Is Albury (NSW) Safe?

Is Albury safe? Not everywhere. Crime rates vary dramatically across the suburb, and your choice of street matters far more than most buyers realise.

Worst for theft near Volt Lane and Selle Lane

Albury has a total crime rate of 17,992 per 100,000 residents across 345 blocks. The geographic breakdown shows clear hotspots. The highest-crime streets are Selle Lane, Elizabeth Street, Swift Street, Volt Lane, Dean Street, and Townsend Street. These areas are dominated by property crime, averaging 6,177 per 100,000 residents in commercial zones. Commercial blocks here run three times higher crime rates than residential areas overall. Property crime accounts for the bulk of incidents, driven by retail theft, vehicle crime, and break-ins along commercial corridors.

Meanwhile, the safest residential areas include Small Street, Pemberton Street, Roper Street, Cossor Street, Berry Street, and Tribune Street. These quiet streets experience crime rates well below the suburb average. The difference is stark. Residents choosing these quieter residential zones face property crime rates under 1,611 per 100,000, whilst commercial zones hit 6,177. The residential-commercial divide is obvious: commercial areas average 14,303 crimes per 100,000 versus just 4,216 in residential areas, a 3.4 times difference.

Quieter around Small Street and Roper Street

The 11-times crime variation between the safest and most dangerous block is sobering. Buyers on the wrong street face dramatically elevated risk. A property on Elizabeth Street sits 11 times more vulnerable to crime than one on Small Street, just kilometres away. Violent crime alone fluctuates from 1,797 per 100,000 in commercial blocks to 634 in residential blocks. Drugs offences show similar patterns: 2,222 per 100,000 commercially versus 820 residentially.

11x crime gap between streets

Albury has a population of 5,290 with a SEIFA index of 1000, indicating relative socioeconomic stability. Average income sits at 1,600 per week. Public housing comprises just 3.3 per cent of housing stock, with 14.3 per cent welfare dependent. Rental rates are moderate at 29 per cent. Overseas-born parents account for only 17 per cent of households. These demographics suggest a relatively stable community, yet crime remains unevenly distributed.

For buyers, Albury presents a clear calculation. The suburb itself sits within acceptable crime parameters for inland New South Wales. The real issue is micro-location. Avoid Elizabeth Street, Swift Street, and the commercial precincts along Selle Lane and Volt Lane. Target the residential pockets around Small Street, Pemberton Street, and Roper Street instead. Crime here falls to levels comparable with low-crime outer suburbs elsewhere. The difference between a safe street and a high-crime street can be worth 5 to 10 per cent in property value and livability. Do your street-level homework before committing.

Crime Breakdown