Highest Crime Rate in Australia: Where Your City Ranks This Year

As the owner of North Removals with over 20 years in the moving industry, I’ve learned that choosing a new place to live isn’t just about a nice house or a good job—it’s also about feeling safe. I’m often asked about the crime rate in Australia and how it varies from city to city. Safety is a top priority for anyone planning a move, and I take pride in guiding people with honest, up-to-date insights on city safety (like my last article about Australia’s cost of living—today and a decade ahead).

I’ve lost count of the evenings I’ve spent walking prospective clients through a neighbourhood at sunset so they can get a real feel for it—the street lighting, the way neighbours greet each other, even how busy the local park is after dark. Those small clues tell you as much about day-to-day safety as any official report ever could. From bustling inner-city laneways to quiet coastal streets, each suburb has its own “temperature,” and learning to read it can make all the difference when you’re choosing your next postcode.

In this guide I’ll share those on-the-ground impressions city by city, flag the pockets where security companies get most of their call-outs, and highlight the communities that consistently feel welcoming and worry-free. Whether you’re uprooting the family to Darwin’s tropical heat or chasing a sea change down in Hobart, you’ll finish with a clearer sense of which areas match your comfort zone—and how to plan a move that keeps your peace of mind intact from the very first night.

Understanding Crime Rate Comparisons

First things first, all the figures we’ve included come straight from the most recent official crime stats provided by reliable sources, like the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which pulls together national crime data from each state’s police records. We also tap into state-level agencies such as the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria and the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), alongside individual state police forces that publish their data. Rest assured, all stats here are up-to-date, mainly drawn from releases in 2024 or early 2025.

Crime categories across Australia—whether we’re talking property crime, violent crime, or drug offences—are mostly consistent thanks to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC). This national system allows us to reliably compare stats from different jurisdictions. Still, it’s worth mentioning there can be slight variations between states and territories in how incidents are recorded or defined, so a bit of care is always needed when comparing figures directly.

Comparing cities side-by-side with consistent measures and the latest data helps shine a spotlight on safety and risk patterns across Australia. By clearly seeing which places have higher or lower crime rates—and understanding exactly how these rates are calculated—you’ll get a better sense of how different Aussie communities stack up when it comes to safety. This comparison provides essential context to inform discussions about crime, helping us all gain a deeper understanding of the security of our cities and towns.

Crime Rate Comparison – Major Australian Cities

Here’s a fresh look at crime rates across Australia’s major cities, including all capital cities and those regional spots with notably higher crime stats. The crime rates you’ll see here are calculated per 100,000 residents, using the very latest data available. When we talk about violent crime, we’re mostly referring to offences against people—think assaults and the like. On the other hand, property crime covers offences involving things like burglaries, theft, and similar property-related incidents. You’ll also spot the most common offence listed, highlighting the type of crime that’s most frequently reported in each city.

Crime Rate Comparison Table

Sources: CEA, Crime Report QLD, CE-TAS, PFES

Regional Queensland has its fair share of crime hotspots, with cities like Townsville and Cairns seeing particularly high rates. Property crimes—especially theft and break-ins—dominate these areas, and Townsville stands out for having a violent crime rate that’s well above Queensland’s state average.

On the brighter side, Canberra, Hobart, and Adelaide are among Australia’s safest cities—great news if you’re planning a move, say from Adelaide to Canberra. These places keep their total offences impressively low, hovering around just 5,000 to 6,500 per 100,000 residents, with serious violent crimes being rare. Even bustling Sydney, despite its massive size, stays relatively safe, regularly making lists of the world’s safest large cities. Crime rates there sit around a moderate 8,000 offences per 100,000 people, mostly involving property. It’s no wonder Sydney remains popular, particularly among those relocating from Melbourne to Sydney.

Melbourne and Brisbane both have moderate crime rates, though each city does have its trouble spots. Melbourne’s metro area clocks in around 6,912 offences per 100,000 residents, mostly due to theft-related incidents. Brisbane is slightly higher, at about 7,850 offences per 100,000, with property crimes and burglaries pushing those numbers up. Still, compared to Darwin and regional North Queensland, both Melbourne and Brisbane look pretty good.

Looking at the bigger picture across Australia, theft is consistently the number one urban crime, although the exact issues vary city by city. Geelong, despite being home to some of the best suburbs for living, still faces noticeable challenges with shoplifting and theft. Townsville, meanwhile, has ongoing battles with vehicle theft and home break-ins. Violent crimes like assaults tend to cluster in places like Darwin and Alice Springs, but fortunately, they’re a lot less common in safer cities like Adelaide, Hobart, and Canberra.

Which City Has the Highest Crime Rate in Australia?

When we’re talking crime stats, Alice Springs in the Northern Territory unfortunately takes the top spot as Australia’s most crime-affected city. For the year ending November 2024, Alice Springs clocked an eye-watering 37,955 offences per 100,000 residents—a truly staggering number that’s miles ahead of both the national and state averages. To put that in perspective, Darwin—the NT’s capital—recorded around 13,686 offences per 100,000 people in the same timeframe. Even regional Queensland cities like Rockhampton and Townsville, which are often flagged for their higher crime rates, don’t come close to what Alice Springs experiences. It’s not surprising that Alice Springs has earned itself the unfortunate nickname of Australia’s “crime capital,” with a per-capita offence rate several times higher than anywhere else in the country.

Alice Springs Crime Rate

To understand what’s happening in Alice Springs, it’s useful to take a closer look at exactly which offences are driving these numbers up. Here’s a breakdown of Alice Springs’ crime figures by category, based on the latest data available:

Alice Springs Crime Rate Breakdown

The graphic above paints a detailed picture of just how serious the crime situation is in Alice Springs, clearly showing why it’s often tagged as Australia’s crime capital. Violent crime here is off the charts, with assault rates hitting roughly 9,234 incidents per 100,000 residents, way above the national average. Domestic violence is especially worrying, accounting for about 6,415 incidents per 100,000 people, reflecting some deeper social issues that urgently need addressing.

Property offences make up the bulk of the reported crimes, reaching around 27,410 incidents per 100,000 residents. Frequent house break-ins, commercial burglaries, vehicle thefts, and widespread property damage and vandalism are major drivers behind these numbers.

Alcohol is a big factor, too. Alcohol-related assaults alone reach 4,303 per 100,000 residents, and things got noticeably worse after alcohol restrictions were relaxed back in 2022, leading to a spike in violence. Thankfully, emergency alcohol measures were reinstated in early 2023 to help curb this rise.

Alice Springs also deals with some uniquely challenging crime patterns, like a recent surge in youth violence (up by 50%) and consistently high domestic violence figures. These factors highlight the complex social issues fueling the disproportionately high crime rates in Alice Springs, making targeted community initiatives and smart policy interventions essential.

Victoria – Areas with Highest and Lowest Crime

In Victoria, if we’re talking crime hotspots, the Melbourne CBD consistently tops the list. It’s quite the contrast when you stack it up against Melbourne’s safest suburbs. According to the latest crime stats from 2025, the Melbourne CBD recorded around 20,059 offences per 100,000 residents, making it Victoria’s most crime-prone area. What’s behind these numbers? Well, the CBD is buzzing with nightlife, packed with tourists, and filled with large crowds and heavy foot traffic—all combining to create conditions ripe for theft, assault, vandalism, and general public disorder.

Other parts of Victoria also deal with higher crime figures, especially regional cities like Latrobe Shire (including Traralgon), where offences hit about 15,187 per 100,000 residents, way above many of Melbourne’s best suburbs. These regional spots often grapple with problems such as drug offences, family violence, and property crime, usually made worse by socio-economic hardships and high unemployment rates.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Victoria’s safest suburbs are mostly leafy, semi-rural areas well away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Take The Patch, for example—nestled in Melbourne’s outer east, this suburb boasts incredibly low crime rates, recording just 1,030 incidents per 100,000 residents, among the lowest in the entire state. Likewise, places like Park Orchards, Ferny Creek, and Kallista also enjoy impressively low crime stats, typically fewer than 1,500 offences per 100,000 people each year. Stable residential populations, strong community spirit, and fewer socio-economic challenges play a big role in keeping these areas safer.

Across Victoria overall, theft-related crimes are the most commonly reported offences, especially theft from motor vehicles and shoplifting. Unfortunately, breaches of family violence intervention orders are also a significant and persistent issue. Recently, there’s been a noticeable rise in juvenile crime, particularly involving property theft and burglary, prompting targeted responses from police and community-led prevention programs.

 What is the most common crime in Victoria?

Looking at the latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria, theft-related offences dominate the stats, making theft the single most common crime across the state. The number one culprit? Theft from motor vehicles, clocking in around 62,000 incidents over the past year—that’s roughly 1,000 per 100,000 people, accounting for nearly 9% of all crimes reported. Shoplifting also remains a major issue, with more than 32,000 retail theft cases recorded, along with burglary, which saw around 27,000 home break-ins. These property crimes easily outnumber violent or drug-related offences, cementing theft as Victoria’s biggest crime concern.

New South Wales – Areas with Highest and Lowest Crime

Within New South Wales, you’ll generally find the highest per-capita crime rates popping up in regional and remote towns, especially around the state’s northwest. Walgett Shire regularly tops the crime charts statewide, with recent figures showing roughly 3,027 offences per 100,000 residents each year. Property crimes, domestic violence, and widespread alcohol-related issues are major factors pushing these numbers higher. Other rural towns like Moree Plains and Coonamble also face similar challenges, reflecting deeper social issues such as economic hardship, limited access to essential services, and high rates of substance abuse.

When we zoom into urban areas, certain suburbs in Western Sydney—places like Mount Druitt and Blacktown—often find themselves among Sydney’s worst suburbs due to their higher crime rates, particularly for assaults, drug offences, and property crimes. Even Sydney’s bustling CBD records about 16,632 offences per 100,000 residents, mostly theft and nightlife-related issues. However, it’s important to note that many of these incidents involve visitors or people passing through rather than residents themselves.

On the flip side, some of the lowest crime rates in NSW, often listed among the safest suburbs in Sydney, are found in affluent suburban communities, particularly in Sydney’s northern and eastern suburbs. Suburbs within the Ku-ring-gai council area—including spots like Turramurra, Pymble, and Gordon—typically enjoy crime rates below 2,500 offences per 100,000 residents, ranking them among the safest urban neighbourhoods in the state. High socio-economic conditions, effective policing, lower population density, and strong community connections all help keep these suburbs safe.

The most commonly reported crimes across NSW remain property-related offences, particularly theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. On top of that, breaches of justice procedures—such as bail violations and domestic violence order breaches—make up a significant portion of crime reports. In recent years, targeted policing initiatives and community-based programs have ramped up efforts to reduce these widespread crimes, especially in areas struggling with persistent youth offending and domestic violence.

Crime Rate Comparison: Victoria vs. New South Wales

The comparison we’ve just looked at highlights some pretty clear differences in crime between Victoria and New South Wales. In Victoria, it’s Melbourne’s CBD that consistently tops the crime charts, thanks mostly to its bustling nightlife and dense crowds. Meanwhile, NSW has its challenges spread more evenly, with regional towns like Walgett and urban suburbs such as Mount Druitt showing notably high crime figures.

Property theft and domestic violence-related offences are major issues that both states share. But there’s good news too—some suburbs, like The Patch in Victoria and Sydney’s Ku-ring-gai area, show significantly lower crime rates. These safer suburban communities underline the distinct urban-rural and socioeconomic divides that exist within each state. Understanding these contrasts is crucial not only for getting a clearer picture of local safety but also for guiding effective policy and community responses.

Frequently Asked Questions on City Crime in Australia

What Is the Most Dangerous Suburb in Australia?

When it comes to suburbs often labelled as “dangerous,” Noarlunga Centre in Adelaide frequently takes the spotlight. Recent police data shows it has the highest per capita rate of violent crime, topping the charts for assaults in 2024—arguably making it Australia’s most troubled suburb. Other places regularly flagged for high crime rates include Elizabeth, also in South Australia, where there’s roughly one assault every 36 hours among about 1,000 residents. Additionally, suburbs like Port Adelaide in SA and Dandenong in Melbourne are known for their noticeably elevated offence rates.

Worst Drug-Affected Towns in Australia?

Alice Springs in the NT is often singled out as one of Australia’s most severely drug-affected towns, dealing heavily with alcohol-related violence and a troubling crisis with “ice” (methamphetamine). Other places frequently flagged for drug-related problems include Tennant Creek, also in the NT, and Wilcannia in NSW, both notorious for high levels of substance abuse and associated violence. Even regional towns in NSW, like Kempsey, are grappling with significant drug issues, according to local reports, regularly making appearances in police statistics for elevated drug offences.

How Does Australia’s Crime Rate Compare Globally?

When you stack up Australia’s crime rates against global standards, things actually look pretty good. For example, our homicide rate is under 1 per 100,000 people—compare that to around 6 per 100,000 in the United States. Canada’s overall crime rate is more than double Australia’s, and in the US, it’s over seven times higher. International rankings consistently list Australia among the world’s safer countries, meaning Aussies generally experience significantly less crime than folks in many other nations.

Which Australian state has the most murders?

According to the latest National Homicide Monitoring Program report (July 2024 – June 2025), Australia saw a total of 277 homicides. Queensland had the highest number, with 111 victims, and Victoria wasn’t far behind with 88 victims. But when you look at murder rates per capita, the Northern Territory unfortunately takes the lead, recording about 4 murders per 100,000 people, far higher than the national average of roughly 1 per 100,000.

So even though Queensland might have the highest total number of murders, the Northern Territory’s significantly smaller population means its murder rate per person is disproportionately higher, showing clearly that smaller communities can sometimes face outsized levels of violence.

Crime Data Sorted—Now Let North Removals Handle the Move

After comparing cities side by side, it’s clear that crime rates in Australia aren’t one-size-fits-all—every city has its own story. For example, Darwin and Alice Springs face higher crime numbers than places like Hobart or Adelaide, reflecting just how diverse safety levels can be across the country. Seeing these contrasts highlights how much local conditions matter and gives you a practical perspective on each city’s safety.

Even within the same state, I’ve seen how some suburbs can feel worlds apart in terms of safety. One area might have low crime and strong community ties, while a neighbouring suburb struggles with higher offence rates. Overall, Australia fares well globally—our public safety levels are high compared to many countries. Knowing these city crime trends helps you plan wisely and feel confident whether you are relocating from Melbourne to Canberra or long distance Melbourne to Brisbane.

I once helped a family move out of a high-crime suburb, arranging extra security measures on moving day to put them at ease. Seeing their relief after settling into a safer area drove home how vital it is to feel secure in your community. If you’re considering a move and want peace of mind, I’m here to help. As the Melbourne’s interstate removalists experts, my team and I will ensure your relocation is smooth, secure, and completely stress-free.