Hay crime rate and Crime Score · New South Wales
NSW Police (figures published by BOCSAR) recorded 222 offences in Hay in 2025-26, including 28 violent offences and 14 break-ins. That is about 9,652 per 100,000 of its 2,300 residents (2021 Census). The rates and Crime Score below are for the whole Balranald council area.
Hay is a suburb in the Balranald council area of New South Wales (about 2,244 residents in the council). The council has a Crime Score 46 out of 100 (moderate), 205th 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 (53rd percentile), sexual offences (53rd percentile), robbery (54th percentile). Five years earlier the same basis gave 49.
In 2025-26: violent 1,337 per 100,000 (+97% vs five years earlier); property 3,119 per 100,000 (+13% vs five years earlier); break-ins 267 per 100,000 (-63% vs five years earlier); theft 1,515 per 100,000 (+67% vs five years earlier). For violent crime that is 62nd of 129 New South Wales councils with data, highest first.
Unemployment in the Balranald council area is 3.3% (New South Wales 4.9%), Census, 10 August 2021. Social housing makes up 5.6% of occupied homes (28 public and 13 community-housing dwellings at the 2021 Census; New South Wales 4.2%). An estimated 13 people were homeless on Census night 2021, 58.1 per 10,000 residents (New South Wales 43.4), apportioned from ABS Statistical Area Level 2 counts. 9.6% of residents were born overseas (New South Wales 31%), most often in Malaysia, Fiji, England. Modelled estimates for 2026-27, not measurements: unemployment about 3.1% (confidence 68 of 100); social housing about 5.1% of homes; about 57.2 homeless people per 10,000 residents; about 9.7% born overseas. Confidence falls with distance from the last published figure, and the map's Estimates toggle shows every year back to 1994-95.
New South Wales publishes suburb-level counts: 222 offences were recorded in Hay in 2025-26. The rates and Crime Score above are for the whole Balranald council area.
| Offences | Per 100,000 | Count | 5-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent | 1,337 | 30 | +97% |
| Property | 3,119 | 70 | +13% |
| Break-ins | 267 | 6 | -63% |
| Theft | 1,515 | 34 | +67% |
Of 250 regional NSW suburbs and towns with at least 2,000 residents, Hay has the 80th highest recorded crime rate: about 10,500 offences a year per 100,000 residents (2023-24 to 2025-26 average), against a median of 7,320. Regional New South Wales rankings.
Balranald council area: full statistics · Interactive map of every council.
Crime in postcode 2711: every suburb and council it covers.
Questions
Is Hay safe?
Hay recorded about 10,500 offences a year per 100,000 residents over 2023-24 to 2025-26, about 43% higher than the median of 7,320 for regional NSW suburbs and towns: the 80th highest rate of 250. In 2025-26 police recorded 28 violent offences (1,220 per 100,000 residents) and 14 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 Hay?
In 2025-26 police recorded 222 offences in Hay, about 9,650 per 100,000 of its 2,300 residents (2021 Census), including 28 violent offences and 14 break-ins.
Police news near Hay
- Driver charged following fatal crash - Point Clare · Clare, 15 Sept 2026
- Investigation underway following fatal crash - Point Clare · Clare, 14 Sept 2026
Nearby suburbs
Arumpo · Balranald · Carrathool · Clare · Corrong · Euston · Gunbar · Hatfield · Hay South · Kyalite · Mungo · Oxley · Waugorah · Yanga
australiancrimerate.com.au/suburb/nsw/hay/ · Australian Crime Map