Parkes · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Population numbers in Parkes have fallen by 1.9% since 2021, a trend that stands in stark contrast to the state's growth. The area currently faces significant challenges with access to money and education, with an overall advantage score of 922, which is lower than about 74% of similar areas.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Parkes — lower than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Access to money, resources, and job skills are all rated at 3 out of 10, meaning they are smaller than about 70% of other areas at this level.
3
Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the 10% most advantaged. IRSAD summarises both advantage and disadvantage, so a high score reflects relatively many high-income, well-educated households and few low-income, low-skill ones.
3
Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the least disadvantaged. IRSD focuses on disadvantage alone (low income, low education, unemployment, unskilled occupations), so a higher decile means relatively less disadvantage.
3
Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Economic Resources, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for economic resources in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IER reflects the income, housing costs, dwelling size and assets of households, so a higher decile means relatively greater economic resources.
3
Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Education and Occupation, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for education and occupation in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IEO reflects residents' qualifications and the skill level of their jobs, so a higher decile means a more highly educated and skilled workforce.
922
Lower than 73% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a raw index score (standardised so the Australian average is about 1000). Higher scores indicate relatively greater advantage; lower scores greater disadvantage.
Annual population estimates and change since the census.
While the population of 14,175 is larger than about 52% of similar areas, growth has been well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
14,175
Higher than 50% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-1.9%
Lower than 95% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,411 businesses in the area, which is more than about 52% of similar places, though the 37 approved dwellings are fewer than about 54% of those areas.
1,411
Higher than 50% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
37
Lower than 55% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Parkes [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA16200/parkes/topic/economy-advantage
