Suburb · VIC · 2026 data

Highett, VIC

In 2026, police recorded 937 offences in Highett, or 78.0 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.88× the VIC rate.

12,016 residents · estimated 3.7 km² -21.6% vs 2025
Crime rank within VIC
62 out of 100
High crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 62% of 1,069 ranked VIC suburbs (2026).

Violent
42
Property
66

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

All offences
937
2026 · ▼ -21.6%
Crimes / 1,000
78.0
VIC avg 89.1
Violent / 1,000
7.7
92 offences · avg 13.7
Property / 1,000
43.1
518 offences · avg 51.3
Harm-focused / 1,000
59.8
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 74.5
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 131residents per year
VIC: 1 in 73
Property crime, roughly
1 in 23residents per year
VIC: 1 in 19

By crime type, 2026

Highett 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

7.7 / 1,000 VIC 13.7 · National 17.5
Assault and related offences
4.08
0.6×
Other crimes against the person
1.75
—
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour
1.08
0.5×
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people
0.50
0.5×
Robbery
0.25
0.6×

Property & deception

43.1 / 1,000 VIC 51.3 · National 49.7
Theft
28.05
0.8×
Property damage
5.83
0.9×
Burglary/Break and enter
5.41
0.9×
Deception
3.66
0.8×
Arson
0.17
0.3×

Drug offences

5.7 / 1,000 VIC 5.0 · National 5.9
Drug use and possession
5.58
1.4×
Drug dealing and trafficking
0.08
0.2×
Cultivate or manufacture drugs
0.08
0.2×

Public order & weapons

3.3 / 1,000 VIC 4.5 · National 3.2
Weapons and explosives offences
1.91
0.8×
Disorderly and offensive conduct
0.75
0.7×
Public nuisance offences
0.50
0.6×
Public security offences
0.08
2.0×

Justice procedures

18.1 / 1,000 VIC 14.4 · National 10.3 administrative
Breaches of orders
16.98
1.4×
Justice procedures
1.08
0.5×

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 offences494.087.48
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person211.750.00
Crimes against the personStalking, harassment and threatening behaviour131.082.15
Crimes against the personDangerous and negligent acts endangering people60.500.94
Crimes against the personRobbery30.250.42
Property & deceptionTheft33728.0533.72
Property & deceptionProperty damage705.836.74
Property & deceptionBurglary/Break and enter655.415.73
Property & deceptionDeception443.664.61
Property & deceptionArson20.170.52
Drug offencesDrug use and possession675.584.12
Drug offencesDrug dealing and trafficking10.080.51
Drug offencesCultivate or manufacture drugs10.080.33
Public order & weaponsWeapons and explosives offences231.912.55
Public order & weaponsDisorderly and offensive conduct90.751.07
Public order & weaponsPublic nuisance offences60.500.80
Public order & weaponsPublic security offences10.080.04
Justice proceduresBreaches of orders20416.9812.35
Justice proceduresJustice procedures131.082.09
Traffic, regulatory & otherTransport regulation offences20.170.07

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
05971,1952021202220232024202520262027

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

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
HighettState
All offences
Highett
78.0
State
89.1
Violent
Highett
7.7
State
13.7
Property
Highett
43.1
State
51.3

Nearby suburbs

Housing, rent and growth

Housing & rent

ABS Census 2021

Median rent is 20% of median household income. Below the 30% stress benchmark

MeasureValuevs other VIC suburbs
Median rent$430/week higher than 93%
Median household income$2,119/week higher than 83%
Rent as a share of income20% higher than 69%
Median mortgage repayment$2,300/month higher than 91%
Homes that are rented28% higher than 86%
Owned outright30% higher than 14%
Social housing3% higher than 90%
Average household size2.4 people higher than 44%

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
+5.2% higher than 70%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+1.4% higher than 69%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
105 higher than 75%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
7.9 higher than 76%

ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Highett (West) - Cheltenham”, 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 Highett

Is Highett a high-crime area?

Highett falls in the “high crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 62% 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 Highett?

In 2026, 937 offences were recorded in Highett, or 78.0 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.9× the VIC rate of 89.1.

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

Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 131 for violent crime and 1 in 23 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.