Noosa Heads among Sunshine Coast’s worst crime suburbs - ranked list
It may seem like a relaxed holiday hotspot but the latest crime statistics for one Sunshine Coast suburb are among the worst in the region. Find out what the most dangerous - and safest suburbs - are. Full list
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From tourist hotspots to quiet hinterland retreats, crime rates across Sunshine Coast suburbs vary widely.
While some suburbs give off relaxed beach vibes, it doesn’t always mean they are free from crime.
Using Queensland Police crime statistics for the past 12 months we can reveal the worst and safest suburbs on the Sunshine Coast.
Here are the top 10 most dangerous and top 10 safest Sunshine Coast suburbs.
TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS SUBURBS (Ranked in terms of crime per capita)
1. NOOSA HEADS - 878 offences
Crime per capita: 0.19
Suburb synopsis:
Noosa Heads was home to a population of 4484 during the 2016 Census, with it estimated to have reached 4940 last year.
A total of 57.1 per cent of residents are of a working age with the median total income at $40,483.
Professionals make up 22.2 per cent of workers, with about 17.6 per cent being at a manager level.
Almost 50 per cent are full-time workers with 4.9 per cent unemployed.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 67
Unlawful entry: 18
Property damage: 67
Thefts: 170
Drugs: 117
Traffic: 96
2. PALMVIEW - 101 offences
Crime per capita: 0.19
Suburb synopsis:
Palmview is home to 893 people, with 244 families and 56.8 per cent being married.
The suburb is located inland of Bokarina and just north of Meridan Plains along the Bruce Highway.
58 per cent work full-time with 5 per cent unemployed.
The median personal income is $780
Offences breakdown
Unlawful entry: 5
Property damage: 13
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 3
Theft : 36
Drugs: 23
Traffic: 4
3. CALOUNDRA - 724 offences
Crime per capita: 0.18
Suburb synopsis:
The beachside town’s population was 3917 at the 2016 Census and was estimated to be 7010 last year.
About 57.5 per cent are of a working age with a median income of $40,258.
A total of 50.7 per cent work full-time with almost 10 per cent unemployed.
Technicians and trades workers are 16.1 per cent of the working group, with professionals and labourers close behind.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 51
Unlawful entry: 51
Property damage: 63
Thefts: 190
Drugs: 113
Traffic: 44
4. MAROOCHYDORE - 2739 offences
Crime per capita: 0.16
Suburb synopsis:
The population for Maroochydore was 16,800 during the 2016 Census and is estimated to have reached a population of 21,441 in 2020.
About 63 per cent of the area is of working age, with the median total income in 2018 at $42,105.
About 18 per cent of the population are professionals with 15 per cent technicians or trades workers. About 7.2 per cent are unemployed with 54.5 per cent working full-time.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 156
Unlawful entry: 112
Property damage: 187
Theft: 936
Drugs: 264
Traffic: 179
5. NAMBOUR - 1270 offences
Crime per capita: 0.11
Suburb synopsis:
The population of Nambour during the 2016 Census was 11,187 and was estimated to be 21,591 in 2020.
A total of 61.5 per cent of residents are of a working age with the median total income at $44,145.
Almost 17 per cent of the suburb is made up of technicians and trades workers, according to the 2016 Census, with professionals not far behind.
About 49 per cent of residents work full-time and 10.3 per cent are unemployed.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 93
Unlawful entry: 53
Property damage: 104
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 26
Thefts: 311
Drugs: 201
Traffic: 114
6. NOOSAVILLE - 789 offences
Crime per capita: 0.09
Suburb synopsis:
The town had a population of 8124 at the 2016 Census, with estimates putting the northern suburb at 9533 in 2020.
A total of 54 per cent of people are of a working age with a large make-up of people aged between 60-69. The median total income at $38,040.
51 per cent of residents work full-time, with seven per cent unemployed. Professionals and managers are among the most filled occupations.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 24
Unlawful entry: 41
Property damage: 40
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 38
Thefts: 302
Drugs: 110
Traffic: 125
7. MOOLOOLABA - 486 offences
Crime per capita: 0.062
Suburb synopsis:
The tourist hotspot was home to 7730 people in 2016 and was estimated to rise to 12,383 in 2020.
A total of 66.2 per cent of residents are of working age, with a median income of $44,686.
About 54 per cent work full-time, with 7.5 per cent unemployed.
Professionals make up more than 19 per cent of workers, with technicians and tradies at 15 per cent.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 47
Unlawful entry: 31
Property damage: 62
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 14
Theft: 144
Drugs: 49
Traffic: 53
8. COOLUM BEACH - 492 offences
Crime per capita: 0.057
Suburb synopsis:
This oceanside town, where Julian Wilson grew up, was home to 8497 people in 2016, rising to an estimated 16,454 last year.
A total of 64.1 per cent are of working age, with a median income of $44,586.
About 50 per cent are full-time workers and seven per cent are unemployed.
Professionals make up 19.8 per cent of the town, with technicians and tradies at 17.6 per cent.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 37
Unlawful entry 30
Property damage: 61
Theft: 117
Drugs: 69
Traffic: 94
9. TEWANTIN - 530 offences
Crime per capita: 0.048
Suburb synopsis:
Tewantin was home to 10,920 people in 2016, rising to an estimated 10,586 in 2020.
A total of 54.6 per cent are of working age, with a median income of $38,946.
47.6 per cent work full-time and 7.4 per cent are unemployed.
According to the 2016 Census, technicians and trades workers made up 17.8 per cent of the suburb and professionals 14.3 per cent.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 36
Unlawful entry: 28
Property damage: 37
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 19
Theft: 82
Drugs: 129
Traffic: 98
10. BUDERIM - 534 offences
Crime per capita: 0.018
Suburb synopsis:
The hillside suburb is home to 29,355 people at the 2016 Census, with 56.5 per cent of working age.
The median weekly income was $658 with 52 per cent working full time and 6.8 per cent unemployed.
Professionals are far and above the biggest employment category for the suburb, sitting at 25.3 per cent, with 13.8 per cent working in the clerical and administrative area.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 42
Unlawful entry: 48
Property damage: 55
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 24
Thefts: 148
Drugs: 62
Traffic: 53
TOP 10 SAFEST SUBURBS (minimum population of 100 - Ranked in terms of crime per capita)
1. LANDERS SHOOT - 1 offence
Crime per capita: 0.0039
Suburb synopsis:
This hinterland town has a population of 252 and is located between Palmwoods and Montville.
A total of 59.6 per cent worked full-time as of the 2016 Census, with 2.2 per cent unemployed.
About 14 per cent were aged between 45-49 and 8.9 per cent between 50-54.
Of the working residents, 20 per cent were classed as professionals with 19 per cent tradies.
Offences breakdown
Unlawful entry: 1
2. KUREELPA - 4 offences
Crime per capita: 0.004
Suburb synopsis:
This town of 907 residents sits between Mapleton and Nambour.
There is about 343 homes in the area with 47 per cent working full time and 7.6 per cent unemployed.
Tradies and professionals are a large make-up of the residents.
Offences breakdown
Unlawful entry: 1
Theft: 1
Traffic: 2
3. KIELS MOUNTAIN - 4 offences
Crime per capita: 0.006
Suburb synopsis:
Located off the Bruce Highway between Forest Glen and Rosemount, Kiels Mountain had a population of 664 at the 2016 Census.
51.2 per cent are full-time workers, with 6 per cent unemployed.
Professionals make up a large portion of workers.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 1
Theft: 1
Drugs: 1
4. DULONG - 4 offences
Crime per capita: 0.007
Suburb synopsis:
Dulong was home to 564 people, according to the 2016 Census, with 54 per cent full-time workers and 4.8 per cent unemployed.
It’s located between Mapleton and Nambour, with the median weekly income of $645.
12 per cent are aged between 55-59.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 1
Unlawful Entry: 1
Theft: 1
Traffic: 1
5. WITTA - 9 offences
Crime per capita: 0.007
Suburb synopsis:
This hinterland suburb is located just west of North Maleny, and is home to 1201 people.
A large portion of the population is aged over 50, with 45.8 per cent working full-time and 7.7 per cent unemployed.
Professionals and managers make up a large portion of the workforce.
Offences breakdown
Unlawful entry: 4
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 1
Theft: 1
traffic:2
6. VALDORA - 4 offences
Crime per capita: 0.007
Suburb synopsis:
Has a population of 532, with 50 per cent working full-time and 9.1 per cent unemployed.
Valdora is located on the eastern side of the Bruce Highway, across from Yandina.
The median weekly income is $616, with tradies and professionals among the top jobs for residents.
Offences breakdown
Theft: 1
Drugs: 1
Traffic: 2
7. PEREGIAN BEACH - 32 offences
Crime per capita: 0.008
Suburb synopsis:
This beachside town is home to a busy 3791 people in 2016 and estimated to be home to more than 10,000 in 2020.
Full-time workers make up 50 per cent of residents, with 6.5 per cent unemployed.
A large portion are professionals, with the weekly median income for residents at $684.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 3
Unlawful entry: 3
Property damage: 2
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 1
Theft: 5
Drugs: 6
Traffic: 8
8. NORTH MALENY - 5 offences
Crime per capita: 0.008
Suburb synopsis:
The mountainous hinterland town is home to 621 people, with 300 private dwellings.
51 per cent are full-time workers with 6.3 per cent unemployed.
Professionals are 36.1 per cent of the working force with 14 per cent being managers.
The median weekly income is $648.
Offences breakdown
Unlawful entry: 1
Property damage: 1
Unlawful use of vehicle: 1
Thefts: 2
9. WEST WOOMBYE - 9 offences
Crime per capita: 0.008
Suburb synopsis:
West Woombye had a population of 1000 in 2016, with 52.4 per cent full-time workers and 7.5 per cent unemployed.
Tradies and professionals are the top areas for the working force, with a median weekly income of $560.
A total of 57.4 per cent of the population is married.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 1
Unlawful entry: 2
Property damage 1
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 1
Theft: 1
10. CASTAWAYS BEACH - 7 offences
Crime per capita: 0.010
Suburb synopsis:
This scenic coastal suburb was home to 656 people during the 2016 Census.
The median age is 49, with 179 families calling the area home.
The median weekly income is $690, with almost 50 per cent of the working population in the professional and managerial fields.
Offences breakdown
Assault: 2
Unlawful entry: 1
Property damage: 1
Unlawful use of motor vehicle: 1
Theft: 2
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