Eight of Australia’s 10 safest areas are in New South Wales, according to a new national index that looks beyond crime alone.
When you’re choosing somewhere to live, feeling safe can matter just as much as finding the right home.
But safety isn’t only about crime. Floods, bushfires, severe storms, the resilience of local homes and access to emergency services can all affect how safe an area is to live in.
A new national Home Safety Index from iSelect has brought these factors together to identify Australia’s safest residential areas in 2026.
The result is a near sweep for Sydney, with New South Wales claiming eight of the top 10 positions. Western Australia was the only other state to make the list.
Australia’s 10 safest areas in 2026
| Rank | Area | State | Safety score |
| 1 | Canada Bay | NSW | 83.58 |
| 2 | Georges River | NSW | 82.99 |
| 3 | Willoughby | NSW | 82.96 |
| 4 | Ryde | NSW | 82.47 |
| 5 | Inner West | NSW | 82.18 |
| 6 | Rockingham | WA | 82.17 |
| 7 | Cockburn | WA | 81.67 |
| 8 | Cumberland | NSW | 81.17 |
| 9 | Bayside | NSW | 81.08 |
| 10 | Canterbury-Bankstown | NSW | 80.81 |
It’s important to note that while these locations are commonly described as suburbs, the index assessed Local Government Areas, or LGAs. Each ranked area contains several individual suburbs and neighbourhoods.
Canada Bay takes the top spot
Canada Bay in Sydney’s inner west was named Australia’s safest area for 2026, recording an overall score of 83.58 out of 100.
The area performed strongly across almost every part of the index. It received a property crime safety score of 96.34, a natural-disaster safety score of 92.49 and a building resilience score of 96.06.
The City of Canada Bay includes neighbourhoods such as Concord, Five Dock, Drummoyne, Rhodes and the suburb of Canada Bay.
Its combination of comparatively low property crime, limited exposure to natural hazards and a relatively modern housing profile helped push it into first place.
Sydney dominates the top five
Sydney council areas occupied every position in the top five.
Georges River came second with a score of 82.99, narrowly ahead of Willoughby on 82.96.
Ryde ranked fourth, followed by the Inner West in fifth place. Cumberland, Bayside and Canterbury-Bankstown also appeared further down the top 10.
The scores suggest Sydney’s inner and middle-ring areas performed particularly well when property crime, natural hazards and the resilience of local housing were considered together.
On Homely, local reviewers also include “safe and sound” among the leading positives for suburbs such as Willoughby and Ryde, alongside access to parks, schools and public transport.
Western Australia breaks up the NSW sweep
Western Australia was the only state outside New South Wales to appear in the top 10.
Rockingham ranked sixth nationally with an overall score of 82.17. Cockburn followed in seventh place with 81.67.
Both areas received particularly strong property crime safety scores. Rockingham scored 98.01 in this category, while Cockburn recorded 97.01. They also benefited from comparatively limited exposure to natural disasters.
Local reviews on Homely describe Rockingham as well suited to families and beach lovers, with parks, community spirit and feeling “safe and sound” among its highly rated qualities.
Which Australian area has the lowest property crime?
When property crime was considered on its own, Ku-ring-gai on Sydney’s Upper North Shore led the country.
It recorded an average of 451 property-related offences per 100,000 people each year, the lowest rate among the areas assessed.
Wanneroo and Joondalup in Perth, along with Hornsby and Camden in Sydney, also received property crime safety scores above 98 out of 100.
However, a low property crime rate didn’t automatically secure a place in the overall top 10. An area’s final position also depended on its exposure to natural hazards, emergency response activity and the age of its housing.
Crime fell in some categories during 2025
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show Australia’s national crime picture remains mixed.
The number of robbery victims recorded by police fell by 8 per cent in 2025, while theft excluding motor vehicles fell by 2 per cent.
Motor vehicle theft moved in the opposite direction. It increased by 2 per cent to 66,625 victims, the highest number recorded in 17 years.
These national figures don’t determine the Home Safety Index rankings, but they show why it’s worth looking closely at the type of crime recorded in an area, rather than relying on one broad crime figure.
How was safety measured?
The index assessed Australia’s 100 most populated LGAs using four categories:
- Property crime, which contributed 30 per cent of the score
- Natural-disaster exposure, which contributed 30 per cent
- Emergency response activity, which contributed 25 per cent
- Building vulnerability, which contributed 15 per cent
Property crime included burglary, theft, property damage, arson and receiving stolen goods. The crime data covered the period from October 2021 to September 2025.
Natural-disaster exposure considered bushfires, floods, severe storms and earthquake risk. Emergency preparedness included the availability of State Emergency Service facilities and an area’s history of requiring disaster assistance.
The index also considered the number of homes built before 1980, based on the assumption that older buildings may be more vulnerable to extreme weather and natural hazards.
What the rankings can’t tell you
No suburb is completely free from crime or environmental risk, and conditions can differ considerably between streets within the same council area.
This index also focuses on property-related crime rather than every form of personal or community safety. It should be treated as a broad comparison of household risk, not a guarantee that one neighbourhood will feel safer than another.
Before buying or renting, check current state police crime data, council flood and bushfire maps and the property’s insurance history. It’s also worth visiting the street at different times of day and hearing directly from the people who already live there.
At Homely, you can explore local suburb reviews, ask residents questions and see how neighbourhoods are rated for safety, schools, transport, community spirit and more.
Because the safest suburb on paper still needs to feel like the right place for you.
Source: iSelect Home Safety Index 2026. Data accurate as at 4 February 2026. National crime figures sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
