Worst suburbs in Melbourne?
Any places you would avoid?
54 Comments
Not sure why but Dandenong always seems to get a mention. High unemployment, high crime.
First thought -> western suburbs I'd def avoid.
- St Albans
- Maidstone
- Caroline Springs
- Sunshine
- Sunshine West
- Keilor Downs
- Taylors Lakes
- Hoppers Crossing
- Werribee
Switching to the south east...
- Frankstone
- Frankstone South
- Cranbourne....
also .. any places at the end of the train lines, IMO.
Frankston* ;) its not that bad up the hill ... Just don't go to the shops or train station
Northern suburbs try to avoid:
Heidelberg Heights, Heidelberg West, Reservoir, Preston, Richmond, Glenroy, Broadmedows
I live in Caroline Springs.. We have had issues of late, and have been in the news a bit Unfortunately, but really it's a beautiful suburb. The trouble we've had here has been from teens from other suburbs meeting around here. And because the media caught onto it a few times, they have targeted it.. crime is happening in so many other suburbs as well but the attention is on us at the moment.
Caroline Springs has beautiful parks and lakes and gathering places. A number of amazing restaurants, gyms, high rise apartments and a shopping centre that's growing as we speak. The houses are lovely and the council do a great job keeping looking lush and clean. I would certainly recommend it for families. The schools in the area are fabulous and there are quite a few to choose from. Churches of all kinds. I think it's very multicultural and accepting. A little bit pricey but definitely worth it.
Dear PureKrome,... your first thought for today. DO NOT PUT DOWN SUBURBS in any area as clearly, you have NO IDEA…
I reside in Caroline Springs and do so with absolute pride and choice. I easily can afford to live in TOORAK with my money, not the banks, but this would never make me happy as my family are close by to my home.
My house is MORTGAGE FREE and it cost me over 1.9 Million to BUILD never mind the land. I have been stopped in my front yard and have had constant compliments on my home from strangers and some stupid people even tell me the house is too good for the area. THIS IS SO RUDE
I am not one boast however, I own MORTGAGE FREE 13 properties combined in the commercial residential and holiday letting sector.
The properties I own are located in some of the most sought-after areas in Melbourne, Gold Coast and Geelong.
My next door neighbour owns 15 commercial properties again MORTGAGE FREE
To tell people to keep away from suburbs which are not only beautiful to live in with such fruitful diversity in culture and people from all walks of life… is wrong.
You should advise people to live in areas which they can AFFORD.
I am a wealthy WESTERN SUBURBS Caroline Springs home owner MORTGAGE FREE that a good place to be…..
Fortunately Frankston has improved to some extent. This is mostly because migrants moving into the area. Frankston South also has really good schools and has a great reputation overall. Really lovely and expensive area. It's like all the crime has moved inland and out of the bayside suburb of Frankston into Dandenong, Hallam and Hampton Park. The western suburbs are worst with a lower socio-economic population. Frankston has seen a substantial increase in rents and property prices so a lot of people have been pushed out of the area.
@billy3d
If you can't spell the suburb name you haven't been to it. The West has always had a bad reputation. At times it may be true but the East also has similar suburbs. You say Sunshine I raise you Springvale and even Box Hill, you say Broadmeadows I raise you Dandenong. You say Craigieburn and I'll raise you Cranbourne. We could do this all day. The truth is unless you live in a multimillion dollar home suburb like Toorak and Brighton there is good and bad everywhere. But none so bad that you will feel unsafe.
@tw4
As someone in denial, living in one of those terrible crime prone suburbs, I just want to point out it's site (as in a place like on the web) not sight as in vision. And it's then (as in following on) not than as in when making a comparison.
I can understand though how being so relaxed, in your lofty suburb, could lead you into complacency.
@Purekome
Lol you are laughable. Assume you have lived in all of those suburbs you have listed. Im sure you are well informed. Don't be a fool.
I am sure every area has its pros and cons. Depends on what you are looking for. Some of the areas you mention have beautiful pockets.
I have friends in Keilor Downs, Taylors Lakes, Caroline Springs and Cranbourne and there are some excellent pockets in each of those areas. I won't comment on the others as I haven't really been there.
Also if you want crime statistics they are easily accessible on the web, and i think you will find some interesting stats that are contrary to what the media portrays in certain areas/councils.
Don't be a sheep and believe everything you read in the media.
tarneit, because of overpopulation and crime, and point cook, the congestion is horrible
I live in Hoppers Crossing, and have done so since 1988. Myself and extended family have had two incidence of stolen property from front yard in all that time. One from a boat back in 95, and one from a car last year. Not bad. Never see crime when out and about. I would recommend Hoppers to anyone, main roads obviously more chance of crime in all areas than estates.
Anyone mentioning Werribee or Hoppers is a genuine goose. I've lived all around Melbourne that being east, north and west. Northern suburbs were definitely uncomfortable but I felt the most unsafe in the east. I currently live in Werribee and have never felt more at home, place is convenient, quieter being borderline regional and the people are actually quite nice and humble. We are a stones throw from Geelong and Melbourne and surrounded by beaches too, got the Werribee Open Zoo and the mansion too. Heaps of stuff to do and it's a nice place to live, kinda sick of people stigmatising the west when the east has higher crime rates and the people are 110% snobbier.
From what I have noticed, crime happens in every single suburb, now Danenong isn't as bad as people make it out to be and as a resident living here for 20 years and when catching public transport at night I haven't been harassed or the result of some crime while waiting for the bus. But I wouldn't recommend walking to the train station at 4 in the morning for the first train and that in 20 years was the only time I was mugged. This happened when I was on my way to work, unfortunately my car was not working. In a 20 year period I think that would have to have been the worst thing ever but I haven't been through anything else since.
The most that happens now is people shoplifting, selling drugs and domestic violence. Those crimes happen everywhere, no matter what suburb you live in
Melbourne CBD is currently on a red zone with worst crime rate. Cranbourne have improved in the last 5years due to expansion and newer estates and same with Frankston. If you’ve noticed, some people mentioned suburbs assuming it’s worst but not- most of them got the last train station. Check the crimestatistic website for your reference.
Richmond worst place in Australia drugs everywhere and very dirty and smells lived there for 20 years thank god I got out
crowded suburb: Box Hill.
Wealthy one: Toorak.
Messy one: CBD.
Anywhere in the West is a nightmare
Cranbourne that's all i have to say
Better states to look at.WA and Qld
Warmer climates friendly people more to do outdoors lifestyles great beaches. Melbourne is cold in winter. Born in Melbourne loved in Qld much better place than Melbourne I’m stuck in Melbourne for now since covid 19 Melbourne hasn’t recovered don’t recommend any areas cold place
Stay away from East and South East the sky rail is like Chicago ghettos. I’d recommend North West Moonee Ponds through to Keilor Village
Crime and infrastructure aside, everyone is different and has certain things they don't like about different suburbs. I thought I would hate Footscray and Sunshine but I would rather live there than Cranbourne - just personal preference.
I live in the Stonnington area, which I love. But since COVID, public housing issues have resulted in more public crimes in the street.
There seem to be a few cases of drunken fights in both St Kilda and Prahran caused by people in outer suburbs. The suburbs that seem to get the most mentions are Dandenong and Hallam. I've never been to either.
I think wherever you live, there are pluses and minuses but you'd want to pick somewhere where there is infrastructure, friendly people and a council that keeps the place clean.
sarahp58
Why did you choose Caroline Springs? Curious.
Sorry - vickeym I mean.
If they are relocating chances are at the beginning it will be closer to main cities, most places near are good and safe, I'd say if you live away from town more chances to find quirky areas, but that chances and improves over time as well
I'd avoid pockets of certain suburbs at certain times. On the weekend King St, Chapel St unless you're in a massive group, St Kilda beach on hot days. i think it's just attractive to groups of nefarious people!
It really depends on what your friends are looking for, and their circumstances - do they have kids? If they are in need of services such as childcare or good schools for example I have heard from friends that it can be a lengthy wait to get into childcare services in the Footscray/Yarraville area - however there is a newly completed, learning zone with larger capacity schools in the very same area. Depending on whether they will need to commute to the cbd could also be a factor. I do find I encounter more traffic and commute delays in the west compared to my local area of Port Phillip - however some of these "nice" suburbs also have their own problems ... ie - recent burglaries in Brighton, gentrification of popular areas such as St Kilda has lead to an increase in violence and social problems on the streets.
ajb4 is pointing out the north western suburbs with migrants from majority middle eastern descent. Probably has a tinge of racial bias considering them as the worst suburbs in Melbourne because if you check the crime statistics they aren't actually too bad.
Funnily enough if you check crime statistic (https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics/latest-crime-data-by-area) by area you will find that Melbourne CBD, Yarra, Stonnington and Port Phillip which are central and inner east - south east (considered more affluent areas) have a much higher crime rate. These area's have more than even Greater Dandenong and Frankston area which are considered quite rough.
With that being said I used to live and work in Richmond (Yarra Area) and you do occasionally see junkies, homeless people and unsociable behaviour on the odd occasion but it is still a very safe suburb to live inand overall Melbourne is a very safe city to live in.
It's true there are no ghettos as such, but common sense applies. The more you go below Melbourne's median average house price, the worse the area. The higher you go above the median, the better the area. For example, outer Western and outer Northern suburbs are very cheap, but there's a reason for that. I would recommend established areas and buying as far above the median price as you can afford.
Everywhere except east leafy suburbs
For a really good insight into crimes rates per suburb check out redsuburbs.com.au it shows crime rates per suburb. Not all leafy eastern suburbs escape high crime rates.