Safest suburbs in Sydney, by recorded crime per resident
Published 30 October 2026. Crime: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, recorded incidents by suburb, 2024-25 and 2025-26. Population: ABS 2021 Census.
105 of the 598 Greater Sydney suburbs with at least 1,000 residents are in the lowest quarter for both property crime and violent crime per resident, on BOCSAR recorded incidents for 2024-25 and 2025-26. 55 of them are within 20 km of the CBD, led by Kurraba Point, Cremorne Point and Wollstonecraft. 56 of the 105 sit in four council areas: Northern Beaches (17), Sutherland (16), Ku-ring-gai (14) and Hornsby (9). The lowest combined rates are in Westleigh, Glenhaven and Liberty Grove.
Key statistics
- Low crime suburbs
- 105 of 598
- Within 20 km of the CBD
- 55
- Greater Sydney property rate
- 11.8 per 1,000
- Greater Sydney violence rate
- 9.5 per 1,000
The 20 Sydney suburbs with the lowest recorded crime
Ranked on property and violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year added together. Westleigh in Hornsby has the lowest combined rate of the 598 suburbs, at 0.7 property and 1.4 violent incidents per 1,000 residents. Across Greater Sydney the rates are 11.8 and 9.5.
| Rank | Suburb | Council | To CBD | Property per 1,000 | Violence per 1,000 | Running cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westleigh | Hornsby | 21.7 km | 0.7 | 1.4 | $10,465 |
| 2 | Glenhaven | The Hills | 27.1 km | 1.6 | 1.9 | $11,220 |
| 3 | Liberty Grove | Canada Bay | 12 km | 2.2 | 1.7 | $8,231 |
| 4 | South Turramurra | Ku-ring-gai | 16.1 km | 1.7 | 2.3 | $10,431 |
| 5 | Davidson | Northern Beaches | 14.6 km | 2.0 | 2.2 | $9,334 |
| 6 | Cherrybrook | Hornsby | 22.4 km | 2.2 | 2.1 | $10,875 |
| 7 | Castlecrag | Willoughby | 7.8 km | 3.4 | 1.2 | $7,499 |
| 8 | North Balgowlah | Northern Beaches | 9.6 km | 2.9 | 1.8 | $7,616 |
| 9 | Voyager Point | Liverpool | 24.2 km | 3.6 | 1.2 | $11,272 |
| 10 | Breakfast Point | Canada Bay | 9.5 km | 3.4 | 1.4 | $7,591 |
| 11 | Woronora Heights | Sutherland | 24.8 km | 1.6 | 3.2 | $11,294 |
| 12 | East Killara | Ku-ring-gai | 12.7 km | 2.1 | 2.9 | $10,020 |
| 13 | Bilgola Plateau | Northern Beaches | 26.7 km | 3.0 | 2.1 | $10,680 |
| 14 | Willoughby East | Willoughby | 7.7 km | 3.0 | 2.1 | $7,171 |
| 15 | Grose Vale | Hawkesbury City | 59.6 km | 3.1 | 2.0 | $10,657 |
| 16 | Elanora Heights | Northern Beaches | 19.8 km | 2.6 | 2.5 | $9,871 |
| 17 | West Pennant Hills | The Hills | 21.1 km | 3.1 | 2.1 | $10,388 |
| 18 | East Lindfield | Ku-ring-gai | 11.6 km | 3.8 | 1.5 | $9,052 |
| 19 | Oyster Bay | Sutherland | 19.7 km | 3.0 | 2.3 | $10,454 |
| 20 | Bonnet Bay | Sutherland | 21.3 km | 3.1 | 2.2 | $10,976 |
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Low crime Sydney suburbs within 20 km of the city
A suburb counts as low crime here when both its property rate and its violence rate are in the lowest quarter of the 598 suburbs, at or below 5.7 and 4.3 per 1,000 residents. 105 suburbs meet both. Sydney's low crime suburbs are not confined to the fringe. 55 are within 20 km of the CBD and 18 within 10 km, from Kurraba Point at 3.1 km outward.
| Suburb | Council | To CBD | Property per 1,000 | Violence per 1,000 | Running cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kurraba Point | North Sydney | 3.1 km | 5.0 | 2.9 | $5,766 |
| Cremorne Point | North Sydney | 3.5 km | 5.3 | 2.4 | $5,895 |
| Wollstonecraft | North Sydney | 4.3 km | 5.2 | 2.8 | $5,797 |
| Cammeray | North Sydney | 5.4 km | 4.6 | 3.1 | $6,135 |
| Longueville | Lane Cove | 5.7 km | 5.4 | 1.9 | $7,200 |
| Northbridge | Willoughby | 6.6 km | 5.3 | 3.0 | $6,855 |
| Dover Heights | Waverley | 6.7 km | 4.8 | 1.9 | $6,537 |
| Willoughby | Willoughby | 6.8 km | 3.8 | 2.4 | $6,914 |
| Riverview | Lane Cove | 6.9 km | 3.0 | 3.3 | $7,554 |
| Willoughby East | Willoughby | 7.7 km | 3.0 | 2.1 | $7,171 |
| Castlecrag | Willoughby | 7.8 km | 3.4 | 1.2 | $7,499 |
| North Willoughby | Willoughby | 8.3 km | 4.1 | 2.2 | $7,339 |
| Balgowlah Heights | Northern Beaches | 8.6 km | 5.4 | 1.8 | $7,846 |
| East Ryde | Ryde | 9.1 km | 4.8 | 1.6 | $8,244 |
| Chatswood West | Ryde | 9.2 km | 4.9 | 2.6 | $8,271 |
| Breakfast Point | Canada Bay | 9.5 km | 3.4 | 1.4 | $7,591 |
| North Balgowlah | Northern Beaches | 9.6 km | 2.9 | 1.8 | $7,616 |
| Roseville | Ku-ring-gai | 9.7 km | 5.1 | 3.8 | $8,565 |
| Killarney Heights | Northern Beaches | 10.3 km | 5.2 | 3.8 | $8,299 |
| Bardwell Valley | Bayside | 10.4 km | 3.8 | 4.1 | $7,425 |
| Roseville Chase | Ku-ring-gai | 10.6 km | 2.2 | 3.4 | $8,800 |
| East Lindfield | Ku-ring-gai | 11.6 km | 3.8 | 1.5 | $9,052 |
| Allambie Heights | Northern Beaches | 11.8 km | 4.3 | 2.9 | $8,679 |
| Queenscliff | Northern Beaches | 11.9 km | 5.1 | 3.2 | $8,954 |
| Liberty Grove | Canada Bay | 12 km | 2.2 | 1.7 | $8,231 |
| Forestville | Northern Beaches | 12.1 km | 5.0 | 3.0 | $8,452 |
| Killara | Ku-ring-gai | 12.1 km | 3.0 | 3.2 | $8,925 |
| Freshwater | Northern Beaches | 12.4 km | 5.4 | 3.4 | $9,076 |
| East Killara | Ku-ring-gai | 12.7 km | 2.1 | 2.9 | $10,020 |
| Denistone East | Ryde | 13.1 km | 4.6 | 2.4 | $8,154 |
| Frenchs Forest | Northern Beaches | 13.3 km | 5.0 | 4.1 | $8,739 |
| West Pymble | Ku-ring-gai | 13.4 km | 4.1 | 2.2 | $9,486 |
| North Curl Curl | Northern Beaches | 13.7 km | 5.2 | 4.2 | $9,382 |
| Beacon Hill | Northern Beaches | 13.8 km | 4.4 | 2.5 | $8,655 |
| Davidson | Northern Beaches | 14.6 km | 2.0 | 2.2 | $9,334 |
| Newington | Parramatta | 14.6 km | 3.4 | 3.0 | $8,724 |
| Marsfield | Ryde | 14.6 km | 5.4 | 3.8 | $8,696 |
| Pymble | Ku-ring-gai | 15.2 km | 5.4 | 2.8 | $9,639 |
| Belrose | Northern Beaches | 15.7 km | 4.4 | 3.0 | $9,573 |
| St Ives | Ku-ring-gai | 15.8 km | 5.0 | 3.6 | $10,018 |
| Hurstville Grove | Georges River | 15.9 km | 4.8 | 3.8 | $9,297 |
| North Epping | Hornsby | 16 km | 3.5 | 3.1 | $9,411 |
| South Turramurra | Ku-ring-gai | 16.1 km | 1.7 | 2.3 | $10,431 |
| Connells Point | Georges River | 16.4 km | 4.0 | 3.3 | $9,901 |
| Wheeler Heights | Northern Beaches | 16.8 km | 2.9 | 2.8 | $9,602 |
| Turramurra | Ku-ring-gai | 16.9 km | 5.0 | 3.5 | $10,245 |
| Oatley | Georges River | 18 km | 4.6 | 3.8 | $10,220 |
| Pennant Hills | Hornsby | 18.5 km | 5.5 | 3.4 | $10,259 |
| Peakhurst Heights | Georges River | 18.6 km | 3.8 | 3.2 | $9,833 |
| St Ives Chase | Ku-ring-gai | 18.6 km | 3.8 | 1.8 | $10,925 |
| Beecroft | Hornsby | 18.6 km | 3.1 | 2.8 | $9,677 |
| Wahroonga | Ku-ring-gai | 18.7 km | 4.7 | 3.4 | $10,594 |
| Lugarno | Georges River | 19.3 km | 2.8 | 3.4 | $10,712 |
| Oyster Bay | Sutherland | 19.7 km | 3.0 | 2.3 | $10,454 |
| Elanora Heights | Northern Beaches | 19.8 km | 2.6 | 2.5 | $9,871 |
Where Sydney's low crime suburbs are
56 of the 105 low crime suburbs are in four council areas, Northern Beaches with 17, Sutherland with 16, Ku-ring-gai with 14 and Hornsby with 9. 12 of the 32 Greater Sydney councils have none, including Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Hunters Hill and Inner West.
| Council | Low crime suburbs | Suburbs ranked |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Beaches | 17 | 39 |
| Sutherland | 16 | 36 |
| Ku-ring-gai | 14 | 17 |
| Hornsby | 9 | 20 |
| The Hills | 9 | 17 |
| Georges River | 5 | 21 |
| Willoughby | 5 | 12 |
| Blue Mountains | 4 | 17 |
| Hawkesbury City | 4 | 19 |
| North Sydney | 4 | 12 |
| Ryde | 4 | 15 |
| Blacktown City | 3 | 44 |
| Canada Bay | 2 | 15 |
| Lane Cove | 2 | 5 |
| Liverpool | 2 | 29 |
| Bayside | 1 | 23 |
| Camden | 1 | 16 |
| Fairfield | 1 | 23 |
| Parramatta | 1 | 25 |
| Waverley | 1 | 9 |
What the low crime suburbs cost to run
The 105 low crime suburbs average $9,801 a year in council rates, water, the modelled drive commute and estimated building insurance, $211 more than the $9,589 average across all 598. Distance explains little of it: they average 21.6 km from the CBD against 23.6 km. The cheapest to run is Kurraba Point at $5,766 a year, 3.1 km from the city.
| Suburb | Council | To CBD | Running cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurraba Point | North Sydney | 3.1 km | $5,766 |
| Wollstonecraft | North Sydney | 4.3 km | $5,797 |
| Cremorne Point | North Sydney | 3.5 km | $5,895 |
| Cammeray | North Sydney | 5.4 km | $6,135 |
| Dover Heights | Waverley | 6.7 km | $6,537 |
| Northbridge | Willoughby | 6.6 km | $6,855 |
| Willoughby | Willoughby | 6.8 km | $6,914 |
| Willoughby East | Willoughby | 7.7 km | $7,171 |
| Longueville | Lane Cove | 5.7 km | $7,200 |
| North Willoughby | Willoughby | 8.3 km | $7,339 |
| Bardwell Valley | Bayside | 10.4 km | $7,425 |
| Castlecrag | Willoughby | 7.8 km | $7,499 |
| Riverview | Lane Cove | 6.9 km | $7,554 |
| Breakfast Point | Canada Bay | 9.5 km | $7,591 |
| North Balgowlah | Northern Beaches | 9.6 km | $7,616 |
| Balgowlah Heights | Northern Beaches | 8.6 km | $7,846 |
| Denistone East | Ryde | 13.1 km | $8,154 |
| Liberty Grove | Canada Bay | 12 km | $8,231 |
| East Ryde | Ryde | 9.1 km | $8,244 |
| Chatswood West | Ryde | 9.2 km | $8,271 |
| Killarney Heights | Northern Beaches | 10.3 km | $8,299 |
| Forestville | Northern Beaches | 12.1 km | $8,452 |
| Roseville | Ku-ring-gai | 9.7 km | $8,565 |
| Beacon Hill | Northern Beaches | 13.8 km | $8,655 |
| Allambie Heights | Northern Beaches | 11.8 km | $8,679 |
| Marsfield | Ryde | 14.6 km | $8,696 |
| Newington | Parramatta | 14.6 km | $8,724 |
| Frenchs Forest | Northern Beaches | 13.3 km | $8,739 |
| Roseville Chase | Ku-ring-gai | 10.6 km | $8,800 |
| Killara | Ku-ring-gai | 12.1 km | $8,925 |
| Kurrajong Heights | Hawkesbury City | 67.5 km | $8,932 |
| Queenscliff | Northern Beaches | 11.9 km | $8,954 |
| East Lindfield | Ku-ring-gai | 11.6 km | $9,052 |
| Freshwater | Northern Beaches | 12.4 km | $9,076 |
| Hurstville Grove | Georges River | 15.9 km | $9,297 |
| Davidson | Northern Beaches | 14.6 km | $9,334 |
| North Curl Curl | Northern Beaches | 13.7 km | $9,382 |
| North Epping | Hornsby | 16 km | $9,411 |
| West Pymble | Ku-ring-gai | 13.4 km | $9,486 |
| Belrose | Northern Beaches | 15.7 km | $9,573 |
| Wheeler Heights | Northern Beaches | 16.8 km | $9,602 |
| Pymble | Ku-ring-gai | 15.2 km | $9,639 |
| Beecroft | Hornsby | 18.6 km | $9,677 |
| Peakhurst Heights | Georges River | 18.6 km | $9,833 |
| Elanora Heights | Northern Beaches | 19.8 km | $9,871 |
| Connells Point | Georges River | 16.4 km | $9,901 |
| St Ives | Ku-ring-gai | 15.8 km | $10,018 |
| East Killara | Ku-ring-gai | 12.7 km | $10,020 |
| Oatley | Georges River | 18 km | $10,220 |
| Turramurra | Ku-ring-gai | 16.9 km | $10,245 |
| Pennant Hills | Hornsby | 18.5 km | $10,259 |
| Gymea Bay | Sutherland | 23.1 km | $10,356 |
| West Pennant Hills | The Hills | 21.1 km | $10,388 |
| South Turramurra | Ku-ring-gai | 16.1 km | $10,431 |
| Oyster Bay | Sutherland | 19.7 km | $10,454 |
| Westleigh | Hornsby | 21.7 km | $10,465 |
| Kareela | Sutherland | 20.3 km | $10,559 |
| Yowie Bay | Sutherland | 21.9 km | $10,573 |
| Wahroonga | Ku-ring-gai | 18.7 km | $10,594 |
| Burraneer | Sutherland | 22.1 km | $10,604 |
| Baulkham Hills | The Hills | 24.6 km | $10,612 |
| Caringbah South | Sutherland | 22.2 km | $10,620 |
| Grose Vale | Hawkesbury City | 59.6 km | $10,657 |
| Valley Heights | Blue Mountains | 60.7 km | $10,672 |
| Bilgola Plateau | Northern Beaches | 26.7 km | $10,680 |
| Mount Colah | Hornsby | 23.2 km | $10,695 |
| Loftus | Sutherland | 24.9 km | $10,708 |
| Lugarno | Georges River | 19.3 km | $10,712 |
| Bangor | Sutherland | 22.9 km | $10,726 |
| Port Hacking | Sutherland | 23.4 km | $10,800 |
| Beaumont Hills | The Hills | 31.6 km | $10,839 |
| Bonnyrigg Heights | Fairfield | 31.4 km | $10,844 |
| Grays Point | Sutherland | 23.8 km | $10,858 |
| Cherrybrook | Hornsby | 22.4 km | $10,875 |
| Yarrawarrah | Sutherland | 26.6 km | $10,920 |
| St Ives Chase | Ku-ring-gai | 18.6 km | $10,925 |
| Barden Ridge | Sutherland | 26.7 km | $10,931 |
| Alfords Point | Sutherland | 21.1 km | $10,944 |
| Bonnet Bay | Sutherland | 21.3 km | $10,976 |
| Illawong | Sutherland | 21.5 km | $11,009 |
| Parklea | Blacktown City | 31.3 km | $11,067 |
| Kellyville | The Hills | 28.5 km | $11,070 |
| North Kellyville | The Hills | 32.2 km | $11,082 |
| Bayview | Northern Beaches | 24.5 km | $11,104 |
| Kellyville Ridge | Blacktown City | 32.4 km | $11,144 |
| The Ponds | Blacktown City | 33 km | $11,182 |
| Glenhaven | The Hills | 27.1 km | $11,220 |
| Middle Dural | Hornsby | 30.4 km | $11,225 |
| Avalon Beach | Northern Beaches | 29.1 km | $11,234 |
| North Wahroonga | Ku-ring-gai | 20.4 km | $11,248 |
| North Turramurra | Ku-ring-gai | 20.4 km | $11,248 |
| Voyager Point | Liverpool | 24.2 km | $11,272 |
| Woronora Heights | Sutherland | 24.8 km | $11,294 |
| Warrimoo | Blue Mountains | 57 km | $11,382 |
| Annangrove | The Hills | 34.5 km | $11,516 |
| Yellow Rock | Blue Mountains | 55.9 km | $11,540 |
| Berowra Heights | Hornsby | 30.6 km | $11,542 |
| Kenthurst | The Hills | 35.2 km | $11,547 |
| Elizabeth Hills | Liverpool | 33.5 km | $11,578 |
| Arcadia | Hornsby | 31.8 km | $11,634 |
| Mount Riverview | Blue Mountains | 55.2 km | $11,634 |
| Glenorie | The Hills | 39.5 km | $11,646 |
| Harrington Park | Camden | 47.3 km | $11,727 |
| Ebenezer | Hawkesbury City | 49 km | $12,531 |
| Pitt Town | Hawkesbury City | 45.3 km | $12,612 |
Method and sources
Crime counts are recorded criminal incidents from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, by suburb, for the two years 2024-25 and 2025-26 (July to June), averaged. Each suburb's count is divided by its usual resident population at the 2021 Census (ABS, Suburbs and Localities) and shown per 1,000 residents a year. The study covers the 760 suburbs in the 32 Greater Sydney councils SuburbCost uses across its Sydney studies. 730 of them match a BOCSAR suburb and an ABS locality; the rest are national park and bushland localities, and two new suburbs with no 2021 population. 132 suburbs with fewer than 1,000 residents are left out, leaving 598.
Property crime is break and enter of a dwelling, motor vehicle theft, theft from a vehicle, theft from a dwelling and malicious damage to property. Violent crime is assault, including domestic violence related assault but not assault on police, sexual offences, robbery, homicide, and abduction and kidnapping. Retail theft, fraud, drug, transport, liquor, weapons and justice procedure offences are excluded, because they follow shopping centres and police activity more than where people live.
- Recorded, not all, crime. The figures count incidents reported to or detected by police. Reporting rates differ by offence and by community.
- Where it happened, not who lives there. Suburbs with shopping centres, stations, pubs or a large daytime population record more incidents per resident. The CBD has the highest rates for this reason.
- 2021 population. Fast growing suburbs have more residents now than in 2021, which overstates their current rate. This can keep a growth suburb off the low crime list but cannot put one on it.
- Suburb level. A rate describes a whole suburb, not a street.
- Running cost. Council rates and water for 2026-27, the modelled drive commute to the CBD, and building insurance, which is an estimate. Electricity is excluded so the figures match the other Sydney studies. SuburbCost does not report property prices.
Frequently asked questions
What are the safest suburbs in Sydney?
On recorded crime per resident, the lowest combined rates of property and violent crime among Greater Sydney suburbs with at least 1,000 residents are in Westleigh (Hornsby), Glenhaven (The Hills) and Liberty Grove (Canada Bay). 105 suburbs are in the lowest quarter on both measures, mostly in the Northern Beaches, Sutherland, Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby council areas. The figures are BOCSAR recorded incidents averaged over 2024-25 and 2025-26, divided by 2021 Census population.
Which safe Sydney suburbs are closest to the city?
Kurraba Point at 3.1 km from the CBD is the closest low crime suburb, then Cremorne Point at 3.5 km and Wollstonecraft at 4.3 km. 18 low crime suburbs are within 10 km and 55 within 20 km, so in Sydney a low crime suburb does not have to mean a long commute.
Are safe suburbs in Sydney more expensive to live in?
Only slightly, on running costs. The 105 low crime suburbs average $9,801 a year in council rates, water, the modelled drive commute and estimated building insurance, against $9,589 across all 598 suburbs ranked. They sit 21.6 km from the CBD on average against 23.6 km. The cheapest to run is Kurraba Point at $5,766 a year. SuburbCost does not measure property prices.
Why does the Sydney CBD have such a high crime rate?
Rates here divide recorded incidents by the people who live in a suburb. The CBD, Haymarket and other centres have small resident populations and very large numbers of workers, shoppers and visitors, so incidents involving visitors are counted against a small base. Sydney (the CBD suburb) records 35.1 property and 76.8 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year. A high rate in a centre says more about activity than about the risk to someone living there.
How is crime measured in this study?
Recorded criminal incidents from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, by suburb, averaged over 2024-25 and 2025-26 and divided by the suburb's usual resident population at the 2021 Census. Property crime is break and enter of a dwelling, motor vehicle theft, theft from a vehicle, theft from a dwelling and malicious damage. Violent crime is assault (including domestic violence related assault), sexual offences, robbery, homicide and abduction. Retail theft, fraud, drug, transport and other offences are excluded.
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SuburbCost data is free to cite with attribution. Please link to this page as the source, and to BOCSAR for the crime counts.