Parkes

The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical age of 41. It has a significant First Nations presence, as 13.1% of residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the New South Wales average.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (5.6%) compared to the rest of the state. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language here, with only 3.5% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the national average. Very few residents speak little or no English.

Christianity remains the most common faith, held by 62.9% of the population. While the number of people reporting no religion has risen since 2011, it is still far below the national figure.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 11.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose by 8.0 percentage points since 2011 to reach 36.9%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,336, which is well below the New South Wales figure. While personal incomes have risen since 2011, they remain lower than most other areas.

Health challenges are common here, as 33.3% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and the area also has a much higher rate of people needing help with daily activities.

Volunteering is more common here than in the rest of the state, though the rate has fallen since 2011. There is also a higher rate of people providing unpaid care compared to most areas.

The First Nations community is relatively young, with a typical age of 22. Unemployment for this group is 13.2%, which is well above the state average.

Families are often larger or more complex, with a much higher rate of one-parent families (18.6%) than most areas. A larger share of the population lives alone compared to the state average.

Homes here are typically large, detached houses, with 79.1% having three or more bedrooms. Rent is well below the national figure, with a typical weekly cost of $250.

Cars are essential for getting around, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. Very few residents work from home compared to the state average.

The population is relatively stable, with 34.0% moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas have fallen since 2011.

Full-time employment is higher than in most areas, with 63.7% of the workforce in full-time roles. Common industries include health care, agriculture, and mining.

The area faces significant disadvantage, scoring 3 out of 10 for overall advantage. Population growth has also been among the lowest at this level since 2021.

Parkes is wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 651mm. Temperatures are typical for the region, though minimum temperatures are lower than most areas.

The area struggles with a high crime rate, particularly regarding assaults, drug offences, and motor vehicle theft, all of which are much higher than in most similar areas.

Walking to amenities is difficult, as only 47.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries. This is far below the state average and contributes to a lower overall walkability score.