The safest areas to live in Victoria

According to a recent report from the Economist Intelligence Unit Melbourne ranks as the ninth safest city in the world. However, as with any large city there are definitely some areas that are safer to live in than others.

It’s simply not realistic for a suburb to be completely free of all crime, but by undertaking some research you can easily determine and find an area to live in that has minimal crime rates.

If you’re considering relocating to somewhere else in Victoria or want to move to a home in a slightly safer neighbourhood we’ve come up with the top 10 safest regions and suburbs you should start researching.

Where are the safest suburbs in Victoria located?

Based on Victoria Police’s 2013/2014 Crime Statistics report we know that in Victoria the average crime rate per 100,000 population is 7,489.5. We’ve used this data to find out where the top ten safest Local Government Areas are based on the reported crime rates for 2013/2014.

We can determine the safer suburbs to live in Victoria based on RACV’s analysis of this report that shows the average number of homes burgled across Victoria is 1 in 73.

1. Shepparton (north central region) reported the lowest 2013/14 crime rate in the state of 2,276.1 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Arcadia, Congupna, Dookie, Grahamvale, Kialla, Lemnos, Merrigum, Mooroopna, Murchison, Tallygaroopna, Tature, Toolamba and Undera.

Congupna is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 112 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

10 Bowland Close, Conpugna, VIC.

2. Nillumbik (inner north west metro region) reported a crime rate of 3,260.3 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Arthurs Creek, Bend of Islands, Christmas Hills, Cottles Bridge, Diamond Creek, Doreen, Eltham, Eltham North, Greensborough, Hurstbridge, Kangaroo Ground, Kinglake, Kinglake West, North Warrandyte, Nutfield, Panton Hill, Plenty, Research, Smiths Gully, Strathewen, St Andrews, Watsons Creek, Wattle Glen, Yan Yean and Yarrambat.

Research is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 125 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

58 Research-Warrandyte Road, Research, VIC.

3. Manningham (middle eastern region) reported a crime rate of 3,535.9 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Bulleen, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Donvale, Nunawading (part), Park Orchards, Ringwood North (part), Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Warrandyte, Warrandyte South and Wonga Park.

Donvale is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 158 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

11 Glenwood Close, Donvale, VIC.

4. Glen Eira (inner southern metro region) reported a crime rate of 3,896.8 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Bentleigh, Bentleigh East, Carnegie, Caulfield, Caulfield East, Caulfield North, Caulfield South, Elsternwick, Gardenvale, Glen Huntly, McKinnon, Murrumbeena, Ormond, and part of the suburb of St Kilda East.

Bentleigh East is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 129 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

4a Agnes Street, Bentleight East, VIC.

5. Moorabool (western region) reported a crime rate of 4,141.5 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Balliang (part), Balliang East, Barkstead, Barrys Reef, Beremboke, Blackwood, Blakeville, Bolwarrah, Bullarook (part), Bullarto South (part), Bunding, Bungal, Bungaree, Buninyong (part), Cargerie, Clarendon, Claretown, Clarkes Hill, Coimadai, Colbrook, Dales Creek, Darley, Dunnstown and many more.

Clarendon is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 188 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

1001 Old Melbourne Road, Ballan.

6. Boroondara (inner eastern region) reported a crime rate of 4,221.6 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Ashburton, Balwyn, Balwyn North, Camberwell, Canterbury, Deepdene, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Kew and Kew East, and parts of the suburbs of Glen Iris and Surrey Hills.

Hawthorn East is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 95 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

7. Whitehorse (middle eastern region) reported a crime rate of 4,540.5 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Balwyn North (part), Blackburn, Blackburn North, Blackburn South, Box Hill, Box Hill North, Box Hill South, Burwood (part), Burwood East, Forest Hill, Mitcham, Mont Albert (part), Mont Albert North, Nunawading (part), Surrey Hills (part), Vermont (part) and Vermont South.

Mitcham is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 92 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

8. Yarra Ranges (eastern region) reported a crime rate of 4,669.0 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Badger Creek, Beenak, Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, Big Pats Creek, Cambarville, Chirnside Park, Chum Creek, Coldstream, Dixons Creek, Don Valley, East Warburton, Emerald (part), Fernshaw, Ferny Creek, Gilderoy, Gladysdale, Gruyere, Healesville, Hoddles Creek, Kallista, Kalorama, Kilsyth (part), Launching Place, Lilydale, Lysterfield and many more.

Kallista is one of the safest suburbs in Victoria, with a very low burglary rate of 1 in 634 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

9. Macedon Ranges (western Region) reported a crime rate of 4,786.4 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Ashbourne, Baynton, Baynton East, Benloch, Bolinda, Bullengarook, Bylands (part), Cadello, Carlsruhe, Cherokee, Chintin, Clarkefield (part), Cobaw, Darraweit Guim, Denver (part), Edgecombe, Fern Hill (part), Gisborne, Gisborne South, Goldie, Greenhill (part), Hesket, Kerrie, Kyneton, Kyneton South, Lancefield and many more.

Lancefield is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 272 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

10. Warrnambool (regional western region) reported a crime rate of 5,691.3 per 100,000 population.

Suburbs: Allansford (part), Bushfield (part), Dennington (part), Illowa (part), Warrnambool, Woodford (part) and Yangery (part).

Allansford is one of the safest suburbs in this region, with a burglary rate of 1 in 116 homes (RACV Victorian Burglary Statistics).

Regardless of what area you live in or are planning to move to there are always a number of steps you can take to protect yourself and your property.

To take your research further we recommend searching and comparing specific suburbs using RACV’s Victorian Burglary Statistics search tool and seeing what the locals have to say on our Questions and Suburb Reviews. It’s also worth checking the Top 10 Melbourne Burglary Hotspots here.

Happy house hunting!