Parkes, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Parkes NSW is 11,324 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Parkes is $731 per week ($38,012 per year). Median rent in Parkes is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Parkes has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Parkes has a population density of 12 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Parkes is England. The most common religion is No religion (27.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous Languages. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Parkes is $1,300.

There were 386 recorded offences in Parkes in 2025-26, a rate of 34 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (94 offences).

Population
11,324
Census 2021
Median income
$731/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$260/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
39years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Parkes vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Parkes is $731 a week, 4% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,241st of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $260 a week, $125 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 18.6% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 39, 4 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureParkesTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$731/wk$765/wk −4%$766/wk
Household income$1,401/wk$1,704/wk −18%$1,637/wk
Rent$260/wk$385/wk −32%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,300/mo$1,965/mo −34%$1,733/mo
Median age3943 −4 yrs42
Rent share of household income18.6%22.6% −4.0 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Parkes, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Parkes Population

11,324 residents at the 2021 Census.

Parkes Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$731/wk
$38,012 per year
Ranked 4,899 of 14,663
Median Rent
$260/wk
$1,127 per month
Ranked 5,884 of 14,663
Median Age
39years
1 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,300/mo
Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Parkes Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,401/wk
Median rent $260/wk
Rent to income 18.6%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Parkes against your income

About $6,071 a month
Median rent $260/wk
Left after rent $1,141/wk
Rent share 18.6%

Parkes Map

Parkes, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Parkes

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.2% (5,569) Female 50.8% (5,752)

Population Density

12
people per km²
11,324 people · 983.1 km²

Households

2.4
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,863
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
0.9%
Philippines
0.7%
New Zealand
0.6%
South Africa
0.4%
China
0.3%
Nepal
0.2%
India
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Australian Indigenous Languages
0.3%
Afrikaans
0.3%
Nepali
0.3%
Mandarin
0.3%
Tagalog
0.2%
Cantonese
0.2%
Filipino
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
45.3%
English
41.2%
Australian Aboriginal
11.9%
Irish
10.6%
Scottish
8.5%
German
3.6%
Italian
1.4%
Dutch
1.2%
Filipino
0.9%
Chinese
0.8%
French
0.4%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
27.6%
Catholic
25.7%
Anglican
21.1%
Not stated
7.5%
Uniting Church
5.3%
Presbyterian and Reformed
3.2%
Christian (other)
2.5%
Baptist
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

12.6%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
44.3% 3,981
Separated
3.8% 338
Divorced
9.2% 829
Widowed
7.0% 625
Never married
35.7% 3,206

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
40.9%
Couple: no children
28.7%
One parent: children under 15
12.9%
Couple: no children under 15
11.8%
One parent: no children under 15
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
30.5%
2 persons
33.7%
3 persons
13.5%
4 persons
12.0%
5 persons
7.0%
6+ persons
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Parkes

Housing Tenure

Of the 4,278 occupied private dwellings in Parkes at the 2021 Census, 29.1% were rented, 33.8% owned outright and 32.7% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.4% 102 dwellings
Owned outright
33.8% 1,444 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
32.7% 1,400 dwellings
Rented
29.1% 1,243 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.8% 79 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
95.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
3.9%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.6%
2 bedrooms
16.1%
3 bedrooms
43.7%
4 bedrooms
30.6%
5 bedrooms
5.7%
6+ bedrooms
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.2%
$300-$449/mo
2.1%
$450-$599/mo
2.8%
$600-$799/mo
7.4%
$800-$999/mo
11.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
30.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.0%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
15.2%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
4.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
6.6%
1 vehicle
36.6%
2 vehicles
37.1%
3 vehicles
11.6%
4+ vehicles
8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Parkes

Employment

Employed full-time
39.5% 3,205 people
Employed part-time
18.6% 1,504 people
Unemployed
3.2% 261 people
Not in labour force
38.7% 3,136 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
23.7%
Technicians & Trade Workers
17.2%
Managers
14.0%
Community & Personal Service
13.1%
Clerical & Administrative
12.3%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
9.3%
Labourers
6.0%
Sales Workers
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.2%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.6%
$300-$399/wk
3.3%
$400-$499/wk
9.2%
$500-$649/wk
5.6%
$650-$799/wk
7.4%
$800-$999/wk
8.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.4%
$4,000+/wk
7.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.0%
$1-$149/wk
4.0%
$150-$299/wk
6.6%
$300-$399/wk
5.6%
$400-$499/wk
4.8%
$500-$649/wk
3.8%
$650-$799/wk
9.8%
$800-$999/wk
11.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
8.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.4%
$3,500+/wk
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
76.1%
Did not go to work
10.2%
Car (passenger)
6.6%
Walked only
4.2%
Truck
0.9%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Other
0.5%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.4%
Bicycle
0.3%
Bus
0.2%
Ferry
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
44.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
39.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.8%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.1%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
53.2%
Bachelor Degree
20.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
16.0%
Postgraduate Degree
4.1%
Certificate I/II
3.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
23.8%
Management & Commerce
20.7%
Society & Culture
12.2%
Education
11.6%
Health
10.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.2%
Architecture & Building
5.7%
Agriculture & Environment
3.8%
Creative Arts
2.1%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.7%
Information Technology
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
32.0%
Secondary: Government
19.4%
Vocational Education
12.4%
Secondary: Catholic
10.3%
Pre-school
10.2%
Primary: Catholic
7.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
86.3%
Has need for assistance
7.3%
Need for assistance not stated
6.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
1,205
Asthma
530
Arthritis
464
Diabetes
351
Heart disease
312
Lung condition
258
Cancer
176
Stroke
130
Kidney disease
126
Dementia
49

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.6% 1,133
Did not provide
86.4% 7,200

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
17.9% 1,494
Not a volunteer
82.1% 6,857

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.0% 3
Previously served
2.8% 235
Never served
97.2% 8,157

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
25.9%
1 child
10.5%
2 children
27.3%
3 children
22.5%
4 children
10.0%
5+ children
3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
29
1951: 1960
51
1961: 1970
73
1971: 1980
45
1981: 1990
48
1991: 2000
53
2001: 2010
120
2011: 2015
105
2016
28
2017
19
2018
41
2019
20
2020
16
2021
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

14.1%
moved in the last year
39.5%
moved in the last 5 years
4.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
58.5%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
8,925
Moved: same area (SA2)
757
Moved from NSW
557
Moved from QLD
47
Moved from VIC
31
Moved from overseas
28
Moved from NT
9
Moved from WA
7

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.7%
5: 14 hours
27.2%
15: 29 hours
13.7%
30+ hours
10.2%
Did not do domestic work
29.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
78.2%
Step family: no other children
13.8%
Blended family: no other children
5.5%
Intact family: other children present
1.2%
Other couple: children only
1.0%
Step family: other children present
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Parkes Crime Statistics

386 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
94
Theft
84
Assault
54
Other Against Person
51
Drug Offences
42
Property Damage
31
Weapons
21
Sexual Offences
9

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Frequently Asked Questions About Parkes

What is the population of Parkes NSW?

The population of Parkes NSW is 11,324 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 12 people per km². Parkes is ranked #508 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Parkes?

The median personal income in Parkes NSW is $731 per week, or $38,012 per year. The median household income is $1,401 per week. Family income is $1,863 per week. Parkes is ranked #4,899 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Parkes?

Median rent in Parkes NSW is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Rent represents 18.6% of household income, which is considered affordable. Parkes ranks #5,884 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Parkes?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Parkes NSW is $1,300. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Parkes?

The median age in Parkes NSW is 39 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Parkes a good suburb to live in?

Parkes is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 11,324. The median income is $731/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.6% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13162. All dollar figures in AUD.