Watson, ACT
In 2024, police recorded 403 offences in Watson, or 59.9 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.93× the ACT rate.
Higher weighted crime rate than 80% of 105 ranked ACT suburbs (2024).
Higher = more crime. Severity-weighted rate per resident · method v2026.07
By crime type, 2024
Rates per 1,000 residents. ×-values compare with the state rate for the same offence type.
Crimes against the person
6.8 / 1,000
ACT 9.1
· National 15.3
Property & deception
34.6 / 1,000
ACT 25.5
· National 39.9
Traffic, regulatory & other
18.4 / 1,000
ACT 30.1
· National 6.7
administrative
View as table
| Group | Offence type | Count | Per 1,000 | ACT per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes against the person | Assault and related offences | 35 | 5.20 | 6.56 |
| Crimes against the person | Sexual offences | 9 | 1.34 | 1.45 |
| Crimes against the person | Other crimes against the person | 1 | 0.15 | 0.75 |
| Crimes against the person | Robbery | 1 | 0.15 | 0.35 |
| Property & deception | Theft | 118 | 17.54 | 13.63 |
| Property & deception | Property damage | 57 | 8.47 | 6.39 |
| Property & deception | Burglary/Break and enter | 39 | 5.80 | 3.41 |
| Property & deception | Motor Vehicle Theft | 19 | 2.82 | 2.06 |
| Traffic, regulatory & other | Miscellaneous offences | 73 | 10.85 | 16.53 |
| Traffic, regulatory & other | Transport regulation offences | 51 | 7.58 | 13.53 |
Trend
Recorded offences per year. Projection is a simple linear trend, not a forecast of individual risk.
Vs state & national
per 1,000 residentsNearby suburbs
Housing, rent and growth
Housing & rent
ABS Census 2021Median rent is 18% of median household income. Below the 30% stress benchmark
| Measure | Value | vs other ACT suburbs |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $437/week | higher than 42% |
| Median household income | $2,414/week | higher than 52% |
| Rent as a share of income | 18% | higher than 49% |
| Median mortgage repayment | $2,067/month | higher than 43% |
| Homes that are rented | 33% | higher than 73% |
| Owned outright | 23% | higher than 30% |
| Social housing | 6% | higher than 50% |
| Average household size | 2.4 people | higher than 26% |
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| Measure | Value | vs other ACT areas |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth, 5 years 2020–2025 | +14.1% | higher than 80% |
| Population growth, last year 2024–2025 | +1.9% | higher than 86% |
| New homes approved, 12 months 12 months to Aug 2026 | 10 | higher than 78% |
| New homes approved per 1,000 residents 12 months to Aug 2026 | 1.4 | higher than 61% |
Figures are for the ABS area “Watson”. Approvals are dwellings approved, not yet built. Growth and new supply are change indicators, not a price forecast.
Common questions about Watson
Is Watson a high-crime area?
Watson falls in the “high crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 80% 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 Watson?
In 2024, 403 offences were recorded in Watson, or 59.9 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.9× the ACT rate of 64.7.
What are the chances of being a victim of crime in Watson?
Based on 2024 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 146 for violent crime and 1 in 29 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.