Gold Coast's 5 safest suburbs and the 5 suburbs to avoid.

When evaluating where to live, safety is often a main concern. Here we unpack the top 5 safest areas and the 5 suburbs with the highest crime rates on the Gold Coast. When looking at the crimes rates, this takes into account 'all' reported crimes in an area over a 12-month period and is calculated per 1,000 residents. The Gold Coast as a whole has a reported crimes' rate of 70.6 offences per '000 population. Crimes include all matter of reported crimes, major and minor. 5 Safest suburbs to live on the Gold Coast 1. Currumbin Valley & Tallebudgera The safest area on the Gold Coast, ranked number one with a crime rate of only 14.1 per '000, is the Currumbin & Tallebudgera area located in the Southern Gold Coast. 2. Highland Park* Located just South of Nerang, Highland Park is second on the list of lowest reported crimes for all Gold Coast suburbs, with a rating of 23.6 per '000 residents. 3. Reedy Creek Coming in at number three is Reedy Creek. Located inland just behind Burleigh Heads, in the Southern part of the Gold Coast, Reedy Creek is a safe and family friendly area with a crime rate of 24.0 per '000. 4. Mudgeeraba & Bonogin Situated inland on the Southern/Central Gold Coast area are Mudgeeraba & Bonogin. With a crime rate of 24.8 per '000 this area offers a safe and friendly living environment. 5. Coombabah* Rounding up the top 5 with a crime rate of 25.1 per '000 population is Coombabah in the Northern region of the Gold Coast. *NOTE to the reader: Although the reported crime rates for Highland Park and Coombabah are low, both these suburbs have a lower socio-economic index, lower median household income and higher unemployment rates compared to the rest of the GC. Read next... Updated 2023: Gold Coast suburbs with the highest crime rates 5 Gold Coast suburbs to avoid with the highest crime rate Looking at the crime rates across the different areas of the Gold Coast, it becomes very apparent that the suburbs with a higher population density and a population that is more transient including the tourism and entertainment precincts (areas with a lot of shops, hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs) tend to have a higher crime rate. 1. Surfers Paradise Not surprising, Surfers Paradise with its high number of holiday accommodation, bars, cafes & restaurants, is ranked number one with a reported crime rate of 220.8 per '000. 2. Mermaid Beach & Broadbeach This is also an area with a transient population and one people descend from all over the Gold Coast to go out. A crime rate of 175.7 per '000 is reflective of this. 3. Broadbeach Waters If the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre wasn't located in the Broadbeach Waters suburb, then it wouldn't have been listed in this top 5. Close to 60% of all reported crimes happen in or around the famous Shopping Centre. So although this suburb comes in at number 3, with a crime rate of 151 per '000, it is probably not a true reflection of the safety of this suburb. 4. Southport Home to the Gold Coast's central business district and many bars, restaurants, shops and holiday accommodation, this area also has a higher-than-average crime rate of 144 per '000. 5. Coolangatta Another suburb that is categorised by a transient population and with a high number of holiday accommodation and entertainment facilities, Coolangatta has a reported crime rate of 141.3 per '000. Read next... Top 5 most family friendly suburbs on the Gold Coast Want to know if a specific suburb is safe? If you're thinking of moving to the Gold Coast, and want to know how a specific suburb is rated, please get in touch with me. I can also help you narrow down which suburbs best suit your needs and lifestyle. Email me at info@movingtothegoldcoast.com Footnote: Crimes rates are calculated using the 2020 Estimated Resident Population of the suburb or area and the crime statistics as reported by the Queensland Police Service for the a 12-month reporting period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.