Birkenhead, SA
In 2026, police recorded 91 offences in Birkenhead, or 50.6 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.82× the SA rate.
Higher weighted crime rate than 58% of 625 ranked SA suburbs (2026).
Higher = more crime. Severity-weighted rate per resident · method v2026.07
By crime type, 2026
Rates per 1,000 residents. ×-values compare with the state rate for the same offence type (SA suppresses sexual offences at suburb level).
Crimes against the person
17.8 / 1,000
SA 14.7
· National 17.5
Property & deception
32.8 / 1,000
SA 46.8
· National 49.7
View as table
| Group | Offence type | Count | Per 1,000 | SA per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes against the person | Assault | 31 | 17.24 | 12.80 |
| Crimes against the person | Harm Or Endanger Persons | 1 | 0.56 | 1.51 |
| Property & deception | Theft | 28 | 15.57 | 26.14 |
| Property & deception | Property Damage | 24 | 13.35 | 11.75 |
| Property & deception | Serious Criminal Trespass | 5 | 2.78 | 6.76 |
| Property & deception | Fraud And Related Offences | 2 | 1.11 | 2.18 |
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 20% of median household income. Below the 30% stress benchmark
| Measure | Value | vs other SA suburbs |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $315/week | higher than 73% |
| Median household income | $1,598/week | higher than 58% |
| Rent as a share of income | 20% | higher than 63% |
| Median mortgage repayment | $1,543/month | higher than 60% |
| Homes that are rented | 28% | higher than 74% |
| Owned outright | 26% | higher than 14% |
| Social housing | 9% | higher than 88% |
| Average household size | 2.3 people | higher than 35% |
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 SA areas |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth, 5 years 2020–2025 | +0.0% | higher than 12% |
| Population growth, last year 2024–2025 | +0.0% | higher than 19% |
| New homes approved, 12 months 12 months to Aug 2026 | 0 | higher than 3% |
ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Torrens Island”, 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 Birkenhead
Is Birkenhead a high-crime area?
Birkenhead falls in the “average crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 58% of 625 ranked SA suburbs (2026). Rankings use a severity-weighted rate per resident, so serious offences count more than minor ones.
What is the crime rate in Birkenhead?
In 2026, 91 offences were recorded in Birkenhead, or 50.6 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.8× the SA rate of 61.5.
What are the chances of being a victim of crime in Birkenhead?
Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 56 for violent crime and 1 in 30 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.
- sexual offences excluded / geo-masked at suburb level (SAPOL privacy)