Shoalhaven crime rate and Crime Score · New South Wales council area
Shoalhaven is a council area in New South Wales with about 111,755 residents. It has a Crime Score 47 out of 100 (moderate), 202nd of 362 councils nationally.
The score blends national percentile ranks for each published offence category with fixed severity weights; here it is driven most by assault (54th percentile), sexual offences (70th percentile), homicide (43rd percentile). Five years earlier the same basis gave 52.
In 2025-26: violent 1,456 per 100,000 (+24% vs five years earlier); property 3,013 per 100,000 (+6% vs five years earlier); break-ins 381 per 100,000 (+10% vs five years earlier); theft 1,213 per 100,000 (+9% vs five years earlier). For violent crime that is 52nd of 129 New South Wales councils with data, highest first.
Unemployment in the Shoalhaven council area is 4.9% (New South Wales 4.9%), Census, 10 August 2021. Social housing makes up 3.7% of occupied homes (791 public and 772 community-housing dwellings at the 2021 Census; New South Wales 4.2%). An estimated 441 people were homeless on Census night 2021, 40.2 per 10,000 residents (New South Wales 43.4), apportioned from ABS Statistical Area Level 2 counts. 14.4% of residents were born overseas (New South Wales 31%), most often in England, New Zealand, Philippines. Modelled estimates for 2026-27, not measurements: unemployment about 4.9% (confidence 84 of 100); social housing about 3.3% of homes; about 39.5 homeless people per 10,000 residents; about 14.7% born overseas. Confidence falls with distance from the last published figure, and the map's Estimates toggle shows every year back to 1994-95.
| Offences | Per 100,000 | Count | 5-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent | 1,456 | 1,627 | +24% |
| Property | 3,013 | 3,367 | +6% |
| Break-ins | 381 | 426 | +10% |
| Theft | 1,213 | 1,356 | +9% |
Questions
Is Shoalhaven safe?
Shoalhaven recorded 1,460 violent offences per 100,000 residents in 2025-26, about 27% higher than the New South Wales rate (1,150) and about 14% higher than the national rate (1,280). Its Crime Score is 46.5 out of 100 (moderate), 202nd of 362 councils. These are offences recorded by police per resident: they describe the area as a whole, not the risk on any particular street, and places with a busy centre record more because offences are counted where they happen.
How many break-ins are there in Shoalhaven?
426 break-ins were recorded in 2025-26: 381 per 100,000 residents, about 27% higher than the New South Wales rate (301).
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Police news near Shoalhaven
- Fatal two-vehicle crash - Bomaderry · Bomaderry, 24 Oct 2026 · 25 km away
Suburbs in the Shoalhaven council area
Back Forest · Bamarang · Bangalee · Barren Grounds · Barrengarry · Barringella · Basin View · Bawley Point · Beaumont · Beecroft Peninsula · Bellawongarah · Bendalong · Berrara · Berringer Lake · Berry · Berry Mountain · Bewong · Bolong · Bomaderry · Boolijah · Bream Beach · Brogers Creek · Brooman · Broughton · Broughton Vale · Browns Mountain · Brundee · Buangla · Budawang · Budgong · Bulee · Bundewallah · Burrier · Burrill Lake · Callala Bay · Callala Beach · Cambewarra · Cambewarra Village · Cockwhy · Comberton · Comerong Island · Conjola · Conjola Park · Coolangatta · Coolumburra · Croobyar · Cudmirrah · Culburra Beach · Cunjurong Point · Currarong · Currowan · Depot Beach · Dolphin Point · Durras North · East Lynne · Endrick · Erowal Bay · Ettrema · Falls Creek · Far Meadow · Fishermans Paradise · Greenwell Point · Huskisson · Hyams Beach · Illaroo · Jaspers Brush · Jerrawangala · Jervis Bay · Kangaroo Valley · Kinghorne · Kings Point · Kioloa · Lake Conjola · Lake Tabourie · Little Forest · Longreach · Manyana · Meroo Meadow · Milton · Mogood · Mollymook · Mollymook Beach · Mondayong · Moollattoo · Morton · Mount Kingiman · Mundamia · Myola · Narrawallee · North Nowra · Nowra · Nowra DC · Nowra East · Nowra Hill · Numbaa · Old Erowal Bay · Orient Point · Parma · Pebbly Beach · Pointer Mountain · Porters Creek · Pyree · Quiera · Red Rocks · Sanctuary Point · Sassafras · Shoalhaven Heads · South Nowra · St George · St Georges Basin · Sussex Inlet · Swanhaven · Tallowal · Tapitallee · Terara · Termeil · Tianjara · Tolwong · Tomerong · Touga
Postcodes in the Shoalhaven council area
2535 · 2536 · 2538 · 2539 · 2541 · 2577
australiancrimerate.com.au/council/nsw-shoalhaven/ · Australian Crime Map