The "safest" small town varies by definition (US vs. Australia, specific crime types), but top contenders often include places like Johns Creek, GA, Centreville, VA, and Newton, MA in the US, while Mount Barker, SA, Ferny Creek, VIC, and Forestville, NSW are noted in Australia, all featuring very low crime rates in property, theft, and violent categories, plus strong community feel. Key factors are low property/violent crime, strong community, and good public safety, but it's essential to research specific locations and lifestyle needs.
Low crime rates for your peace of mind
Canberra is officially Australia's #1 safest city, with a crime index rating of 26 out of 100. That places it as the 49th safest city in the world. This ranking comes from Compare the Market Australia, which analysed 6 years of public data from Numbeo's crime index.
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
Cities With the Lowest Crime Rates (2025)
Top 10 Safest Cities In Australia
“Australian town of Quilpie giving away free land with $12.5k grant” — South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils.
1. Which city in Australia has the highest crime rate? Rockhampton has the highest crime rate in Australia, with 132 per 1000 people. Some of the sources have also pointed to Alice Springs as the city with the highest crime rate.
Parks and trails can be serene, but isolated walking paths may make you susceptible to opportunistic attackers or those lying in wait. Always use well-lit routes and avoid secluded areas at night.
Quilpie, Queensland, Australia
To try and encourage people to move to the area and expand the housing stock, Quilpie Shire Council established the Home Owner Grant, which will pay eligible applicants AUD$20,000 (£10k/$13k) to build a home in the community.
10 of the cheapest and safest places to live in the world
What are the poorest suburbs in Australia? According to the ATO's latest figures, the lowest-earning suburbs in Australia are Callaghan and Newcastle University, which are located in the city of Newcastle in New South Wales. See the full list of postcodes below. Source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Not only did Canberra top the global list, but it also ranked as the highest Australian city across four of the six core quality-of-life indicators: income per person, income equality, housing expenditure and life expectancy. Discover more about what makes Canberra stand out.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country in 2022, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark and Austria.
Sussan Ley recently declared Melbourne the 'crime capital of Australia'. But a closer analysis of the data shows a much more nuanced picture.
Aboriginal communities in NSW can claim land through Aboriginal Land Councils. The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), with assistance from the Office of the Registrar, has developed a helpful guide to the land claim process.