Parkes vs Forbes

Parkes and Forbes are two regional centres in New South Wales separated by about 60 km. Parkes is more walkable, with 51.9% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed compared to 35.0% in Forbes. Residents in Parkes also have far better walking access to schools (66.5% versus 54.0%) and parks (77.0% versus 66.8%). A notable difference exists for First Nations people; the unemployment rate is well higher in Parkes at 13.0%, while Forbes is much lower than most areas at 8.2%.

Both areas have tracked similarly in some ways since 2011, with First Nations household incomes remaining very close at $1,337 in Parkes and $1,257 in Forbes. While Parkes is described as somewhat walkable, Forbes is mostly car-dependent. This reflects a wider trend where Parkes consistently shows higher access to basic amenities and public transport within a short walk.