Broken Hill crime rate and Crime Score · New South Wales
NSW Police (figures published by BOCSAR) recorded 3,488 offences in Broken Hill in 2025-26, including 593 violent offences and 147 break-ins. That is about 19,700 per 100,000 of its 17,706 residents (2021 Census). The rates and Crime Score below are for the whole Unincorporated NSW council area.
Broken Hill is a suburb in the Unincorporated NSW council area of New South Wales (about 975 residents in the council). The council has a Crime Score 79 out of 100 (high), 28th 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 (86th percentile), sexual offences (98th percentile), break-ins (86th percentile). Five years earlier the same basis gave 78.
In 2025-26: violent 4,103 per 100,000 (+49% vs five years earlier); property 6,974 per 100,000 (+13% vs five years earlier); break-ins 1,333 per 100,000 (+127% vs five years earlier); theft 2,359 per 100,000 (+20% vs five years earlier). For violent crime that is 7th of 129 New South Wales councils with data, highest first.
Unemployment in the Unincorporated NSW council area is 2.5% (New South Wales 4.9%), Census, 10 August 2021. Social housing makes up 2% of occupied homes (7 public and 0 community-housing dwellings at the 2021 Census; New South Wales 4.2%). An estimated 6 people were homeless on Census night 2021, 60.2 per 10,000 residents (New South Wales 43.4), apportioned from ABS Statistical Area Level 2 counts. 11.1% of residents were born overseas (New South Wales 31%), most often in New Zealand, England, Fiji. Modelled estimates for 2026-27, not measurements: unemployment about 2.8% (confidence 67 of 100); social housing about 1.8% of homes; about 59.2 homeless people per 10,000 residents; about 11.3% born overseas. Confidence falls with distance from the last published figure, and the map's Estimates toggle shows every year back to 1994-95.
New South Wales publishes suburb-level counts: 3,488 offences were recorded in Broken Hill in 2025-26. The rates and Crime Score above are for the whole Unincorporated NSW council area.
| Offences | Per 100,000 | Count | 5-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent | 4,103 | 40 | +49% |
| Property | 6,974 | 68 | +13% |
| Break-ins | 1,333 | 13 | +127% |
| Theft | 2,359 | 23 | +20% |
Of 250 regional NSW suburbs and towns with at least 2,000 residents, Broken Hill has the 23rd highest recorded crime rate: about 18,500 offences a year per 100,000 residents (2023-24 to 2025-26 average), against a median of 7,320. Regional New South Wales rankings.
Unincorporated NSW council area: full statistics · Interactive map of every council.
Crime in postcode 2880: every suburb and council it covers.
Questions
Is Broken Hill safe?
Broken Hill recorded about 18,500 offences a year per 100,000 residents over 2023-24 to 2025-26, 2.5 times the median of 7,320 for regional NSW suburbs and towns: the 23rd highest rate of 250. In 2025-26 police recorded 593 violent offences (3,350 per 100,000 residents) and 147 break-ins there. 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.
What is the crime rate in Broken Hill?
In 2025-26 police recorded 3,488 offences in Broken Hill, about 19,700 per 100,000 of its 17,706 residents (2021 Census), including 593 violent offences and 147 break-ins.
Police news near Broken Hill
- Man charged over alleged serious assault of elderly man - Broken Hill · Broken Hill, 15 Sept 2026
Nearby suburbs
Broken Hill North · Broken Hill West · Broughams Gate · Fowlers Gap · Little Topar · Lord Howe Island · Milparinka · Mutawintji · Packsaddle · Silverton · South Broken Hill · Tibooburra · Wanaaring
australiancrimerate.com.au/suburb/nsw/broken-hill/ · Australian Crime Map