NSW · Parkes Council
Parkes, 2870
Current weather
12.8°CClear sky
68% humidity · 16.7 km/h wind · 16.3° / 10.3° today · 3.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- National parks
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Parkes offers a slower established suburb life in Parkes, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Distance from the capital is noticeable, but the trade-off is space, calm and a community that knows its neighbours. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 11,324
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,401
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 563 of 4,833
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 55.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 338 / 168 / 282
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $320
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $450
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $400
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 1,633
- Against the person
- 471
- Against property
- 570
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 144.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 24 residents
- State safety percentile
- 90.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +9.5%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions118
- Domestic Violence Related Assault120
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment213
- Malicious Damage To Property126
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault107
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 6
- Median school ICSEA (6 schools)
- 922.5
- Holy Family Parish SchoolPrimary
- Middleton Public SchoolPrimary
- Parkes Christian SchoolCombined
- Parkes East Public SchoolPrimary
- Parkes High SchoolSecondary
- Parkes Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
970 public transport stops in this suburb
- Parkes High School, High St
- Parkes Public School Infant Campus, Hill St
- Parkes Public School Primary Campus, Hill St
- Thornbury St At Orange St
- Victoria St At Albert St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
581 planning-related records
2026· 40 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 NASH STREET PARKES 2870Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 CECILE STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Subdivision7272 EUGOWRA ROAD PARKES 2870Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation25 ACACIA CIRCUIT PARKES 2870Under Assessment
- Temporary building, structure or use; Entertainment associated with existing premises17 Station Street Parkes NSW 2870Under Assessment
- Demolition60 CURRAJONG STREET PARKES 2870Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 NOONAN STREET PARKES 2870Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 HODGES STREET PARKES 2870Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport6 FISHER STREET PARKES 2870Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 GRENFELL STREET PARKES 2870Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home52 OLD PINES ROAD PARKES 2870Determined
- Subdivision15 FISHER STREET PARKES 2870Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Subdivision34-40 CLARINDA STREET PARKES 2870Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9452B HENRY PARKES WAY PARKES 2870Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure80-82 CLARINDA STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure9 ALBERT STREET PARKES 2870Determined
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard HousingLot 681 DP 750152 Rose Street Parkes NSW 2870Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Temporary structure1 VICTORIA STREET PARKES 2870Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)9 HYDRANGEA AVENUE PARKES 2870Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 ALBERT STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle body repair workshop3 LANGLANDS STREET PARKES 2870Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space15 BEST STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure40 THOMAS STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure39 FARRER STREET PARKES 2870Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation61 HIGH STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Demolition; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses8 BOLLINGER STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure31 AITKEN LANE PARKES 2870Determined
- Commercial development; Erection of a new structure; Retail PremiseLot 6, 22-26 Parkes Road ForbesDetermined
- Entertainment facility; Temporary building, structure or use158-176 CLARINDA STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool49 CORCORAN ROAD PARKES 2870Determined
- Erection of a new structure; General industry16-18 RENSHAW ROAD PARKES 2870Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Market158-176 CLARINDA STREET PARKES 2870Determined
February 2026
- Subdivision7272 EUGOWRA ROAD PARKES 2870Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (outdoor)SALEYARDS ROAD PARKES 2870Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1 YUWAMBI CLOSE PARKES 2870Determined
- Subdivision40 CHARLES RIGG AVENUE PARKES 2870Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 ELIZABETH STREET PARKES 2870Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure3 ROSARY CLOSE PARKES 2870Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure26 WARRAGRAH PLACE PARKES 2870Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)127 CLARINDA STREET PARKES 2870Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
31 parks and public open space in this suburb
- AE Fox ParkPark
- Armstrong ParkPark
- Bernard McGuire ParkPark
- Boulder Hill ParkPark
- Bumberry Dam Recreation AreaPark
- Bushmans Hill ReservePark
- Cheney ParkPark
- Cooke ParkPark
- Cooper's ParkPark
- Davey ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 6
- Emergency department
- On site
- Barratt and Smith Pathologylaboratory
- Ochre Health Medical Centre Parkesdoctor
- Parkes Diagnostic Imagingradiology
- Parkes District HospitalMorrissey Wayhospital
- Parkes Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Centrephysiotherapist
- Ron Dunfordpharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- Parkes Post Office39 Currajong Street ParkesSHR
- Parkes Railway Station groupMay Street ParkesSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Parkes Early Childhood Centrekindergarten
- Victoria Street Childrens Centrekindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 48
- Parks (OSM)
- 35
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 46.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 35% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2357th in Australia
- State rank
- 734th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #70 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #167 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime118
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime120
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime213
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime126
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime107
- Parkes High School, High Sttransport
- Parkes Public School Infant Campus, Hill Sttransport
- Parkes Public School Primary Campus, Hill Sttransport
- Thornbury St At Orange Sttransport
- Victoria St At Albert Sttransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Parkes Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.