Parkes Surrounds

The area is older than most, with a typical resident aged 45 and 22.7% of people aged 65 or over. There is a significant First Nations presence, making up 14.5% of the population, which is far above the state and national figures.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 4.4% of the population. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%, with English and Irish being the most common ancestries after Australian.

English is the dominant language here, with only 2.0% of people using another language at home. This is far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%, and very few residents speak little or no English.

Christianity is the most common faith at 63.9%, though the number of people with no religion has risen 16 points since 2011 to reach 24.0%.

Educational attainment is much lower than the national average, with only 11.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 34.9% completing Year 12.

Typical weekly incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,205. Only 11.8% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is far below the state average.

Residents experience more health challenges than most, with 31.8% having a long-term health condition. About 7.1% of people need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national average.

Volunteering is very common here, with 24.5% of people helping out—far above the national rate of 14.1%. This high level of community spirit is seen alongside a higher than usual rate of unpaid care for others.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, though they face tough challenges with an unemployment rate of 19.3% and typical weekly incomes well below the national average.

Living arrangements are varied, with a high number of people living alone (31.1%) and a higher than average rate of one-parent families at 18.0%.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 95.7% of homes. A striking 46.7% of people own their homes outright, and typical weekly rents are among the lowest in the country at $180.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with 56.3% of people driving to work and very few using public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 33.4% have two.

The population is very stable, as only 25.7% of people have moved in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 33.9% of the workforce. Full-time employment is much higher here than in most areas at 63.8%.

Overall advantage is lower than in 70% of similar areas, and the population has shrunk by 6.2% since 2021, which is far below the state growth rate.

The area receives 651mm of annual rainfall, which is well above the New South Wales average. Summer temperatures are typical for the region, with an average maximum of 24.7 degrees.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.1. Many residents live far from basic services, with only 39.6% within a 15-minute walk of health services.