Crime and safety analysis based on 229 blocks and 14,938 residents. SEIFA score 970 (average)
Total crime rate 12,785 per 100,000 residents. Violent crime: 1 in 53. Property crime: 1 in 16.
Sale is a regional centre with moderate crime concentrated in specific streets. The geographic breakdown reveals clear safe and unsafe areas.
The highest crime streets include Dove Court, Macarthur Street, Desailly Street, Reeve Street, Foster Street, and Raymond Street. Property crime dominates at 6,106 per 100,000 across the suburb. Commercial blocks average 9,007 crimes per 100,000, with property crime at 4,224, violent crime at 1,193, and drugs at 1,042. The commercial to residential ratio is 3.7 times, indicating significant concentration in retail and transport areas.
The safest streets are in quiet residential zones. Acacia Court, Maffra-Sale Road, Cemetery Road, Helen Crescent, Joseph Street, and Macalister Street all show substantially lower crime. Residential areas average 2,451 crimes per 100,000, with property crime at 1,130, violent crime at 339, and drugs at 416. The contrast is sharp and clear.
Crime variation across Sale reaches 18-fold, among the higher spreads in this analysis. This significant variation rewards careful street selection. A buyer on the wrong street can face dramatically higher crime than a neighbour on the right one.
Sale has a population of 14,938 with a SEIFA score of 970, indicating moderate advantage. Public housing comprises 3.6 per cent, welfare dependency affects 17.6 per cent, and renters account for 22 per cent. Weekly income averages $1,330 and the Hip score is 66.0. This is a stable regional centre.
For property buyers, Sale is straightforward. The commercial hotspots are clearly identified and the quiet residential streets offer genuine safety. The 18-fold variation makes location selection crucial. Buyers should prioritise the quiet streets listed above and avoid the commercial corridors, particularly after hours. This is manageable risk with good geographic knowledge.
| Category | Sale | VIC Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 1,899 | 1,200 |
| Property crime | 6,106 | 4,000 |
| Drug offences | 583 | 700 |
| Public order | 988 | 1,000 |
Rates per 100,000 residents. Source: BOCSAR, Victoria Police, QPS.
| Metric | Sale |
|---|---|
| Public housing | 3.6% |
| Unemployment | 0.0% |
| Welfare dependent | 17.6% |
| SEIFA disadvantage | 970 |
| Median household income | $1,330/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 Sale falls on.
The full Sale report includes block-level growth forecasts, the streets where crime is costing owners money, and the streets where it is not.
Which Streets in Sale Are Affected?