Suburb · VIC · 2026 data

Kew, VIC

In 2026, police recorded 1,683 offences in Kew, or 68.7 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.9× the VIC rate.

24,499 residents · estimated 10.5 km² +10.2% vs 2025
Crime rank within VIC
66 out of 100
High crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 66% of 911 ranked VIC suburbs (2026).

Violent
39
Property
73

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

All offences
1,683
2026 · ▲ +10.2%
Crimes / 1,000
68.7
VIC avg 76.5
Violent / 1,000
7.1
173 offences · avg 11.8
Property / 1,000
51.2
1,254 offences · avg 44.0
Harm-focused / 1,000
63.0
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 63.7
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 142residents per year
VIC: 1 in 85
Property crime, roughly
1 in 20residents per year
VIC: 1 in 23

By crime type, 2026

Kew 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

7.1 / 1,000 VIC 11.8 · National 11.8
Assault and related offences
3.51
0.6×
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour
1.71
1.0×
Other crimes against the person
1.14
3.6×
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people
0.41
0.5×
Robbery
0.29
0.7×

Property & deception

51.2 / 1,000 VIC 44.0 · National 44.0
Theft
31.55
1.1×
Burglary/Break and enter
8.12
1.6×
Property damage
5.84
1.0×
Deception
5.59
1.4×
Arson
0.08
0.2×

Drug offences

2.7 / 1,000 VIC 4.1 · National 4.1
Drug use and possession
2.24
0.7×
Drug dealing and trafficking
0.33
0.8×
Cultivate or manufacture drugs
0.08
0.3×

Public order & weapons

2.1 / 1,000 VIC 3.8 · National 3.8
Weapons and explosives offences
1.06
0.5×
Disorderly and offensive conduct
0.53
0.6×
Public nuisance offences
0.53
0.8×

Justice procedures

5.7 / 1,000 VIC 12.6 · National 12.6 administrative
Breaches of orders
4.65
0.4×
Justice procedures
1.02
0.6×
View as table
GroupOffence typeCountPer 1,000VIC per 1,000
Crimes against the personAssault and related offences863.516.44
Crimes against the personStalking, harassment and threatening behaviour421.711.80
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person281.140.32
Crimes against the personDangerous and negligent acts endangering people100.410.83
Crimes against the personRobbery70.290.39
Property & deceptionTheft77331.5528.52
Property & deceptionBurglary/Break and enter1998.125.24
Property & deceptionProperty damage1435.845.83
Property & deceptionDeception1375.594.00
Property & deceptionArson20.080.45
Drug offencesDrug use and possession552.243.45
Drug offencesDrug dealing and trafficking80.330.41
Drug offencesCultivate or manufacture drugs20.080.28
Public order & weaponsWeapons and explosives offences261.062.17
Public order & weaponsDisorderly and offensive conduct130.530.90
Public order & weaponsPublic nuisance offences130.530.68
Justice proceduresBreaches of orders1144.6510.81
Justice proceduresJustice procedures251.021.81

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
08411,6832021202220232024202520262027

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

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
KewState
All offences
Kew
68.7
State
76.5
Violent
Kew
7.1
State
11.8
Property
Kew
51.2
State
44.0

Nearby suburbs

  1. Hawthorn1.8 km 80 compare
  2. Kew East2.0 km 43 compare
  3. Deepdene2.6 km 61 compare
  4. Hawthorn East2.7 km 69 compare
  5. Balwyn3.3 km 57 compare
  6. Alphington3.4 km 75 compare
  7. Fairfield3.4 km 79 compare
  8. Abbotsford3.4 km 95 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$476/week higher than 96%
Median household income$2,497/week higher than 95%
Rent as a share of income19% higher than 62%
Median mortgage repayment$3,000/month higher than 98%
Homes that are rented29% higher than 88%
Owned outright40% higher than 35%
Social housing1% higher than 75%
Average household size2.5 people higher than 53%

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
-0.6% higher than 23%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+0.0% higher than 11%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
35 higher than 41%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
2.8 higher than 36%

ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Kew - South”, 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 Kew

Is Kew a high-crime area?

Kew falls in the “high crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 66% 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 Kew?

In 2026, 1,683 offences were recorded in Kew, or 68.7 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.9× the VIC rate of 76.5.

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

Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 142 for violent crime and 1 in 20 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.