas, 2.0 points below the national figure. English ancestry leads with 460 people, followed by Irish at 170 and Scottish at 123. Christianity counts 707 people and no religion 626. Average household size is 2.5, equal to the national comparison; 69.8% stayed at the same address, versus 30.2% turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.0%
Houses
17.6%
Townhouse
7.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Parkside's tenure pattern is more rental-oriented than outright ownership: 46.4% rent, 30.6% have a mortgage and 16.0% own outright. That mix helps explain why a 24.8% vacancy rate matters to residents and landlords, as available properties can affect bargaining power and turnover. Separate houses account for 75.0%, compared with 7.5% apartments and 17.6% semi-detached dwellings. The dominant bedroom profile is 3 bedrooms at 42.0%, with 29.7% containing 4 or more and 20.9% containing 2. Compared with an apartment-led suburb, Parkside provides more detached stock, but the absence of a median sale price means affordability should be tested against current sales, $1,428 monthly mortgage costs and $2,347 weekly household income.
Mortgage / mo
$1,428
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,214
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
24.8%
Unoccupied
180
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.7%
Couples with children
39.1%
Couples, no children
16.8%
Single parent
381
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is Parkside's economic anchor, employing 185 people or 35.2% of workers, well above the next industries: healthcare at 94 people (17.9%) and education at 56 (10.6%). Public administration contributes 39 (7.4%), while construction adds 25 (4.8%). This concentration can lift local incomes when resource activity is strong, but it also leaves household conditions more exposed to mining cycles than a broadly distributed employment base. The occupation mix reinforces that blend: professionals number 177, trades 174 and machinery/drivers 103, ahead of clerical/admin at 89 and labourers at 83. Unemployment is 3.5%, participation is 72.0% and full-time employment is 75.1%. Household income ranks above the national midpoint at the 89.2nd percentile, although the mining share is the standout difference.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
865
Unemployed
30
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
75.1%
Part-time
18.9%
Participation
72.0%
Employed
835
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.6%
Postgraduate
4.3%
Born Overseas
19.6%
Dwellings
547
Transport to Work
Parkside is compact at 1.48 sq km, with a density of 1,030.4 people per sq km and a population of 1,530. Daily movement is strongly car-led: 81.8% drove as a car occupant, compared with 5.8% walking or cycling and 1.9% working from home, so reliable vehicle access matters more than in a walk-and-cycle-oriented area. One nearby school is a government state high school, Spinifex State College - Mount Isa Education and Training Precinct; families should check enrolment zones and primary options against the exact address. With no suburb crime rate available, inspect lighting, traffic and surrounding streets at different times before renting or buying. The 24.8% vacancy rate may improve choice for renters but can also reflect changing demand.
Drive
81.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.8%
Work from Home
1.9%
Growth Outlook
Parkside's established-area trend is moderate at 0.54% annual growth, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 6.9% over 10 years, positive but slower than a high-growth corridor. The trajectory is Aging: senior share is up 6.1 percentage points, working share down 4.2, and rent growth is 25.0%. Gentrification is rated Not gentrifying with a score of 10, so change is more likely to be gradual than redevelopment-led. Affordability improved from 41.2 in 2011 to 38.2 in 2021, making migration and employment conditions more important than rapid redevelopment.
Population trend: Mount Isa council area
Parkside sits in the Mount Isa council area. These are the council area's residents, not Parkside's.
Residents 2025
18,585
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.8%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Parkside compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parkside a good suburb to live in?
Parkside can suit residents who prefer detached housing and a mining-linked economy. It has 1,530 residents, a median age of 31, 75.0% separate houses and a 24.8% vacancy rate. Car dependence is high at 81.8%, so lifestyle fit depends on transport needs and the exact street.
What is the median house price in Parkside?
A current median house price is not available for Parkside. Compare at least 3 recent comparable sales and check dwelling condition, because 75.0% of stock is separate houses while the 24.8% vacancy rate can make broad suburb averages less useful. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,428.
What schools are in Parkside?
Parkside has 1 nearby school identified as a government state high school: Spinifex State College - Mount Isa Education and Training Precinct. Confirm enrolment zones, primary options, transport and year-level availability before committing to an address, since school access can vary across the area.
Is Parkside safe?
A definitive suburb crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked at street level rather than inferred from Parkside's 1,530 residents. Review recent police incident information, lighting, traffic and surrounding activity, and inspect the property at both daytime and evening before deciding.
Is Parkside good for property investment?
Parkside may suit a conservative, income-tested strategy rather than a high-yield assumption. Weekly rent is $320 and 46.4% of households rent, but vacancy is 24.8% and there were 0 development projects recorded over 12 months. Mining represents 35.2% of employment, so model vacancy, maintenance and employment-cycle risk carefully.
How is Parkside's population changing?
Parkside's current population is 1,530. Growth is forecast at 0.54% annually, while population change across the wider area is 6.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.1 percentage points and the working share down 4.2.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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