Crime and safety analysis based on 130 blocks and 6,373 residents. SEIFA score 1000 (average)
Total crime rate 51,740 per 100,000 residents. Violent crime: 1 in 34. Property crime: 1 in 4.
Geelong's crime risk is substantial but closely tied to specific streets and the retail precinct. Central and commercial areas drive the overall numbers.
High crime concentrates around Baylie Place, Mercer Street, Cullens Place, Latrobe Terrace, Gore Place, and Little Myers Street. Property crime is the dominant issue, reaching 26,388 per 100,000 people across the suburb on average. The commercial zone records 17,722 crimes per 100,000, with property crime at 7,169, violent crime at 2,264, and drugs at 3,256. The retail and entertainment precincts attract theft, burglary, and public order incidents. This is typical of regional centres with strong CBD activity.
The safest streets are located away from the commercial core. The Esplanade, Alexandra Avenue, McMillan Avenue, Stradling Avenue, York Street, and Keera Street all record significantly lower crime. Residential areas average 6,149 crimes per 100,000, with property crime at 2,586, violent crime at 669, and drugs at 1,208. The difference is clear: commercial blocks average 17,722 crimes versus 6,149 in residential zones, a 2.9-fold gap.
The geographic spread matters substantially. Crime varies 20-fold across the suburb. Buyers choosing a residential street over a commercial location can reduce crime exposure by roughly 65 per cent. This is a meaningful difference in community safety perception and actual risk.
Geelong has a population of 6,373 with a SEIFA score of 1,000 (the highest in this batch), indicating relative advantage. Public housing is minimal at 1.1 per cent, welfare dependency at 13.6 per cent, and renters at 34 per cent. Weekly income averages $1,670 and the Hip score of 69.0 suggests reasonable liveability. This is a more affluent regional centre than most.
For buyers, Geelong rewards careful street selection. The Esplanade and surrounding residential areas offer substantially lower crime than the CBD. The commercial activity that drives crime is largely contained, making risk manageable for those in quiet residential pockets. This is one of the safer regional centres despite the high CBD numbers.
| Category | Geelong | VIC Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 2,937 | 1,200 |
| Property crime | 26,388 | 4,000 |
| Drug offences | 2,406 | 700 |
| Public order | 7,428 | 1,000 |
Rates per 100,000 residents. Source: BOCSAR, Victoria Police, QPS.
| Metric | Geelong |
|---|---|
| Public housing | 1.1% |
| Unemployment | 0.1% |
| Welfare dependent | 13.6% |
| SEIFA disadvantage | 1000 |
| Median household income | $1,670/wk |
Source: ABS Census 2021.
Some high-crime suburbs grow faster than their quiet neighbours. Others do not. The difference depends on what is driving the crime. We studied 14,000 suburbs to find out which side Geelong falls on.
The full Geelong report includes block-level growth forecasts, the streets where crime is costing owners money, and the streets where it is not.
Which Streets in Geelong Are Affected?