Byron Bay crime rate and Crime Score · New South Wales
NSW Police (figures published by BOCSAR) recorded 1,343 offences in Byron Bay in 2025-26, including 235 violent offences and 57 break-ins. That is about 21,216 per 100,000 of its 6,330 residents (2021 Census). The rates and Crime Score below are for the whole Byron council area.
Byron Bay is a suburb in the Byron council area of New South Wales (about 38,784 residents in the council). The council has a Crime Score 52 out of 100 (moderate), 161st 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 (55th percentile), sexual offences (65th percentile), homicide (42nd percentile). Five years earlier the same basis gave 54.
In 2025-26: violent 1,423 per 100,000 (+11% vs five years earlier); property 3,540 per 100,000 (+5% vs five years earlier); break-ins 405 per 100,000 (+26% vs five years earlier); theft 1,591 per 100,000 (+12% vs five years earlier). For violent crime that is 55th of 129 New South Wales councils with data, highest first.
Unemployment in the Byron council area is 5.1% (New South Wales 4.9%), Census, 10 August 2021. Social housing makes up 1.9% of occupied homes (90 public and 151 community-housing dwellings at the 2021 Census; New South Wales 4.2%). An estimated 248 people were homeless on Census night 2021, 67.5 per 10,000 residents (New South Wales 43.4), apportioned from ABS Statistical Area Level 2 counts. 24.5% of residents were born overseas (New South Wales 31%), most often in England, New Zealand, United States. Modelled estimates for 2026-27, not measurements: unemployment about 5.1% (confidence 81 of 100); social housing about 1.7% of homes; about 66.4 homeless people per 10,000 residents; about 24.9% 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: 1,343 offences were recorded in Byron Bay in 2025-26. The rates and Crime Score above are for the whole Byron council area.
| Offences | Per 100,000 | Count | 5-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent | 1,423 | 552 | +11% |
| Property | 3,540 | 1,373 | +5% |
| Break-ins | 405 | 157 | +26% |
| Theft | 1,591 | 617 | +12% |
Of 250 regional NSW suburbs and towns with at least 2,000 residents, Byron Bay has the 13th highest recorded crime rate: about 22,900 offences a year per 100,000 residents (2023-24 to 2025-26 average), against a median of 7,320. Regional New South Wales rankings.
Byron council area: full statistics · Interactive map of every council.
Crime in postcode 2481: every suburb and council it covers.
Questions
Is Byron Bay safe?
Byron Bay recorded about 22,900 offences a year per 100,000 residents over 2023-24 to 2025-26, 3.1 times the median of 7,320 for regional NSW suburbs and towns: the 13th highest rate of 250. In 2025-26 police recorded 235 violent offences (3,710 per 100,000 residents) and 57 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 Byron Bay?
In 2025-26 police recorded 1,343 offences in Byron Bay, about 21,200 per 100,000 of its 6,330 residents (2021 Census), including 235 violent offences and 57 break-ins.
Nearby suburbs
Bangalow · Billinudgel · Binna Burra · Booyong · Broken Head · Brunswick Heads · Coopers Shoot · Coorabell · Eureka · Ewingsdale · Federal · Goonengerry · Hayters Hill · McLeods Shoot · Montecollum · Mullumbimby · Mullumbimby Creek · Myocum · Nashua · New Brighton · Ocean Shores · Possum Creek · Skinners Shoot · South Golden Beach · Suffolk Park · Talofa · The Pocket · Tyagarah · Wilsons Creek · Yelgun
australiancrimerate.com.au/suburb/nsw/byron-bay/ · Australian Crime Map