Suburb · NSW · 2025 data

Bowral, NSW

In 2025, police recorded 346 offences in Bowral, or 32.1 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.44× the NSW rate.

10,764 residents · estimated 37.2 km² -14.6% vs 2024
Crime rank within NSW
32 out of 100
Low crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 32% of 1,808 ranked NSW suburbs (2025).

Violent
36
Property
26

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

All offences
346
2025 · ▼ -14.6%
Crimes / 1,000
32.1
NSW avg 72.9
Violent / 1,000
9.9
107 offences · avg 17.5
Property / 1,000
11.1
119 offences · avg 27.4
Harm-focused / 1,000
26.3
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 54.2
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 101residents per year
NSW: 1 in 57
Property crime, roughly
1 in 90residents per year
NSW: 1 in 36

By crime type, 2025

Bowral NSW average Line = 2021–2025

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

Crimes against the person

9.9 / 1,000 NSW 17.5 · National 17.1
Assault and related offences
4.92
0.6×
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour
3.62
0.6×
Sexual offences
1.30
0.6×
Blackmail and extortion
0.09
0.6×
Homicide and related offences
0.00
0.0×
Abduction and related offences
0.00
0.0×
Robbery
0.00
0.0×
Other crimes against the person
0.00
0.0×

Property & deception

11.1 / 1,000 NSW 27.4 · National 43.2
Theft
7.06
0.3×
Property damage
3.90
0.7×
Arson
0.09
0.2×

Drug offences

1.1 / 1,000 NSW 4.6 · National 7.2
Drug offences
1.11
0.2×

Public order & weapons

4.2 / 1,000 NSW 4.7 · National 4.7
Public nuisance offences
2.14
3.3×
Disorderly and offensive conduct
1.67
0.7×
Weapons and explosives offences
0.37
0.2×

Justice procedures

3.1 / 1,000 NSW 10.9 · National 10.8 administrative
Justice procedures offences
3.07
0.3×

Traffic, regulatory & other

2.8 / 1,000 NSW 7.8 · National 6.2 administrative
Miscellaneous offences
2.04
1.5×
Transport regulation offences
0.56
0.1×
Other offences
0.19
1.4×
Other government regulatory offences
0.00
—
View as table
GroupOffence typeCountPer 1,000NSW per 1,000
Crimes against the personAssault and related offences534.928.65
Crimes against the personStalking, harassment and threatening behaviour393.625.90
Crimes against the personSexual offences141.302.37
Crimes against the personBlackmail and extortion10.090.15
Crimes against the personHomicide and related offences00.000.01
Crimes against the personAbduction and related offences00.000.03
Crimes against the personRobbery00.000.21
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person00.000.19
Property & deceptionTheft767.0621.38
Property & deceptionProperty damage423.905.52
Property & deceptionArson10.090.54
Drug offencesDrug offences121.114.62
Public order & weaponsPublic nuisance offences232.140.65
Public order & weaponsDisorderly and offensive conduct181.672.34
Public order & weaponsWeapons and explosives offences40.371.70
Justice proceduresJustice procedures offences333.0710.91
Traffic, regulatory & otherMiscellaneous offences222.041.39
Traffic, regulatory & otherTransport regulation offences60.566.25
Traffic, regulatory & otherOther offences20.190.14
Traffic, regulatory & otherOther government regulatory offences00.000.00

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
02545092021202220232024202520262027

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

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
BowralState
All offences
Bowral
32.1
State
72.9
Violent
Bowral
9.9
State
17.5
Property
Bowral
11.1
State
27.4

Nearby suburbs

  1. Burradoo0.0 km 20 compare
  2. East Kangaloon0.0 km not ranked compare
  3. Glenquarry0.0 km not ranked compare
  4. Kangaloon0.0 km not ranked compare
  5. Renwick8.9 km 9 compare
  6. Balaclava9.5 km 6 compare
  7. Avoca11.5 km not ranked compare
  8. Barren Grounds11.5 km not ranked compare

Housing, rent and growth

Housing & rent

ABS Census 2021

Median rent is 33% of median household income. In the 30–50% rental-stress range

MeasureValuevs other NSW suburbs
Median rent$500/week higher than 87%
Median household income$1,535/week higher than 47%
Rent as a share of income33% higher than 94%
Median mortgage repayment$2,167/month higher than 69%
Homes that are rented19% higher than 57%
Owned outright51% higher than 75%
Social housing2% higher than 81%
Average household size2.2 people higher than 22%

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 NSW areas
Population growth, 5 years
2020–2025
+2.0% higher than 44%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+0.5% higher than 44%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
14 higher than 22%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
3.6 higher than 55%

ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Robertson - Fitzroy Falls”, which contains this suburb. Approvals are dwellings approved, not yet built. Growth and new supply are change indicators, not a price forecast.

Common questions about Bowral

Is Bowral a high-crime area?

Bowral falls in the “low crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 32% of 1,808 ranked NSW suburbs (2025). Rankings use a severity-weighted rate per resident, so serious offences count more than minor ones.

What is the crime rate in Bowral?

In 2025, 346 offences were recorded in Bowral, or 32.1 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.4× the NSW rate of 72.9.

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

Based on 2025 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 101 for violent crime and 1 in 90 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.