Upper Hunter crime rate and Crime Score · New South Wales council area
Upper Hunter is a council area in New South Wales with about 14,425 residents. It has a Crime Score 43 out of 100 (moderate), 229th 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 (47th percentile), sexual offences (63rd percentile), homicide (61st percentile). Five years earlier the same basis gave 47.
In 2025-26: violent 1,206 per 100,000 (+15% vs five years earlier); property 2,738 per 100,000 (+17% vs five years earlier); break-ins 319 per 100,000 (-23% vs five years earlier); theft 1,102 per 100,000 (+27% vs five years earlier). For violent crime that is 69th of 129 New South Wales councils with data, highest first.
Unemployment in the Upper Hunter council area is 3.2% (New South Wales 4.9%), Census, 10 August 2021. Social housing makes up 3.1% of occupied homes (125 public and 45 community-housing dwellings at the 2021 Census; New South Wales 4.2%). An estimated 23 people were homeless on Census night 2021, 16.1 per 10,000 residents (New South Wales 43.4), apportioned from ABS Statistical Area Level 2 counts. 9.8% of residents were born overseas (New South Wales 31%), most often in England, New Zealand, China. Modelled estimates for 2026-27, not measurements: unemployment about 3.2% (confidence 77 of 100); social housing about 2.8% of homes; about 15.8 homeless people per 10,000 residents; about 10% 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 | 1,206 | 174 | +15% |
| Property | 2,738 | 395 | +17% |
| Break-ins | 319 | 46 | -23% |
| Theft | 1,102 | 159 | +27% |
Questions
Is Upper Hunter safe?
Upper Hunter recorded 1,210 violent offences per 100,000 residents in 2025-26, close to the New South Wales rate (1,150) and about 6% lower than the national rate (1,280). Its Crime Score is 42.5 out of 100 (moderate), 229th 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 Upper Hunter?
46 break-ins were recorded in 2025-26: 319 per 100,000 residents, about 6% higher than the New South Wales rate (301).
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Suburbs in the Upper Hunter council area
Aberdeen · Belltrees · Blandford · Brawboy · Bunnan · Cassilis · Dartbrook · Davis Creek · Dry Creek · Ellerston · Glenbawn · Glenrock · Green Creek · Gundy · Gungal · Kars Springs · Merriwa · Middle Brook · Moobi · Moonan Brook · Moonan Flat · Murrurundi · Murulla · Omadale · Owens Gap · Pages Creek · Pages River · Parkville · Rossgole · Rouchel · Sandy Creek · Scone · Scotts Creek · Segenhoe · Stewarts Brook · Timor · Tomalla · Upper Dartbrook · Upper Hunter · Upper Rouchel · Waverly · Wingen · Woolooma
Postcodes in the Upper Hunter council area
2329 · 2333 · 2336 · 2337 · 2338
australiancrimerate.com.au/council/nsw-upper-hunter/ · Australian Crime Map