The 10 Safest Suburbs in Sydney

While there are inevitably going to be some suburbs that deal with higher rates of crime, on the whole the Greater Sydney region ranks as one of the safer global cities in the world.

It was ranked 5th out of the top 10 safest to visit globally by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and outside of a few hotspots which can be “relatively” bad – yet nothing compared to many of the worst parts of major cities elsewhere in the world – is generally safe overall.

But among all of Sydney’s 658-some suburbs in total, which rank the absolute safest overall? We’ve created our unique “Crime Score” rating to deduce just that. Crime Score is based on the following formula:

Crime Score = Average No. of Incidents / year * Crime Rate per Capita

Before we dive in, here’s the full, sortable & searchable list of all Sydney suburbs ranked by Crime Score:

While each of these highly safe suburbs are located in multiple different regions all over Sydney, they typically have a few things in common – lower-density housing and a lack of highrise apartments, limited amenities or public services, and a lack of heavy rail train connectivity are all consistent themes to varying degrees.

With all that said, let’s take a look at the 10 safest suburbs in Sydney here.

10. Clontarf

Region: Northern Beaches

Crime Score: 0.018

Part of the initial gateway to Sydney’s Northern Beaches region, Clontarf is a land of pristine, secluded bays and miniature sand beaches dotted with many gorgeous, high-end homes. You’d be forgiven for thinking that suburbs with high pricetags such as this would dominate the low-crime rankings, however that’s often far from the case.

Clontarf is a relatively low-population suburb, both due to a generally low-density housing profile as well as significant portions of it being taken up by a mix of parkland, reserves, foreshore areas and walking tracks.

It’s also largely lacking in amenities, or anything “to do” in general outside of its pretty natural offerings – combine this with limited public transport options, and there’s little of the typical drawcards that bring in crime overall.

“Clontarf is a land of pristine, secluded bays and miniature sand beaches dotted with many gorgeous, high-end homes.”

Merely jump over one suburb to neighbouring Balgowlah, and a massive uptick in crime rate takes place – yet Clontarf escapes the bulk of any of the major crime indicators.

Clontarf is still worth a visit, however, as visitors can spend time on its lovely little stretches of sand such as Clontarf Beach and Sandy Bay (although parking is limited), or do the walk down to Grotto Point Lighthouse and admire the views across the water to Middle Head and beyond.

9. Davidson

Region: Northern Suburbs

Crime Score: 0.018

Part of what’s known as the “Forest District”, Davidson is a charming if unassuming residential suburb surrounded by a healthy dose of greenery courtesy of the ample surrounding slices of national park. Highly family-oriented, it’s home to generally large and upper-tier homes on roomy blocks which sit on largely peaceful back streets that offer a good degree of privacy to boot.

Much of the suburb as a whole sits in an elevated position, with many of its homes able to garner views all the way across to the Sydney CBD which lies some 20-ish kilometres away.

It’s long been popular for families – many are long-term residents who haven’t moved for decades – not only for its high degree of safety, but also access to its own duo of public schools as well. All combined, its communal atmosphere is a large contributing factor to its safety and low crime rate.

“It’s home to generally large and upper-tier homes on roomy blocks which sit on largely peaceful back streets that offer a good degree of privacy to boot.”

It’s otherwise lacking in amenities outside of small-scale minor local cafes and restaurant options, however a 10+ minute drive is all it takes to access the main retail and dining area of Frenchs Forest nearby. Its lack of public transport connectivity is a factor; expect about a 1 hour ride into Town Hall on a good day.

Aside from its obvious immediate access to significant helpings of bushland, Davidson’s other main calling card is its popularity during the Christmas holiday season.

It’s become increasingly renowned for its Christmas Lights displays, with streets such as Borgnis Street and Cambage Street ranking amongst the best in all of Sydney and turning the usually-serene suburb into a cavalcade of families looking to soak in the impressive spectacle.

8. Westleigh

Region: Northern Suburbs

Crime Score: 0.017

Boasting a peaceful and friendly “village” feel that feels escapist without sacrificing an extreme distance to services and amenities, Westleigh in the north is another highly safe suburb enshrouded by thick Aussie bushland.

Home to a range of great options for enjoying the outdoors – including its own slice of an epic walking track, mountain bike trails, and plenty of good spots for a picnic – it’s another relatively unknown and undervisited part of Sydney that few ever talk about.

This is despite its location still being pretty convenient relative to how peaceful it is. Westleigh has no train station of its own, yet the drive in to neighbouring Hornsby not far away is easily doable. Westleigh also experiences no through-traffic noise, yet allows people to still hop on a train or for drivers to simply jump on the motorway and head down into the city by car instead.

“This is another relatively unknown and undervisited part of Sydney that few ever talk about.”

Plenty of greenery and bird life combine with excellent parks – one with more of a “wild” as opposed to “manicured” feel in Westleigh Bush Park – to make for a nature-oriented streetscape alongside its continuingly developing array of low-density housing. Unlike many other of the safest suburbs on this list, it’s not an amenity-wasteland, either.

The Westleigh Village shopping centre is a solid, balanced local shopping facility with a healthy mix of stores and services without being overblown like a Westfield, which is also still available 10 minutes or so away in Hornsby should you have need of one.

Add in access to some of the North Shore’s top schools not too far away, and this is an underrated suburb for Sydney families in general that’s not only extremely safe, but walks the line between seclusion and access quite well.

7. Bonnet Bay

Region: Sutherland Shire

Crime Score: 0.013

Is there a direct correlation between great Christmas lights displays and safety as far as Sydney suburbs go? While it’d be hard to prove, Bonnet Bay is another secluded and green slice of suburbia that’s long been renowned for its spectacularly-lit homes, with this writer in particular having some fond memories of driving around here back in his youth.

While it’s not what it once was display-wise, that’s nothing to take away from the physical attractiveness of the suburb itself.

Perched above the banks of the pretty Woronora River in Sutherland Shire, this cute little suburb not only experiences next to no crime, but has a strong multi-generational family community with the increasing occasional dashes of newer blood creeping in.

It’s eminently green, from the streets themselves dotted with mid size and large homes to its inherent bushland environment which runs right down to the waterfront.

“It’s highly peaceful and serene, with direct access to the water via boat ramp and multiple slices of gorgeous waterfront parkland.”

It’s highly peaceful and serene, with direct access to the water via boat ramp and multiple slices of gorgeous waterfront parkland in both the Bonnet Bay and Lakewood City Reserves which are particularly well-equipped for kids. It’s wrapped in raw bushland too, with multiple quality bush tracks for walking enthusiasts and those who just want some fresh air.

Due to its tucked-away nature it experiences no through-traffic, while both its quality local school and small-scale shopping village equipped with a local supermarket prevent it from being an amenity no-man’s-land.

While it’s not directly connected to the city, Jannali Station is just up the road, and makes for a fairly viable commute for somewhere that’s otherwise escapist and roughly 30km away from the Sydney CBD.

6. Port Hacking

Region: Sutherland Shire

Crime Score: 0.012

Perhaps better-known for the body of water of the same name, the actual suburb of Port Hacking ranks as one of the most expensive suburbs in Sutherland Shire for a reason. Sitting in an elevated position, much of the suburb offers sweeping, impressive views of the vivid waters of its surrounding estuary and further across to the dense greenery of Royal National Park on the other side of the bank.

It’s a highly sought after area for aquatic activities as a result, with the likes of boating, kayaking, and fishing all popular, with access to the water granted via Wally’s Wharf in adjacent Dolan’s Bay just to the north.

Port Hacking is also a bit of a hidden gem for snorkelling and scuba diving, with an array of soft corals, eels, a variety of fish and more all easily visible from local landmark Shiprock Reserve (named after its rock formation that is shaped exactly like what you’d expect).

“It’s a highly sought after area for aquatic activities as a result, with the likes of boating, kayaking, and fishing all popular.”

Port Hacking itself is a small suburb as a whole; with a population of around 1,100, it ranks as one of the smallest on this list. The streetscape that it boasts is anything but however, with some truly towering and impressive homes – particularly the closer you get down towards the waterfront.

As a result, there’s not much in the way of amenities here outside of a couple of local restaurants and small-scale stores; most of the shopping is done by heading up the road either to Lilli Pilli (smaller) or Caringbah (larger) for the appropriate shopping needs.

Port Hacking is generally quiet both due to its strict parking rules and a relative lack of through-traffic, although things typically pick up on weekends as people visit to make use of its waterfront areas. It’s particularly popular for fishing enthusiasts, with snapper a popular catch and many other species abundant in the nearby waterways.

5. Northwood

Region: Lower North Shore

Crime Score: 0.012

Who ever said that money can’t buy happiness? It certainly can buy safety, at the very least, as the residents of the tiny yet exclusive suburb of Northwood on Sydney’s Lower North Shore can attest to. This is another suburb that comes with a premium pricetag, with a quality of living, amount of room, and impeccable aspect that comes along with it.

Statistically home to the highest percentage of freestanding homes of any suburb in Sydney (i.e: all of them) and a wealthy level of household income to match, Northwood is exclusive in multiple ways.

Not only do significant portions of the suburb offer pretty views across the boat-dotted waters of Woodford Bay and the Lane Cove River, but it’s physically close enough to business centres in both North Sydney and the Sydney CBD to make for an enviable commute.

” This is another suburb that comes with a premium pricetag, with a quality of living, amount of room, and impeccable aspect that comes along with it.”

Multiple waterfront reserves coexist alongside many striking high-end homes and historic mansions, while its ferry wharf gives Northwood an alternative form of public transport access befitting its premium feel and connecting through to Circular Quay.

It’s purely residential, however, with the closest shop of any kind being a small IGA in neighbouring Greenwich; for major shopping, most head up Longueville Road to Lane Cove instead.

It’s physically miniscule – second only to the microscopic Beaconsfield as the smallest suburb in all of Sydney – but packs a lot of prestige into a small physical area. Northwood is the embodiment of the “Good things, small packages” cliche in a single Sydney suburb; and one for which you’ll have to pay an exceedingly high price of admission.

4. Wheeler Heights

Region: Northern Beaches

Crime Score: 0.010

Only re-established as an actual separate suburb relatively recently, Wheeler Heights on the Northern Beaches had historically flip-flopped between this status since the 1970’s until being official re-designated as such back in 2011. In the present day it again proudly stands on its own, and boasts a lot to like in terms of a peaceful yet still accessible spot to capitalise on the benefits of the Northern Beaches.

Aside from having easy access to the water with close proximity to the beaches at Collaroy and Dee Why – along with an elevation that gives it great views of these to boot – there’s an abundance of other natural opportunities just a stone’s throw away as well.

It’s dotted with reserves and biking tracks, particularly along South Creek Reserve which leads on to the extensive Narrabeen Lagoon Trail which in turn can head all the way around to the beach as well, providing wonderful water views of the lagoon itself along the way.

“Wheeler Heights is primarily family-oriented and provides easy access to multiple quality schools.”

Fitting for a suburb that originally derived its name from the school of the same name, Wheeler Heights is primarily family-oriented and provides easy access to multiple quality schools (both regular and pre-schools) itself and in suburbs nearby. It’s again mostly low-density residential homes of both mid to high tier, with a high quality of street pride and maintenance overall.

In addition, while it’s far from “cheap”, it’s much more reasonably-priced than many of the gaudier brand-name Northern Beaches suburbs which are not much further away. Amenity-wise it’s rather bare-bones outside of its schools, although amenities for supermarket shopping are available right on its border with Collaroy Plateau.

For bigger shops, drive down to the centre in Brookvale or across to Dee Why for more comprehensive everyday needs. To get down into the city, either jump on the highway and deal with the unpleasant traffic conditions, or go via Manly and catch the ferry over into the harbour.

3. Mount Vernon

Region: Western Suburbs

Crime Score: 0.009%

The only entry among Sydney’s Western Suburbs to make the list, Mount Vernon is “west” in name yet not in stereotypical atmosphere.

Technically part of the greater Penrith area, it couldn’t be more different from the urban sprawl of the region’s central areas. Instead, Mount Vernon is largely rural and hilly, with an aspect that can grant views that extend all the way out to the Blue Mountains further west.

While it lies a robust 42km outside the Sydney CBD, its proximity to both the M4 and M7 give it more direct and immediate access to both the city and centres such as Blacktown (30 minutes), Parramatta (35 minutes) and Penrith itself (likewise) within a reasonable timeframe. It’s a location that, on a good day, can even make a sub-50-minute drive into Town Hall a real possibility.

“There are still roomy pockets of land available on multiple acres for relatively reasonable prices as far as Sydney goes.”

It may just be a price worth paying if it’s a safe, peaceful and more laid-back lifestyle you’re after as well. If you’re the type for whom the prospect of seeing Aussie wildlife jump around on the back of your acreage property without being in true “regional” Australia is appealing, this is the type of environment Mount Vernon can offer.

Due to its mix of size and low population density, there are still roomy pockets of land available on multiple acres for relatively reasonable prices as far as Sydney goes. While it still doesn’t have too much to offer amenity-wise, schools as well as supermarket shopping are available in its neighbouring suburbs while traffic is still at refreshingly minimal levels.

With the upcoming development of the Western Sydney Airport at Badgery’s Creek not physically far away, things only look to continue to develop in and around Mount Vernon – although how that will affect its extremely low crime rate remains to be seen.

2. Kyle Bay

Region: Southern Suburbs

Crime Score: 0.006

A compact little suburb on the water not too far south of Hurstville in the St. George region of Sydney, Kyle Bay derives its name from its neighbouring bay. It’s another of these high-end, unassuming and slightly disconnected slices of suburbia in Sydney that people tend not to visit – which both keeps its crime rate incredibly low, and its locals happy that it remains a hidden gem.

Kyle Bay boasts the lowest figures in Sydney for home break-in related crimes and burglaries, yet unlike some of the other purely-residential suburbs on this list has a number of local little attractions that make it actually worth visiting.

Its namesake Bay itself offers some nice views without being overly spectacular, with the adjoining Merriman Reserve providing a highly peaceful spot to soak in the views across the Georges River to Kangaroo Point.

“Unlike some of the other purely-residential suburbs on this list has a number of local little attractions that make it actually worth visiting.”

It’s home to a handful of high-quality, small-scale cafes and restaurants (as well as a larger-scale function venue in Jaaks overlooking the water) that make for a buzzing little back street dining scene, while its various reserves, parks and playgrounds add strong desirability points for families. Everyday amenities aren’t its strong suit, with a drive up to South Hurstville required for shopping and grocery needs.

Some historic local landmarks and various green reserves help diversify its mostly large-home-heavy streetscape, and it’s as peaceful and leafy as you might expect for a suburb of its price this far south relative to the city.

Its position for accessing the city is reasonable if not ideal (driving involves a route through the traffic-heavy Rockdale or Mascot areas) and it lacks rail connectivity, but the sacrifices may be worth it if the combination of peace & safety are your primary goals.

And the award for Safest Sydney Suburb goes to…

1. Middle Cove

Region: Lower North Shore

Crime Score: 0.004

As a regular Sydneysider, you’d be forgiven for being blissfully unaware of the existence of many of the suburbs on this list.

This extends to our #1 Safest Sydney Suburb as well; tucked away behind Chatswood on Sydney’s North Shore, Middle Cove is dominated by a hefty dose of greenery courtesy of its Harold Reid Reserve which represents one of the finest clusters of natural bushland in this part of Sydney.

It couldn’t be a more different topography than the built-up, shopping-centric aspect of its immediate neighbour. Home to an array of walking tracks, numerous wildlife species such as wallabies, owls, goannas, sugar gliders, echidnas and more, and offering great views stretching out to Fig Tree Cove and beyond, it’s a refreshingly untouched bit of paradise that sets the scene for the rest of this highly-safe suburb as a whole.

“Middle Cove is secluded, serene and green yet also boasts the benefits of having one of Sydney’s largest and most diverse shopping and dining hubs nearby.”

Similar to many of the other suburbs above, Middle Cove is secluded, serene and green yet also boasts the benefits of having one of Sydney’s largest and most diverse shopping and dining hubs right in its figurative backyard. This is no distant, isolated burb; few suburbs in Sydney can grant such an idyllic balance between such abundant nature offerings and retail opportunities as this.

While the pricetag for admission here is fairly steep and supply is limited given its relatively small size, it’s not exorbitantly so by Sydney standards given everything it offers. Schooling options are solid as well in its neighbouring duo of “Castle” suburbs, and its proximity to jump on the M1 and head southbound makes for a fairly enviable commute given how secluded Middle Cove otherwise is.

With near-bottom rankings for all major crime indicators and a mere handful of incidents across the board, Middle Cove makes for about as safe an environment as one could want when living in Sydney.

Honourable mentions: Annangrove, Castle Cove, Kearns, Rodd Point, Yarrawarrah