Top 10 safest suburbs to live in Melbourne

Melbourne consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

But for some, feeling safe and secure tops the list of priorities.

With diverse neighbourhoods and sprawling suburbs, Melbourne offers a variety of options for those seeking a peaceful place to call home.

So, if you’re wondering where the safest suburbs in Melbourne look no further – whether you’re looking to buy your next investment property, new home or even apply for a new rental, here’s a list of the top 10 safest suburbs in Melbourne!

But first, let’s look at the big picture.

Is Melbourne a safe place to live?

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Safe Cities Index 2021, Melbourne is the 8th place (up from 10th place last year) safest city in the world, in joint place with Hong Kong.

In the report, Melbourne ranked 8th place for the world’s digital security, 4th for health security, joint 15th with Madrid for infrastructure security, 18th for personal security, and 25th for environmental security.

The results are impressive but not surprising.

After all, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic and continuous lockdowns and economic strife — after all, Melbourne also ranked highly among the world’s most liveable cities and also the best city in the world to work from home.

According to Crime Statistics Victoria, there were 34,372 offences recorded in the Melbourne local government area in the year ending March 2023, which was down very slightly from the 34,461 recorded in the year to March 2022.

The majority of these were street, laneway or footpath-based crimes, with theft being the most commonly recorded offence. Drug possession and stealing from motor vehicles were also among the five most commonly recorded offences.

But back to where are the safest suburbs in Melbourne specifically?

Here, with the help of Canstar research, we’ve broken it down.

Top 10 Melbourne suburbs with the lowest crime rates

Using the most recent data from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency for postcodes with 1,000 or more residents, here is a list of the 10 Melbourne suburbs with the lowest number of criminal incidents per 1,000 residents in the year ending March 2023.

Melbourne’s Ferny Creek had the lowest number of recorded criminal incidents by population for that period. But to be fair – The Patch only has around 1,524 residents.

Interestingly, aside from Black Rock and Beaumaris, which are south of Melbourne’s CBD, all of the ‘safe suburbs’ identified by Canstar were in Melbourne’s east.

They are also relatively low-population suburbs when compared to more central areas. Here are the top 10 safest suburbs in Melbourne:

1. Ferny Creek (3,786)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 10.6

Population: 1,524

Located around 33km south-east of the CBD in the Shire of Yarra Ranges is Ferny Creek with a 1,524 population of mostly 40-59-year-old couples and families and 92% owner-occupiers.

Known for its peaceful parks and recreation areas, the suburb has a reputation as a sanctuary away from regular day-to-day city life.

2. St Andrews (3761)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 10.9

Population: 1,236

Located around 52 km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD in the Shire of Nillumbik local government area, St Andrews has a population of around 1,236 people, comprising mostly 40-59 year olds, families and owner occupiers.

The suburb is mostly known for its alternative market, but it also has a hotel, primary school, bakery, general store and the Wadambuk community centre.

3. Merricks, Point Leo, Shoreham (3916)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 11.6

Population: 2,001

The suburbs of Merricks, Point Leo and Shoreham, which make up the 3916 postcode, are small seaside townships located on Victoria’s pristine Mornington Peninsula shoreline.

The trio have a small population of just over 2,000 people and a historically very low crime rate, showcasing the safety benefits of close-knit, smaller communities.

4. Wattle Glen (3096)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 12.1

Population: 1,960

Wattle Glen, located 25 km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD in the Shire of Nillumbik local government area, is another township with a small population and a very low crime rate.

The majority of people who live there are aged 40-59, and are families who own their property – only 6% of residents are renters.

5. Warrandyte (3113)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 12.9

Population: 5,541

Warrandyte is a high-demand property market with a $1.42 million median price tag and a population mostly consisting of older couples and families.

Located 24 km north-east of Melbourne’s CBD the quiet and safe outer Melbourne suburb of Warrandyte is situated on the Yarra River and is enveloped by bushland.

It has a population of 5,541 and a median age of 43 years old.

6. Yarrambat (3091)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 12.9

Population: 1,593

Another small township dominated by owner-occupier families in the 40-59 age range, Yarrambat is located in the remote area of Greater Melbourne around 24km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD.

The area used to be known as a gold mining area in the late 19th century but then the land was surveyed and cleared for farming after the mining boom subsided.

7. Panton Hill (3759)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 15

Population: 1,047

Another ex-gold rush town, Panton Hill is around 32 km north-east of Melbourne’s CBD in the Shire of Nillumbik.

Its 1,047 population mainly comprises 40-59-year-old families and owner-occupiers. The area recorded 15 incidents in the 12-month period surveyed.

8. The Patch (3792)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 15.5

Population: 1,046

The Patch is a very small suburb of Melbourne, located 39km east of the CBD in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, and consists only of houses, a community hall, a general store, a primary school, several commercial nurseries and a tennis court.

According to Domain data, the suburb has a population of around 1,046 residents, mainly older couples and families giving an average age of 40-59, and around 90% of properties are owner-occupied.

9. Beaconsfield, Upper Dewhurst (3808)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 12.1

Population: 302

Located much further away, around 48km south-east of Melbourne’s CBD in the Shire of Cardinia.

Both Beaconsfield and Upper Dewhurst recorded a population of about 151 each at the latest 2021 Census.

The average age sits a bit higher than other suburbs on the list at 60+, mostly comprising families and owner occupiers.

10. Gembrook (3783)

Number of incidents recorded in 12 months to March 2023: 16.1

Population: 2,348

Gembrook, tucked in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, around 54km or one hour’s drive from Melbourne CBD, is known for being the final destination for the iconic Puffing Billy train and sits on the edge of Bunyip State Forest.

Its 2,348 population mainly comprises 40-59-year-olds, families and owner occupiers – 12% of residents in the area are renters.

Investment-grade properties are key

Remember, safety is subjective and depends on individual priorities and needs.

While these suburbs have all been identified as being “low risk” when it comes to crime statistics, that doesn’t necessarily mean properties in these locations are automatically a strong investment prospect.

There are more than 11.1 million dwellings in Australia, and they’re not all created equal.

In fact, in my mind, fewer than 4% of the properties on the market at any given time are what I would call “investment grade”.

We’ve written plenty of articles and voiced many podcasts over time to share what I consider an investment-grade property is (more here and here if you’d like to explore), so I won’t go into the characteristics of a great investment or the type of properties that fit these criteria.

Instead, I encourage you to consider:

• What your investment goals are
• Why do you want to invest in property
• And how real estate can help you reach your goals?

Your property journey might involve a Melbourne-based property.

It could involve two.

It may even involve 10!

Or it could include none.

The right investment strategy for you is personal and based on your unique risk profile, income, expenses and goals.

Taking all of these into consideration to work out your “goal” is key because once you know what you’re aiming for, it becomes much easier to plan the steps you need to take to get there.