Suburb · VIC · 2026 data

Emerald, VIC

In 2026, police recorded 220 offences in Emerald, or 37.4 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.42× the VIC rate.

5,890 residents · estimated 50.4 km² -15.7% vs 2025
Crime rank within VIC
26 out of 100
Low crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 26% of 1,069 ranked VIC suburbs (2026).

Violent
40
Property
25

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

All offences
220
2026 · ▼ -15.7%
Crimes / 1,000
37.4
VIC avg 89.1
Violent / 1,000
10.0
59 offences · avg 13.7
Property / 1,000
18.2
107 offences · avg 51.3
Harm-focused / 1,000
31.9
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 74.5
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 100residents per year
VIC: 1 in 73
Property crime, roughly
1 in 55residents per year
VIC: 1 in 19

By crime type, 2026

Emerald 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

10.0 / 1,000 VIC 13.7 · National 17.5
Assault and related offences
4.41
0.6×
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour
2.55
1.2×
Other crimes against the person
2.21
—
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people
0.85
0.9×

Property & deception

18.2 / 1,000 VIC 51.3 · National 49.7
Theft
11.38
0.3×
Burglary/Break and enter
3.23
0.6×
Property damage
1.70
0.3×
Deception
1.70
0.4×
Arson
0.17
0.3×

Drug offences

1.5 / 1,000 VIC 5.0 · National 5.9
Drug use and possession
1.19
0.3×
Drug dealing and trafficking
0.17
0.3×
Cultivate or manufacture drugs
0.17
0.5×

Public order & weapons

2.2 / 1,000 VIC 4.5 · National 3.2
Weapons and explosives offences
1.53
0.6×
Disorderly and offensive conduct
0.34
0.3×
Public nuisance offences
0.34
0.4×

Justice procedures

5.4 / 1,000 VIC 14.4 · National 10.3 administrative
Breaches of orders
4.92
0.4×
Justice procedures
0.51
0.2×
View as table
GroupOffence typeCountPer 1,000VIC per 1,000
Crimes against the personAssault and related offences264.417.48
Crimes against the personStalking, harassment and threatening behaviour152.552.15
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person132.210.00
Crimes against the personDangerous and negligent acts endangering people50.850.94
Property & deceptionTheft6711.3833.72
Property & deceptionBurglary/Break and enter193.235.73
Property & deceptionProperty damage101.706.74
Property & deceptionDeception101.704.61
Property & deceptionArson10.170.52
Drug offencesDrug use and possession71.194.12
Drug offencesDrug dealing and trafficking10.170.51
Drug offencesCultivate or manufacture drugs10.170.33
Public order & weaponsWeapons and explosives offences91.532.55
Public order & weaponsDisorderly and offensive conduct20.341.07
Public order & weaponsPublic nuisance offences20.340.80
Justice proceduresBreaches of orders294.9212.35
Justice proceduresJustice procedures30.512.09

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
01302612021202220232024202520262027

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

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
EmeraldState
All offences
Emerald
37.4
State
89.1
Violent
Emerald
10.0
State
13.7
Property
Emerald
18.2
State
51.3

Nearby suburbs

  1. Avonsleigh0.0 km 1 compare
  2. Clematis0.0 km 63 compare
  3. Macclesfield0.0 km 1 compare
  4. Menzies Creek4.2 km 12 compare
  5. Selby4.2 km 9 compare
  6. Cockatoo4.8 km 39 compare
  7. Mount Burnett4.8 km not ranked compare
  8. Nangana4.8 km not ranked compare

Housing, rent and growth

Housing & rent

ABS Census 2021

Median rent is 19% of median household income. Below the 30% stress benchmark

MeasureValuevs other VIC suburbs
Median rent$400/week higher than 87%
Median household income$2,119/week higher than 83%
Rent as a share of income19% higher than 60%
Median mortgage repayment$2,000/month higher than 78%
Homes that are rented8% higher than 31%
Owned outright39% higher than 34%
Social housing1% higher than 74%
Average household size2.8 people higher than 80%

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
+1.1% higher than 38%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+0.7% higher than 44%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
20 higher than 27%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
1.1 higher than 13%

ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Emerald - Cockatoo”, 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 Emerald

Is Emerald a high-crime area?

Emerald falls in the “low crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 26% 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 Emerald?

In 2026, 220 offences were recorded in Emerald, or 37.4 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.4× the VIC rate of 89.1.

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

Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 100 for violent crime and 1 in 55 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.