Relocating to Canberra? A Guide to the Worst Suburbs in Canberra

Are you planning to relocate to Canberra as the seat of Australian Capital Territory? Your excitement for this life change will fade if you select a suburb that does not match your expectations. The Australian capital, Canberra, offers residents numerous living choices throughout its multicultural society; regarding safety, however, there are distinct areas.

As founder of Melbourne´s premier interstate removals company, North Removals, I know first-hand the importance of knowing where yo are moving. And we know Canberra that’s for sure, for the past four years we’ve been moving Aussies from Melbourne to Canberra almost every month. 

Today I have prepared this guide to help you recognise the suburbs which might not suit your needs. We will assess districts with high crime rates, together with areas vulnerable to natural disasters and additional factors that might affect your quality of life. 

Thanks to our deep understanding of Australia we will guide you through selecting your new residence while flagging the worst suburbs in Canberra. Keep reading!

Crimes Rates In Canberra Explained

The crime statistics of Canberra experienced significant changes during the past five years while theft and property damage incidents mainly occurred in particular subsections. The suburb of Belconnen together with Kambah have established themselves as locations with severe crime problems which includes home break-ins alongside vehicle offences.

The website of ACT Policing together with interactive crime maps can offer detailed information about Canberra crime statistics. This information is very important for people who plan to move to the city and want to avoid high-risk areas.

Summary of Crime Statistics in Canberra

• Current Crime Rate Statistics: The current crime statistics show that Canberra possesses substantially lower crime rates than other Australian cities. Theft together with assault and episodes of property crime represent the most frequently reported criminal offences in this area.
• Perception of Crime: The evaluation of security conditions depends on where an individual lives as well as which information sources they consult. The city of Canberra maintains safety standards at high levels, and Forde alongside O’Malley exhibit the lowest crime statistics within the city region.
• Crime and Safety Indices: Although Canberra is not listed in Numbeo with a specific rating, its overall low crime index and high safety perception reflect a relatively safe city compared to other Australian capitals.

Analysis of crime rates in Australia vs Canberra

If you are considering a move to Canberra, it will be useful to know its safety assessment compared to other places. I remember my first time in Canberra, I moved a family from Melbourne. I thought it was a very peaceful atmosphere there and could see the city offers a rich culture alongside a vibrant lifestyle. But you will still need to examine its crime rates against other major urban centres across Australia. The following section outlines an analysis that shows Canberra’s national standing.

Ranking	City	Crime Rate (Index)
1	Alice Springs	74.8
2	Rockhampton	67.6
3	Cairns	61.7
4	Darwin	60.4
5	Townsville	57.4
6	Toowoomba	56.4
7	Geelong	55.6
8	Ballarat	53.2
9	Wollongong	51.7
10	Newcastle	48.1
11	Gold Coast	46.2
12	Melbourne	44.0
13	Perth	41.7
14	Brisbane	35.5
15	Sydney	33.9
16	Hobart	32.3
17	Adelaide	31.1
18	Canberra	23.2

Note: Statistics originate from the Numbeo crime index and additional recent reports. This data might not display active current conditions so consider it as a basic reference only.

As we can see, crime rates vary significantly across Australian cities, making safety an important factor when relocating. Some regional cities, like Alice Springs and Rockhampton, have notably high crime rates, while capital cities such as Canberra and Adelaide rank among the safest. Larger metropolitan areas like Sydney and Melbourne fall somewhere in between, offering a balance between urban convenience and security. Considering crime statistics when choosing where to live can help ensure a safer and more comfortable move.

Flood-Prone and High-Risk Fire Zones in Canberra

Due to its strategic urban planning, Canberra experiences minimal flood risks, as residential areas do not exist in hazard zones. Knowing the areas at risk of flooding allows for appropriate preparedness measures to be taken.

Key Vulnerable Flood Areas in Canberra

• Oaks Estate: Due to its proximity to the Queanbeyan River, this area can experience flooding when water overflows towards Canberra.
• Queanbeyan: Although technically not within Canberra, water from the Googong Dam catchment can cause flooding in this neighbouring city, indirectly affecting Oaks Estate.
• Areas near the Molonglo River: The planned design of Canberra helps control riverine flooding but intense rainfall remains a threat to areas surrounding rivers.
• Sullivans Creek and Woolshed Creek: These streams cause flash flooding in the surrounding areas because they accumulate water at high velocity during adverse weather conditions.

Resources to control flood risks
ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA)	The organisation delivers emergency management services while offering information on flood circumstances and disaster readiness.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)	The weather bureau distributes instant weather alerts together with flood-related prediction reports.
ACT Government	The directorate disseminates flood-prone location maps together with risk management strategy information.

Key Suburbs with Higher Bushfire Risk

• Tuggeranong and Lanyon: The locations located south of Canberra face high bushfire risks because they are situated near forests and grasslands at risk during times of severe weather conditions.

• Belconnen and Gungahlin: Although not directly in forested areas, these suburbs can be affected by fires spreading from nearby rural areas.

• Molonglo Valley: This region west of Canberra is surrounded by green spaces and grasslands, making it susceptible to bushfires during the dry season.

• Hall and Wallaroo: These rural areas north of Canberra are exposed to bushfires due to their proximity to forests and dry grasslands.

Essential Resources
ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA)	The website provides information on fire risk levels, along with fire restriction guidelines and emergency preparedness plans.
Emergency Alert System	The tool provides essential alerts for active fires located in the vicinity.

Which Suburbs in Canberra Have the Worst Schools?

The quality of education in the Australian Capital Territory is a crucial factor to consider for many families with children. As a father of two school-aged children, our family´s location is heavily influenced by the availability of good schools. Although Canberra generally has a good education system, some suburbs may have schools facing challenges.

The following list of suburban schools potentially facing challenges is alongside alternative educational institutions providing better educational opportunities.

Some Suburbs with Poorly Rated Schools

Weston Creek: Some schools in this area have faced challenges in terms of resources and student support, although there is no specific data ranking them as the worst.

Tuggeranong: Some educational institutions maintain average academic results although they are not considered low quality facilities.

Belconnen: Some schools in Belconnen have difficulties with school discipline as well as resource management.

Educational Alternatives

• Turner and Campbell: These areas provide highly respected educational institutions together with reliable academic environments which come equipped with sufficient resources.
• Forde and O’Malley: These specific areas contain educational institutions which excel in quality education while prioritising complete student advancement.
• Lyneham: The area of Lyneham provides families with excellent educational facilities and represents a suitable choice.

High-Density Apartment Zones

Parking is a challenge for those who choose to live in high-density areas when moving to Canberra. If you drive a car, understanding this situation will help you avoid parking-related problems.

Where Is Parking Difficult in Canberra?

• Civic and Braddon: The areas of Civic and Braddon experience heavy traffic combined with scarce parking availability, particularly when traffic reaches its peak and when evening activities take place.

• Dickson and Turner: These areas encounter traffic congestion together with restricted parking availability because of their close proximity to Canberra’s downtown area and university district.

• Belconnen: The high number of apartments in Belconnen creates parking challenges, and throughout its commercial zones.

Canberra Gentrification Hotspots

The urban transformation of neighbourhoods, gentrification, occurs through renovation activities and the entry of residents who possess greater purchasing capabilities. The phenomenon of gentrification exists throughout Canberra but less frequently than other cities in Australia do. (In my home city, Melbourne, there are gentrifying suburbs too, like Frankston, Footscray and Yarraville.)

Assessing both positive and negative factors becomes essential when deciding to move into a suburb that undergoes gentrification. Different Canberra suburbs are currently undergoing gentrification changes, including:

• Braddon and Reid: The process of gentrification has led to rising prices and median incomes that have made these suburbs more exclusive. These neighbourhoods are undergoing structural changes because old buildings are being renovated, while new businesses begin operations.
• Dickson: If you are considering moving to this suburb you should be aware that housing can be significantly more expensive compared to other suburbs in Canberra.
• Lyneham: The suburb of Lyneham shows signs of change through infrastructure development and construction that might elevate property demand and home prices.

Moving to Canberra? Move Smart—Avoid the Worst Suburbs in Canberra

As you can see, at North Removals, we are Canberra interstate experts—not just because we handle furniture like absolute champs, but also because we create valuable resources like our moving interstate checklist or our moving interstate cost comparison guide.

I hope this summary of desirable and undesirable suburbs in Canberra helps you get more familiar with the area. Canberra is known for its strong urban development, stunning natural landscapes, and vibrant multicultural atmosphere. However, it’s important to be aware of the areas that may not be as appealing.

Whether you are relocating from Adelaide to Canberra or Sydney to Canberra we’ve got you covered. If you have ideas for other moving interstate guides we could create, let us know in the comments and we’ll simplify even more your relocation process. We know Canberra, we know moving!