Suburb · ACT · 2024 data

Forrest, ACT

In 2024, police recorded 74 offences in Forrest, or 40.5 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.63× the ACT rate.

1,827 residents · estimated 1.6 km² -10.8% vs 2023
Crime rank within ACT
27 out of 100
Low crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 27% of 105 ranked ACT suburbs (2024).

Violent
3
Property
50

Higher = more crime. Severity-weighted rate per resident · method v2026.07

All offences
74
2024 · ▼ -10.8%
Crimes / 1,000
40.5
ACT avg 64.7
Violent / 1,000
3.3
6 offences · avg 9.1
Property / 1,000
15.9
29 offences · avg 25.5
Harm-focused / 1,000
19.1
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 34.6
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 304residents per year
ACT: 1 in 110
Property crime, roughly
1 in 63residents per year
ACT: 1 in 39

By crime type, 2024

Forrest ACT average Line = 2021–2024

Rates per 1,000 residents. ×-values compare with the state rate for the same offence type.

Crimes against the person

3.3 / 1,000 ACT 9.1 · National 15.3
Sexual offences
2.19
1.5×
Other crimes against the person
1.09
1.5×

Property & deception

15.9 / 1,000 ACT 25.5 · National 39.9
Theft
8.21
0.6×
Property damage
4.38
0.7×
Motor Vehicle Theft
2.74
1.3×
Burglary/Break and enter
0.55
0.2×

Traffic, regulatory & other

21.4 / 1,000 ACT 30.1 · National 6.7 administrative
Miscellaneous offences
14.23
0.9×
Transport regulation offences
7.12
0.5×
View as table
GroupOffence typeCountPer 1,000ACT per 1,000
Crimes against the personSexual offences42.191.45
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person21.090.75
Property & deceptionTheft158.2113.63
Property & deceptionProperty damage84.386.39
Property & deceptionMotor Vehicle Theft52.742.06
Property & deceptionBurglary/Break and enter10.553.41
Traffic, regulatory & otherMiscellaneous offences2614.2316.53
Traffic, regulatory & otherTransport regulation offences137.1213.53

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
072144202120222023202420252026

Recorded offences per year. Projection is a simple linear trend, not a forecast of individual risk.

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
ForrestState
All offences
Forrest
40.5
State
64.7
Violent
Forrest
3.3
State
9.1
Property
Forrest
15.9
State
25.5

Nearby suburbs

  1. Capital Hill1.1 km not ranked compare
  2. Griffith1.5 km 77 compare
  3. Deakin1.7 km 65 compare
  4. Red Hill1.8 km 51 compare
  5. Kingston2.0 km 56 compare
  6. Barton2.0 km 72 compare
  7. Parkes2.5 km not ranked compare
  8. Narrabundah2.5 km 74 compare

Housing, rent and growth

Housing & rent

ABS Census 2021

Median rent is 17% of median household income. Below the 30% stress benchmark

MeasureValuevs other ACT suburbs
Median rent$570/week higher than 97%
Median household income$3,363/week higher than 96%
Rent as a share of income17% higher than 29%
Median mortgage repayment$2,520/month higher than 87%
Homes that are rented31% higher than 64%
Owned outright38% higher than 79%
Social housing2% higher than 10%
Average household size2.2 people higher than 17%

2021 Census figures: rents and incomes have risen since, so compare suburbs rather than reading today's prices. The rent share uses the median rent and the median income of all households (owners included), so it is a guide, not the share any one renter pays. The 30% benchmark is a common convention.

Growth & new homes

ABS Regional Population · Building Approvals
MeasureValuevs other ACT areas
Population growth, 5 years
2020–2025
+7.8% higher than 72%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+1.6% higher than 81%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
2 higher than 54%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
1.0 higher than 58%

Figures are for the ABS area “Forrest”. Approvals are dwellings approved, not yet built. Growth and new supply are change indicators, not a price forecast.

Common questions about Forrest

Is Forrest a high-crime area?

Forrest falls in the “low crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 27% of 105 ranked ACT suburbs (2024). Rankings use a severity-weighted rate per resident, so serious offences count more than minor ones.

What is the crime rate in Forrest?

In 2024, 74 offences were recorded in Forrest, or 40.5 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.6× the ACT rate of 64.7.

What are the chances of being a victim of crime in Forrest?

Based on 2024 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 304 for violent crime and 1 in 63 for property crime. Recorded crime includes offences against visitors and businesses, so this overstates risk for residents.

Where does this data come from?

Official recorded-crime statistics published by state police and crime statistics agencies, divided by 2021 Census or ABS population estimates. See the methodology page for details.

Data notes

  • Population is estimated (medium confidence) from the ABS 2021 Census.
  • Recorded crime counts offences reported to or detected by police where they occurred. That includes offences against visitors and businesses, so busy centres score higher than their resident risk.
  • States classify offences differently, so ranks compare areas within the same state.