Suburb · VIC · 2026 data

Lara, VIC

In 2026, police recorded 1,301 offences in Lara, or 68.4 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.77× the VIC rate.

19,014 residents · estimated 89.3 km² -6.0% vs 2025
Crime rank within VIC
52 out of 100
Average crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 52% of 1,069 ranked VIC suburbs (2026).

Violent
54
Property
52

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

All offences
1,301
2026 · ▼ -6.0%
Crimes / 1,000
68.4
VIC avg 89.1
Violent / 1,000
10.7
204 offences · avg 13.7
Property / 1,000
32.2
613 offences · avg 51.3
Harm-focused / 1,000
53.1
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 74.5
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 93residents per year
VIC: 1 in 73
Property crime, roughly
1 in 31residents per year
VIC: 1 in 19

By crime type, 2026

Lara 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

10.7 / 1,000 VIC 13.7 · National 17.5
Assault and related offences
5.31
0.7×
Other crimes against the person
1.95
—
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour
1.89
0.9×
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people
1.10
1.2×
Robbery
0.47
1.1×

Property & deception

32.2 / 1,000 VIC 51.3 · National 49.7
Theft
19.99
0.6×
Property damage
4.68
0.7×
Burglary/Break and enter
3.63
0.6×
Deception
3.42
0.7×
Arson
0.53
1.0×

Drug offences

4.7 / 1,000 VIC 5.0 · National 5.9
Drug use and possession
4.00
1.0×
Drug dealing and trafficking
0.37
0.7×
Cultivate or manufacture drugs
0.32
1.0×

Public order & weapons

5.4 / 1,000 VIC 4.5 · National 3.2
Weapons and explosives offences
4.58
1.8×
Disorderly and offensive conduct
0.47
0.4×
Public nuisance offences
0.37
0.5×

Justice procedures

15.3 / 1,000 VIC 14.4 · National 10.3 administrative
Breaches of orders
13.46
1.1×
Justice procedures
1.84
0.9×

Traffic, regulatory & other

0.1 / 1,000 VIC 0.2 · National 0.1 administrative
Transport regulation offences
0.05
0.7×
View as table
GroupOffence typeCountPer 1,000VIC per 1,000
Crimes against the personAssault and related offences1015.317.48
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person371.950.00
Crimes against the personStalking, harassment and threatening behaviour361.892.15
Crimes against the personDangerous and negligent acts endangering people211.100.94
Crimes against the personRobbery90.470.42
Property & deceptionTheft38019.9933.72
Property & deceptionProperty damage894.686.74
Property & deceptionBurglary/Break and enter693.635.73
Property & deceptionDeception653.424.61
Property & deceptionArson100.530.52
Drug offencesDrug use and possession764.004.12
Drug offencesDrug dealing and trafficking70.370.51
Drug offencesCultivate or manufacture drugs60.320.33
Public order & weaponsWeapons and explosives offences874.582.55
Public order & weaponsDisorderly and offensive conduct90.471.07
Public order & weaponsPublic nuisance offences70.370.80
Justice proceduresBreaches of orders25613.4612.35
Justice proceduresJustice procedures351.842.09
Traffic, regulatory & otherTransport regulation offences10.050.07

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
07441,4882021202220232024202520262027

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

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
LaraState
All offences
Lara
68.4
State
89.1
Violent
Lara
10.7
State
13.7
Property
Lara
32.2
State
51.3

Nearby suburbs

  1. Avalon0.0 km not ranked compare
  2. Point Wilson0.0 km not ranked compare
  3. Anakie6.1 km 16 compare
  4. Staughton Vale7.8 km not ranked compare
  5. Corio7.9 km 94 compare
  6. Norlane7.9 km 98 compare
  7. North Shore7.9 km 99 compare
  8. Lovely Banks9.0 km 64 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$370/week higher than 80%
Median household income$1,969/week higher than 75%
Rent as a share of income19% higher than 59%
Median mortgage repayment$1,733/month higher than 64%
Homes that are rented22% higher than 77%
Owned outright31% higher than 14%
Social housing1% higher than 79%
Average household size2.7 people higher than 72%

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
+16.4% higher than 90%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+4.5% higher than 94%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
607 higher than 97%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
25.3 higher than 94%

Figures are for the ABS area “Lara”. Approvals are dwellings approved, not yet built. Growth and new supply are change indicators, not a price forecast.

Common questions about Lara

Is Lara a high-crime area?

Lara falls in the “average crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 52% 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 Lara?

In 2026, 1,301 offences were recorded in Lara, or 68.4 per 1,000 residents. That is 0.8× the VIC rate of 89.1.

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

Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 93 for violent crime and 1 in 31 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.