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What is the Safest Suburb in Melbourne?

June 20, 2024
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Key takeaways:

  • Melbourne ranks as the eighth safest city in the world, excelling in digital, health, and infrastructure safety.
  • The Patch is Melbourne’s safest suburb, with a crime rate of just 1.03 incidents per 100 residents.
  • Other safe suburbs include Park Orchards, Ferny Creek, Selby, and Kallista, all known for low crime rates and family-friendly environments.
  • Emerging safe areas in Melbourne include East Melbourne, North Melbourne, and South-East Melbourne, offering a blend of safety and modern amenities.

When considering a move to Melbourne, finding the safest suburb is crucial. Melbourne, known for its vibrant culture and high quality of life, also offers several secure and peaceful suburbs perfect for families and individuals alike.

Melbourne’s Safety Reputation

Melbourne is frequently cited as one of the safest cities globally. According to the Safe City Index 2021 by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Melbourne ranks as the eighth safest metropolis in the world. The city excels in various safety parameters, including:

  • Digital Safety: 8th globally
  • Health Safety: 4th globally
  • Infrastructure Safety: 15th globally

These impressive rankings reflect Melbourne’s commitment to providing a safe environment for its residents.

Crime Rates Across Melbourne

When evaluating safety, it’s essential to consider crime rates across different areas. The top five regions in Melbourne with the lowest crime rates are:

  • Outer East: 29% below the average crime rate
  • Northeast: 23% below the average crime rate
  • Northwest: 14% below the average crime rate
  • Southeast: 14% below the average crime rate
  • West: 7% below the average crime rate

These areas are known for their low incidence of crimes, particularly burglaries, making them ideal for those prioritizing safety.

Whether you are looking to buy or rent a house in a particular area you must select the safest area to live in. So, what is the safest suburb in Melbourne?

If you’re looking for the safest cities to live in Australia, you’ll find that Melbourne is a pretty safe city. It is actually on its way to replacing Sydney as the most populated city in Australia.

But, what suburbs in Melbourne are safe to raise a family in? Let’s find it out!

Safest Suburb in Melbourne: The Patch

The Patch

What is the safest suburb in Melbourne?
House for sale in The Patch (sold)

The Patch stands out as the safest suburb in Melbourne. Located 36 kilometers east of Melbourne’s CBD in the Yarra Ranges, this small, serene suburb offers a peaceful rural lifestyle. Key highlights include:

  • Population: 1,065 residents
  • Median House Price: $872,000
  • Crime Rate: 1.03 incidents per 100 residents

The Patch is known for its picturesque environment, featuring lush greenery and a tight-knit community. It offers various amenities such as a general store, community hall, tennis court, primary school, and several commercial nurseries.

The Patch is widely recognized for its extremely high safety metrics. Crime rates in The Patch are noticeably lower than the average compared to most of Australia’s suburbs.

In fact, The Patch is safer than 98% of all Australian suburbs and 78% of Victoria suburbs. However, FV common assault is a prevalent offence in the area.

The Patch Crime Statistics at a Glance

  • Historical Trend: Over the past 5 years, The Patch has seen fluctuations in crime rates. The chart below illustrates the 60-month historical trend of criminal incidents in The Patch.
  • Criminal Incidents in 2022: Victoria Police recorded 14 criminal incidents in The Patch in 2022, a 56% increase from the 9 incidents recorded in 2021.
  • Safety Percentile: The Patch is in the 78th percentile for safety, meaning 22% of Victoria suburbs are safer, while 78% are more dangerous.
  • Common Crimes:
    • FV Common Assault: This is the most common crime in The Patch.
    • Deception Offences: There were no recorded deception offences in 2021 and 2022.

60-Month Trend of Criminal Incidents in The Patch

Here’s a visual representation of the 60-month trend of criminal incidents in The Patch:

YearNumber of Incidents
201810
201912
202011
20219
202214

This table shows that while there has been a slight increase in criminal incidents, The Patch remains significantly safer compared to many other suburbs.

Discover more properties for sale in The Patch.

Other safe suburbs in Melbourne

Park Orchards

What is the safest suburb in Melbourne?
House for sale in Park Orchards
  • Median house price:  $1,950,00
  • Crime Rate: 1.33 incidents per 100 residents

Park Orchards is one of the safest suburbs in Melbourne and is near Melbourne’s CBD. It is situated 23 kilometres northeast of Melbourne.

According to the latest census, Park Orchards has a population of over 3800 families at most. The suburb is quite liveable not only because it’s safe, but it has expansive parklands and schools.

Moreover, there have been reported criminal occurrences involving drugs, public safety, property, and deception. However, this affects just 1.33 out of 100 people.

Discover more properties for sale in Park Orchards.

Ferny Creek

House for sale in Ferny Creek
  • Median house price: $1,071,250
  • Crime Rate: Low crime rate, particularly among 40-50-year-old residents and families

Ferny Creek is a beautiful and quiet suburb with picturesque architecture. It is situated 33 kilometres from Melbourne, east of the central business district. Ferny Creek is also located in the county of Yarra Ranges. Moreover, it has just 1524 people, most of whom are 40-50-year-old couples and families, with 92% of them being owner-occupiers.

Ferny Creek is also famous for its peaceful parks, greenery, and recreation facilities. Thus it is known as the sanctuary away from busy life.

Discover more properties for sale in Ferny Creek.

Selby

House for sale in Selby
  • Median house price: $860,000
  • Crime Rate: 1.47 incidents per 100 residents

Selby is a small suburb located 40 kilometres east of Melbourne’s CBD. Moreover, similar to The Patch and Ferny Creek, Selby also comes under the Yarra Ranges.

This suburb possesses a famous tourist attraction called Selby Trestle Bridge. Selby is also dominated by older couples aged between 40-59 and families.

Likewise, Selby’s population is around 1626 residents with 92% owner-occupiers. The crime rate in Selby was recorded at 1.47 for every 100 people.

Discover more properties for sale in Selby.

Kallista

House for sale in Kallista (sold)
  • Median house price: $842,500
  • Crime Rate: Relatively low, with high community engagement

Kallista is another beautiful suburb both for tourists and locals. This suburb is situated 36 kilometres south east of the CBD in the Yarra Ranges. Being surrounded by lush greenery, Kallista is also renowned for its extraordinary beauty and luxury homes.

Similarly, Kallista also is home to older couples and families. The highest price tag of houses here has been $1.3 million.

Discover more properties for sale in Kallista.

More on the safest suburbs in Melbourne

The Allure of Living in Melbourne’s Safest Suburbs

Melbourne, often regarded as one of the best cities to live in globally, offers a plethora of suburbs to live in Melbourne, each unique in its charm and safety standards.

Many Australian families and individuals are looking for the best suburb to settle in, especially those close to the Melbourne CBD, where the allure of the inner city and surrounding suburbs beckons.

When choosing a place to call home in Melbourne, safety is paramount. So, what suburbs in Melbourne should one consider?

What is the Safest Suburb in Melbourne?

Whether you’re looking to buy or rent a house in a particular area, it’s essential to select not only a liveable suburb but also the safest area to live in.

As per the safe city index 2021 by Economist Intelligence Unit, Melbourne is the eighth safest metropolis in the world.

The top 5 areas of Melbourne with lower-than-average crime rates are outer east (29%), northeast (23%), northwest (14%), southeast (14%), and the west (7%). But, which specific suburbs in Melbourne are the pinnacle of safety?

Top Five Upcoming Safe Suburbs in Melbourne

While the previously mentioned suburbs have maintained their esteemed positions for safety, several emerging areas are drawing families due to their budding reputations for safety and liveability:

  1. East Melbourne: Just a few kilometres east of the city, this suburb is gaining traction as one of the safest and most vibrant suburbs in Australia.
  2. North Melbourne: Located north-east of the CBD, its rising safety standards make it an increasingly popular choice.
  3. South-East Melbourne: Found close to the CBD, it’s an area that’s seeing rapid growth in both infrastructure and safety. The suburb offers a blend of modernity and tranquillity.
  4. Surrounding Suburbs: The suburbs surrounding the main CBD, especially those within 10 kilometres, are garnering attention for their improving safety records and proximity to main city amenities.
  5. Inner City Suburbs: As Melbourne continues to develop its infrastructure and community policing, the inner-city suburbs are expected to see a decrease in crime rates, making them more attractive for both locals and newcomers.

Remember, safety is an ever-evolving aspect of any city or suburb. While these are the top picks as of this moment, always ensure you do a current check on any area before making a move.

Conclusion

With a plethora of options ranging from the established safest suburbs to the emerging ones, finding a safe place to live in Melbourne is achievable.

Whether you’re looking for picturesque locales like Ferny Creek or the bustling vibrancy closer to the CBD like East Melbourne, there’s a perfect spot waiting for you in this magnificent Australian city.

Which suburb of Melbourne will you explore next?

FAQs on the safest Melbourne suburbs

Which suburb in Melbourne has the lowest crime rate?

According to the Victorian Government’s crime statistics agency, The Patch is the safest area with the lowest crime rate among the safest Melbourne suburbs. Park Orchards and Ferny Creek are the second and third safest suburbs in Melbourne.

Compared to Sydney’s safest suburbs, they are both on par in terms of safety.

Is it safe to walk at night in Melbourne?

While it is perfectly safe to walk during the day and night in Melbourne, it is not wise to walk out in lonely areas at night. Besides this, you can use 24/7 available public transport too.

Is Melbourne safe for international students?

Melbourne is a safe city in Australia. According to the Safe Cities Index 2021, Melbourne is the ninth city in the world with overall safety.

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