Peak Hill
Peak Hill's most striking feature is its scale: 1,162 residents spread across 1,263.25 square kilometres, producing a density of just 0.9 people per square kilometre. At a median age of 48, the resident base is 8 years above the national comparison, while overseas-born residents account for only 6.0%, 15.6 percentage points below the national figure. That low density matters because it creates space and quiet but also limits service choice. The 92.8% separate-house share and 13.9% vacancy rate set Peak Hill apart from denser regional centres such as Parkes.
Local council: Parkes
Population
1,162
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$996/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Peak Hill suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable regular housing costs rather than apartment access or a large choice of stock. Separate houses make up 92.8% of dwellings, compared with 1.6% apartments and 3.6% semi-detached homes. Outright ownership is 47.6%, while 19.1% of households hold a mortgage. The average mortgage payment is $814 per month, equal to 18.9% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged. Rent averages $185 weekly. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 47.8%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 25.3%, giving family buyers more choice than apartment-style purchasers. A 13.9% vacancy rate may mean slower competition than in tighter regional markets because available stock is not especially scarce.
For Buyers
Peak Hill suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable regular housing costs rather than apartment access or a large choice of stock. Separate houses make up 92.8% of dwellings, compared with 1.6% apartments and 3.6% semi-detached homes. Outright ownership is 47.6%, while 19.1% of households hold a mortgage. The average mortgage payment is $814 per month, equal to 18.9% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged. Rent averages $185 weekly. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 47.8%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 25.3%, giving family buyers more choice than apartment-style purchasers. A 13.9% vacancy rate may mean slower competition than in tighter regional markets because available stock is not especially scarce.
For Investors
Peak Hill presents a small, low-density rental market where tenant depth needs careful checking. Rents average $185 a week, 28.3% of households rent and vacancy is 13.9%, higher than the low-vacancy conditions investors generally target. That vacancy level may restrain rent growth because available homes can outnumber the immediate pool of tenants. Development activity totals 5 applications over 12 months, including a dwelling house, shed and signage, so new competing stock appears modest rather than expansive. Employment is anchored by healthcare at 25.9% and agriculture at 24.6%, with education at 14.7%, making demand more tied to local services and rural conditions than in a diversified regional centre. Compared with Parkes, investors should verify tenant turnover, maintenance costs and resale liquidity before assuming a standard regional strategy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
33
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Peak Hill
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Peak Hill has an older, settled population profile. Median age is 48, which is 8 years above the national comparison, and 83.4% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period, leaving turnover at 16.6%. Average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national figure, consistent with 42.9% of families being couples without children and 27.3% being one-parent families. English ancestry is the largest reported background at 427 people, followed by Scottish at 105 and Irish at 81. Christianity is reported by 705 residents, while 270 report no religion. University participation is 17.8%, 12.3 percentage points below the national comparison, so the education profile is less graduate-heavy than larger centres. This matters because stable, older households tend to support predictable local service demand but can reduce population turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.8%
Houses
3.6%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Peak Hill's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached and predominantly owner-occupied. Separate houses account for 92.8% of dwellings, versus 1.6% apartments and 3.6% semi-detached homes. Outright ownership is 47.6%, mortgage ownership 19.1% and renting 28.3%, so owner occupation is clearly higher than the renting share. The typical home profile is practical rather than high-density: 47.8% have 3 bedrooms and 25.3% have 4 or more, while 20.7% have 2 bedrooms. Housing costs appear contained relative to income, with mortgage payments at $814 monthly or 18.9% of household income, and rent at $185 weekly or 18.6% of income. Compared with denser regional locations, Peak Hill has a much higher detached share and lower apartment presence, but the 13.9% vacancy rate can reduce urgency for both buyers and landlords because stock is not especially tight.
Mortgage / mo
$814
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$185
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$503
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.9%
Unoccupied
73
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.7%
Couples with children
42.9%
Couples, no children
27.3%
Single parent
275
Total families
Economy & Employment
Peak Hill's employment base is concentrated in essential and land-linked sectors. Healthcare employs 58 people, or 25.9% of the industry mix, agriculture 55 or 24.6%, and education 33 or 14.7%; mining adds 20 or 8.9%, while hospitality accounts for 14 or 6.2%. This mix supports everyday services and farm-linked activity, but it is less diversified than a larger regional economy because the top sectors dominate local employment. Managers are the largest occupation group at 116 people, ahead of community and personal service workers at 59 and professionals at 51. Unemployment is 9.8%, participation is 45.3% and full-time employment is 63.4%, while 383 people are outside the labour force. Household income sits at the 12.8th percentile, below national levels, so local spending power is likely more constrained than in higher-income centres. The combination of agriculture, healthcare and education makes the economy locally useful but sensitive to rural conditions and public-sector demand.
Unemployment
9.8%
Labour Force
427
Unemployed
42
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.4%
Part-time
30.4%
Participation
45.3%
Employed
385
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.8%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
6.0%
Dwellings
443
Transport to Work
Peak Hill offers a low-density lifestyle shaped by driving, local schooling and space. The town covers 1,263.25 square kilometres at 0.9 people per square kilometre; 65.2% of residents drive a car to work, 8.2% walk or cycle and 23.0% work from home. Driving is substantially higher than walking or cycling because distances and service access favour private vehicles. Peak Hill Central School is the local Government Central/Community school, giving families a nearby education option, though enrolment boundaries should be checked against the exact address. With 1,162 residents and an average household size of 2.2, services are likely to be more limited than in larger regional centres. Volunteering is 23.1%, and 9.7% of residents need assistance, pointing to community participation alongside a meaningful need for support. For safety, compare current local incident information with nearby Parkes and the wider region before deciding.
Drive
65.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
23.0%
Growth Outlook
Peak Hill's current growth signals point to incremental change rather than rapid expansion. Development activity totals 5 applications across 12 months, including a dwelling house, shed and signage, while the town has 1,162 residents across 1,263.25 square kilometres. The 13.9% vacancy rate suggests more capacity than a tightly supplied market, and the 16.6% turnover rate means most residents, 83.4%, remained at the same address. Compared with denser regional centres, this points to a slower-moving housing market because existing stock is not under acute pressure. Future momentum will depend on healthcare, education, agriculture and local employment retaining households, while limited development activity indicates that construction is unlikely to transform the town quickly.
Population trend: Parkes council area
Peak Hill sits in the Parkes council area. These are the council area's residents, not Peak Hill's.
Residents 2025
14,175
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.4%
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 Peak Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peak Hill a good suburb to live in?
Peak Hill can suit buyers seeking space, quieter streets and a settled community. It has 1,162 residents, 92.8% separate houses and 65.2% car commuting, so it fits a low-density lifestyle better than an apartment-oriented centre. Check service access and travel times before moving.
What is the median house price in Peak Hill?
No dependable current median house price is available for Peak Hill. The housing stock is 92.8% separate houses, while 47.6% of households own outright. Check recent settled sales across the past 12 months because a small market can produce unstable medians.
What schools are in Peak Hill?
Peak Hill Central School is the local Government Central/Community school. The suburb has 1,162 residents and a low density of 0.9 people per square kilometre, so families should confirm year-level availability, transport and enrolment boundaries for the exact address.
Is Peak Hill safe?
Peak Hill's current crime rate is not stated, so a firm safety rating would be misleading. The town has 1,162 residents across 1,263.25 square kilometres; check recent local incidents and compare them with nearby Parkes or the wider region before deciding.
Is Peak Hill good for property investment?
Peak Hill may suit an investor who understands small rural markets, but vacancy needs attention. Rents average $185 a week, 28.3% of households rent and vacancy is 13.9%, so tenant depth may be thinner than in tighter markets. Verify demand, maintenance and resale liquidity before buying.
How is Peak Hill's population changing?
Peak Hill has a settled population pattern rather than high turnover: 83.4% stayed at the same address and 16.6% moved during the reference period. Its median age of 48 is 8 years above the national comparison, suggesting gradual change as older households remain in place.
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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