Suburb · VIC · 2026 data

Pakenham, VIC

In 2026, police recorded 4,912 offences in Pakenham, or 90.8 per 1,000 residents. That is 1.02× the VIC rate.

54,118 residents · estimated 85.8 km² -8.0% vs 2025
Crime rank within VIC
71 out of 100
High crime

Higher weighted crime rate than 71% of 1,069 ranked VIC suburbs (2026).

Violent
78
Property
68

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

All offences
4,912
2026 · ▼ -8.0%
Crimes / 1,000
90.8
VIC avg 89.1
Violent / 1,000
17.4
942 offences · avg 13.7
Property / 1,000
45.5
2,465 offences · avg 51.3
Harm-focused / 1,000
71.7
excl. justice & regulatory · avg 74.5
Violent crime, roughly
1 in 57residents per year
VIC: 1 in 73
Property crime, roughly
1 in 22residents per year
VIC: 1 in 19

By crime type, 2026

Pakenham 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

17.4 / 1,000 VIC 13.7 · National 17.5
Assault and related offences
9.09
1.2×
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour
4.05
1.9×
Other crimes against the person
2.88
—
Robbery
0.85
2.0×
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people
0.54
0.6×

Property & deception

45.6 / 1,000 VIC 51.3 · National 49.7
Theft
30.93
0.9×
Property damage
7.43
1.1×
Burglary/Break and enter
3.86
0.7×
Deception
2.90
0.6×
Arson
0.42
0.8×

Drug offences

3.8 / 1,000 VIC 5.0 · National 5.9
Drug use and possession
3.27
0.8×
Cultivate or manufacture drugs
0.28
0.9×
Drug dealing and trafficking
0.22
0.4×

Public order & weapons

5.0 / 1,000 VIC 4.5 · National 3.2
Weapons and explosives offences
2.99
1.2×
Disorderly and offensive conduct
1.05
1.0×
Public nuisance offences
0.89
1.1×
Public security offences
0.06
1.5×

Justice procedures

18.9 / 1,000 VIC 14.4 · National 10.3 administrative
Breaches of orders
17.48
1.4×
Justice procedures
1.44
0.7×

Traffic, regulatory & other

0.1 / 1,000 VIC 0.2 · National 0.1 administrative
Transport regulation offences
0.06
0.9×
Miscellaneous offences
0.06
1.0×
Other government regulatory offences
0.02
0.3×
View as table
GroupOffence typeCountPer 1,000VIC per 1,000
Crimes against the personAssault and related offences4929.097.48
Crimes against the personStalking, harassment and threatening behaviour2194.052.15
Crimes against the personOther crimes against the person1562.880.00
Crimes against the personRobbery460.850.42
Crimes against the personDangerous and negligent acts endangering people290.540.94
Property & deceptionTheft1,67430.9333.72
Property & deceptionProperty damage4027.436.74
Property & deceptionBurglary/Break and enter2093.865.73
Property & deceptionDeception1572.904.61
Property & deceptionArson230.420.52
Drug offencesDrug use and possession1773.274.12
Drug offencesCultivate or manufacture drugs150.280.33
Drug offencesDrug dealing and trafficking120.220.51
Public order & weaponsWeapons and explosives offences1622.992.55
Public order & weaponsDisorderly and offensive conduct571.051.07
Public order & weaponsPublic nuisance offences480.890.80
Public order & weaponsPublic security offences30.060.04
Justice proceduresBreaches of orders94617.4812.35
Justice proceduresJustice procedures781.442.09
Traffic, regulatory & otherTransport regulation offences30.060.07
Traffic, regulatory & otherMiscellaneous offences30.060.06
Traffic, regulatory & otherOther government regulatory offences10.020.08

Trend

TotalViolentPropertydashed = projection
02,6875,3752021202220232024202520262027

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

Vs state & national

per 1,000 residents
PakenhamState
All offences
Pakenham
90.8
State
89.1
Violent
Pakenham
17.4
State
13.7
Property
Pakenham
45.5
State
51.3

Nearby suburbs

  1. Pakenham South0.0 km not ranked compare
  2. Pakenham Upper0.0 km 16 compare
  3. Rythdale0.0 km not ranked compare
  4. Officer6.3 km 72 compare
  5. Officer South6.3 km 46 compare
  6. Beaconsfield Upper6.5 km 11 compare
  7. Dewhurst6.5 km not ranked compare
  8. Maryknoll8.5 km 4 compare

Housing, rent and growth

Housing & rent

ABS Census 2021

Median rent is 21% of median household income. Below the 30% stress benchmark

MeasureValuevs other VIC suburbs
Median rent$351/week higher than 77%
Median household income$1,664/week higher than 56%
Rent as a share of income21% higher than 74%
Median mortgage repayment$1,733/month higher than 64%
Homes that are rented31% higher than 90%
Owned outright19% higher than 4%
Social housing1% higher than 80%
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
+47.3% higher than 96%
Population growth, last year
2024–2025
+9.1% higher than 97%
New homes approved, 12 months
12 months to Aug 2026
259 higher than 91%
New homes approved per 1,000 residents
12 months to Aug 2026
24.7 higher than 94%

ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Pakenham - North West”, 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 Pakenham

Is Pakenham a high-crime area?

Pakenham falls in the “high crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 71% 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 Pakenham?

In 2026, 4,912 offences were recorded in Pakenham, or 90.8 per 1,000 residents. That is 1.0× the VIC rate of 89.1.

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

Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 57 for violent crime and 1 in 22 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.