Parkes · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A score of 2 for overall advantage makes Parkes one of the most disadvantaged areas compared to 80% of similar places. This low standing is linked to limited access to money and resources, as well as lower levels of education and job skills. The local economy remains steady but struggles to keep pace with the rest of the state.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Parkes — lower than 86% of areas.
| Parkes | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2870, NSW | 3 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents have an overall advantage score of 918, which is smaller than about 83% of similar areas. This is consistent with the area's low rankings for education and job skills, both of which score a 2 out of 10.
2
Lower than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
2
Lower than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
2
Lower than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
918
Lower than 83% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
The population has reached 10,998 people, though growth since 2021 has been just 0.1%. This is much lower than most other areas and sits well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
10,998
Higher than 53% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
0.1%
Lower than 88% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 812 businesses operating in the area, which is a smaller number than about 55% of similar places.
812
Lower than 56% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
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/sa2/103021067/parkes/topic/economy-advantage
