Suburb · VIC · 2026 data

Bentleigh, VIC

In 2026, police recorded 882 offences in Bentleigh, or 49.2 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.55× the VIC rate.

17,921 residents · estimated 4.7 km² -10.5% vs 2025
Crime rank within VIC
49 out of 100
Average crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 49% of 1,069 ranked VIC suburbs (2026).

Violent
41
Property
54

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

All offences
882
2026 · ▼ -10.5%
Crimes / 1,000
49.2
VIC avg 89.1
Violent / 1,000
6.8
121 offences · avg 13.7
Property / 1,000
34.5
619 offences · avg 51.3
Harm-focused / 1,000
45.4
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 74.5
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 148residents per year
VIC: 1 in 73
Property crime, roughly
1 in 29residents per year
VIC: 1 in 19

By crime type, 2026

Bentleigh VIC average Line = 2021–2026

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

Crimes against the person

6.8 / 1,000 VIC 13.7 · National 17.5
Assault and related offences
4.02
0.5×
Other crimes against the person
1.23
—
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour
0.84
0.4×
Robbery
0.45
1.1×
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people
0.22
0.2×

Property & deception

34.5 / 1,000 VIC 51.3 · National 49.7
Theft
22.88
0.7×
Property damage
4.46
0.7×
Deception
3.74
0.8×
Burglary/Break and enter
3.29
0.6×
Arson
0.17
0.3×

Drug offences

2.6 / 1,000 VIC 5.0 · National 5.9
Drug use and possession
1.90
0.5×
Drug dealing and trafficking
0.56
1.1×
Cultivate or manufacture drugs
0.11
0.3×

Public order & weapons

1.6 / 1,000 VIC 4.5 · National 3.2
Weapons and explosives offences
0.84
0.3×
Disorderly and offensive conduct
0.56
0.5×
Public nuisance offences
0.17
0.2×

Justice procedures

3.6 / 1,000 VIC 14.4 · National 10.3 administrative
Breaches of orders
3.01
0.2×
Justice procedures
0.61
0.3×

Traffic, regulatory & other

0.2 / 1,000 VIC 0.2 · National 0.1 administrative
Transport regulation offences
0.17
2.4×
View as table
GroupOffence typeCountPer 1,000VIC per 1,000
Crimes against the personAssault and related offences724.027.48
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person221.230.00
Crimes against the personStalking, harassment and threatening behaviour150.842.15
Crimes against the personRobbery80.450.42
Crimes against the personDangerous and negligent acts endangering people40.220.94
Property & deceptionTheft41022.8833.72
Property & deceptionProperty damage804.466.74
Property & deceptionDeception673.744.61
Property & deceptionBurglary/Break and enter593.295.73
Property & deceptionArson30.170.52
Drug offencesDrug use and possession341.904.12
Drug offencesDrug dealing and trafficking100.560.51
Drug offencesCultivate or manufacture drugs20.110.33
Public order & weaponsWeapons and explosives offences150.842.55
Public order & weaponsDisorderly and offensive conduct100.561.07
Public order & weaponsPublic nuisance offences30.170.80
Justice proceduresBreaches of orders543.0112.35
Justice proceduresJustice procedures110.612.09
Traffic, regulatory & otherTransport regulation offences30.170.07

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
04939862021202220232024202520262027

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

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
BentleighState
All offences
Bentleigh
49.2
State
89.1
Violent
Bentleigh
6.8
State
13.7
Property
Bentleigh
34.5
State
51.3

Nearby suburbs

Housing, rent and growth

Housing & rent

ABS Census 2021

Median rent is 21% of median household income. Below the 30% stress benchmark

MeasureValuevs other VIC suburbs
Median rent$480/week higher than 97%
Median household income$2,263/week higher than 90%
Rent as a share of income21% higher than 74%
Median mortgage repayment$2,500/month higher than 94%
Homes that are rented29% higher than 88%
Owned outright34% higher than 20%
Social housing1% higher than 80%
Average household size2.6 people higher than 63%

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 VIC areas
Population growth, 5 years
2020–2025
+6.0% higher than 74%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+0.8% higher than 47%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
104 higher than 74%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
3.9 higher than 50%

ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Bentleigh - McKinnon”, 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 Bentleigh

Is Bentleigh a high-crime area?

Bentleigh falls in the “average crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 49% of 1,069 ranked VIC suburbs (2026). Rankings use a severity-weighted rate per resident, so serious offences count more than minor ones.

What is the crime rate in Bentleigh?

In 2026, 882 offences were recorded in Bentleigh, or 49.2 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.6× the VIC rate of 89.1.

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

Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 148 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.