Wonthaggi, VIC
In 2026, police recorded 1,345 offences in Wonthaggi, or 257.9 per 1,000 residents. That is 2.89× the VIC rate.
Higher weighted crime rate than 95% of 1,069 ranked VIC suburbs (2026).
Higher = more crime. Severity-weighted rate per resident · method v2026.07
By crime type, 2026
Rates per 1,000 residents. ×-values compare with the state rate for the same offence type.
Crimes against the person
37.6 / 1,000
VIC 13.7
· National 17.5
Property & deception
93.2 / 1,000
VIC 51.3
· National 49.7
Drug offences
26.5 / 1,000
VIC 5.0
· National 5.9
Public order & weapons
25.7 / 1,000
VIC 4.5
· National 3.2
Justice procedures
74.8 / 1,000
VIC 14.4
· National 10.3
administrative
Traffic, regulatory & other
0.2 / 1,000
VIC 0.2
· National 0.1
administrative
View as table
| Group | Offence type | Count | Per 1,000 | VIC per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes against the person | Assault and related offences | 113 | 21.67 | 7.48 |
| Crimes against the person | Other crimes against the person | 37 | 7.09 | 0.00 |
| Crimes against the person | Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour | 32 | 6.14 | 2.15 |
| Crimes against the person | Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people | 10 | 1.92 | 0.94 |
| Crimes against the person | Robbery | 4 | 0.77 | 0.42 |
| Property & deception | Theft | 268 | 51.39 | 33.72 |
| Property & deception | Property damage | 90 | 17.26 | 6.74 |
| Property & deception | Burglary/Break and enter | 65 | 12.46 | 5.73 |
| Property & deception | Deception | 54 | 10.35 | 4.61 |
| Property & deception | Arson | 9 | 1.73 | 0.52 |
| Drug offences | Drug use and possession | 126 | 24.16 | 4.12 |
| Drug offences | Drug dealing and trafficking | 6 | 1.15 | 0.51 |
| Drug offences | Cultivate or manufacture drugs | 6 | 1.15 | 0.33 |
| Public order & weapons | Weapons and explosives offences | 88 | 16.87 | 2.55 |
| Public order & weapons | Public nuisance offences | 27 | 5.18 | 0.80 |
| Public order & weapons | Disorderly and offensive conduct | 19 | 3.64 | 1.07 |
| Justice procedures | Breaches of orders | 347 | 66.54 | 12.35 |
| Justice procedures | Justice procedures | 43 | 8.25 | 2.09 |
| Traffic, regulatory & other | Miscellaneous offences | 1 | 0.19 | 0.06 |
Trend
Recorded offences per year. Projection is a simple linear trend, not a forecast of individual risk.
Vs state & national
per 1,000 residentsNearby suburbs
- Anderson0.0 km not ranked compare
- Archies Creek0.0 km not ranked compare
- Cape Paterson0.0 km 44 compare
- Harmers Haven0.0 km not ranked compare
- Kilcunda0.0 km 53 compare
- Lance Creek0.0 km not ranked compare
- North Wonthaggi0.0 km 51 compare
- South Dudley0.0 km 86 compare
Housing, rent and growth
Housing & rent
ABS Census 2021Median rent is 32% of median household income. In the 30–50% rental-stress range
| Measure | Value | vs other VIC suburbs |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $270/week | higher than 53% |
| Median household income | $852/week | higher than 5% |
| Rent as a share of income | 32% | higher than 98% |
| Median mortgage repayment | $1,198/month | higher than 27% |
| Homes that are rented | 29% | higher than 88% |
| Owned outright | 46% | higher than 56% |
| Social housing | 7% | higher than 97% |
| Average household size | 2.0 people | higher than 11% |
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| Measure | Value | vs other VIC areas |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth, 5 years 2020–2025 | +14.2% | higher than 88% |
| Population growth, last year 2024–2025 | +2.1% | higher than 83% |
| New homes approved, 12 months 12 months to Aug 2026 | 329 | higher than 93% |
| New homes approved per 1,000 residents 12 months to Aug 2026 | 11.2 | higher than 85% |
ABS publishes these for larger areas: figures are for “Wonthaggi - Inverloch”, 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 Wonthaggi
Is Wonthaggi a high-crime area?
Wonthaggi falls in the “very high crime” band: Higher weighted crime rate than 95% 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 Wonthaggi?
In 2026, 1,345 offences were recorded in Wonthaggi, or 257.9 per 1,000 residents. That is 2.9× the VIC rate of 89.1.
What are the chances of being a victim of crime in Wonthaggi?
Based on 2026 recorded offences per resident, roughly 1 in 27 for violent crime and 1 in 11 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.