Palmerston crime rate and Crime Score · Northern Territory council area
Palmerston is a council area in Northern Territory with about 43,193 residents. It has a Crime Score 75 out of 100 (high), 41st 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 (87th percentile), robbery (95th percentile), break-ins (78th percentile). Five years earlier the same basis gave 78.
In 2025-26: violent 2,926 per 100,000 (+15% vs five years earlier); property 6,036 per 100,000 (+18% vs five years earlier); break-ins 667 per 100,000 (-34% vs five years earlier); theft 2,528 per 100,000 (+49% vs five years earlier). For violent crime that is 5th of 6 Northern Territory councils with data, highest first.
Unemployment in the Palmerston council area is 4.2% (Northern Territory 5.6%), Census, 10 August 2021. Social housing makes up 7.3% of occupied homes (857 public and 47 community-housing dwellings at the 2021 Census; Northern Territory 13.5%). An estimated 230 people were homeless on Census night 2021, 56.1 per 10,000 residents (Northern Territory 563.6), apportioned from ABS Statistical Area Level 2 counts. 24.3% of residents were born overseas (Northern Territory 23.9%), most often in Philippines, England, India. Modelled estimates for 2026-27, not measurements: unemployment about 3.9% (confidence 82 of 100); social housing about 6.7% of homes; about 55.2 homeless people per 10,000 residents; about 24.7% 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 | 2,926 | 1,264 | +15% |
| Property | 6,036 | 2,607 | +18% |
| Break-ins | 667 | 288 | -34% |
| Theft | 2,528 | 1,092 | +49% |
Questions
Is Palmerston safe?
Palmerston recorded 2,930 violent offences per 100,000 residents in 2025-26, about 28% lower than the Northern Territory rate (4,050) and 2.3 times the national rate (1,280). Its Crime Score is 75.4 out of 100 (high), 41st 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 Palmerston?
288 break-ins were recorded in 2025-26: 667 per 100,000 residents, about 43% lower than the Northern Territory rate (1,170).
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Police news near Palmerston
- Arrest - Assault - Gray · Palmerston City, 15 Oct 2026 · 15 km away
- Arrest – Aggravated Burglary - Palmerston · Palmerston City, 3 Oct 2026 · 15 km away
- Death Investigation – Palmerston · Palmerston City, 28 Sept 2026 · 15 km away
- Police track and arrest alleged armed robber – Bellamack · Bellamack, 11 Sept 2026
Part of Darwin: Darwin crime rate and crime map.
Suburbs in the Palmerston council area
Bakewell · Bellamack · Gunn · Johnston · Mitchell · Rosebery · Zuccoli
Postcodes in the Palmerston council area
australiancrimerate.com.au/council/nt-palmerston/ · Australian Crime Map