Suburb · VIC · 2026 data

Highton, VIC

In 2026, police recorded 479 offences in Highton, or 23.1 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.3× the VIC rate.

20,736 residents · estimated 11.5 km² -31.4% vs 2025
Crime rank within VIC
10 out of 100
Very low crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 10% of 911 ranked VIC suburbs (2026).

Violent
13
Property
12

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

All offences
479
2026 · ▼ -31.4%
Crimes / 1,000
23.1
VIC avg 76.5
Violent / 1,000
4.8
99 offences · avg 11.8
Property / 1,000
13.0
270 offences · avg 44.0
Harm-focused / 1,000
19.3
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 63.7
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 209residents per year
VIC: 1 in 85
Property crime, roughly
1 in 77residents per year
VIC: 1 in 23

By crime type, 2026

Highton 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

4.8 / 1,000 VIC 11.8 · National 11.8
Assault and related offences
2.17
0.3×
Other crimes against the person
1.69
5.3×
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour
0.48
0.3×
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people
0.29
0.4×
Robbery
0.14
0.4×

Property & deception

13.0 / 1,000 VIC 44.0 · National 44.0
Theft
7.33
0.3×
Property damage
2.89
0.5×
Deception
1.49
0.4×
Burglary/Break and enter
1.21
0.2×
Arson
0.10
0.2×

Drug offences

0.6 / 1,000 VIC 4.1 · National 4.1
Drug use and possession
0.48
0.1×
Drug dealing and trafficking
0.14
0.3×

Public order & weapons

0.9 / 1,000 VIC 3.8 · National 3.8
Weapons and explosives offences
0.58
0.3×
Public nuisance offences
0.24
0.4×
Public security offences
0.10
3.3×

Justice procedures

3.6 / 1,000 VIC 12.6 · National 12.6 administrative
Breaches of orders
3.33
0.3×
Justice procedures
0.29
0.2×

Traffic, regulatory & other

0.1 / 1,000 VIC 0.2 · National 0.2 administrative
Other government regulatory offences
0.10
1.7×
Miscellaneous offences
0.05
1.0×
View as table
GroupOffence typeCountPer 1,000VIC per 1,000
Crimes against the personAssault and related offences452.176.44
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person351.690.32
Crimes against the personStalking, harassment and threatening behaviour100.481.80
Crimes against the personDangerous and negligent acts endangering people60.290.83
Crimes against the personRobbery30.140.39
Property & deceptionTheft1527.3328.52
Property & deceptionProperty damage602.895.83
Property & deceptionDeception311.494.00
Property & deceptionBurglary/Break and enter251.215.24
Property & deceptionArson20.100.45
Drug offencesDrug use and possession100.483.45
Drug offencesDrug dealing and trafficking30.140.41
Public order & weaponsWeapons and explosives offences120.582.17
Public order & weaponsPublic nuisance offences50.240.68
Public order & weaponsPublic security offences20.100.03
Justice proceduresBreaches of orders693.3310.81
Justice proceduresJustice procedures60.291.81
Traffic, regulatory & otherOther government regulatory offences20.100.06
Traffic, regulatory & otherMiscellaneous offences10.050.05

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
03617222021202220232024202520262027

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

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
HightonState
All offences
Highton
23.1
State
76.5
Violent
Highton
4.8
State
11.8
Property
Highton
13.0
State
44.0

Nearby suburbs

  1. Belmont0.0 km 77 compare
  2. Grovedale0.0 km 70 compare
  3. Marshall0.0 km 38 compare
  4. Wandana Heights0.0 km not ranked compare
  5. Waurn Ponds0.0 km 42 compare
  6. Mount Duneed2.1 km 56 compare
  7. Charlemont3.0 km 82 compare
  8. Armstrong Creek3.8 km 68 compare

Housing, rent and growth

Housing & rent

ABS Census 2021

Median rent is 18% of median household income. Below the 30% stress benchmark

MeasureValuevs other VIC suburbs
Median rent$360/week higher than 78%
Median household income$2,054/week higher than 79%
Rent as a share of income18% higher than 51%
Median mortgage repayment$2,000/month higher than 78%
Homes that are rented21% higher than 77%
Owned outright39% higher than 32%
Social housing1% higher than 79%
Average household size2.6 people higher than 62%

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
+19.6% higher than 92%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+3.1% higher than 89%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
466 higher than 95%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
16.3 higher than 91%

ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Grovedale - Mount Duneed”, 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 Highton

Is Highton a high-crime area?

Highton falls in the “very low crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 10% of 911 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 Highton?

In 2026, 479 offences were recorded in Highton, or 23.1 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.3× the VIC rate of 76.5.

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

Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 209 for violent crime and 1 in 77 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.