Suburbs in the Adelaide Hills and nearby foothills have been identified as some of the safest areas in the Adelaide metropolitan region, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and South Australia Police. The safety rankings were calculated using a weighted crime index based on rates of violent crime, theft, and other offences per 1,000 residents, with adjustments for population density.
Among the highest-scoring suburbs were Cherryville, Piccadilly, Upper Sturt, Uraidla, Paracombe, and Greenhill, each achieving safety index scores near 80 out of 100. Bellevue Heights and Eden Hills also scored well, with Bellevue Heights recording an index score of approximately 70.4 and 76 major crimes reported this year within its population of 5,734 residents.
Local residents attribute these low crime rates to a combination of geographical isolation and strong community engagement. Bellevue Heights resident Angie Doughty, who relocated with her family after the COVID-19 pandemic, noted that limited access roads contribute significantly to keeping traffic and crime low. "There’s only Shepherds Hill Road that separates those two suburbs and allows access in and out," she explained, emphasizing the impact of the suburb’s physical layout on safety. Ms. Doughty also highlighted that the suburb is experiencing a generational shift, with younger families moving in as the original residents from the 1970s and 1980s begin to age.
Mitcham Council Mayor Dr. Heather Holmes-Ross emphasized the role of community involvement in maintaining safety in these areas. “People in those areas feel that they really are part of a community – that sense of community is very, very strong,” she said. “There’s lots of volunteering and lots of the sports clubs up here that are really strong. People are doing the things that make strong, resilient communities.”
The trend of low crime and strong local ties extends beyond the metropolitan area into regional areas of South Australia. Watervale and Leasingham, small towns in the Clare Valley, were ranked among the safest regional locations, recording just two major crimes this year across a population of 452. Warrick Duthy, co-owner of the Watervale Hotel, attributed the safety to longstanding community respect and accountability. “You’ve got people who have deep respect for the place because their families have been here for 150 years,” he said, underscoring the value of tight-knit community traditions in fostering secure environments.
The data and community perspectives collectively suggest that Adelaide’s safest suburbs benefit from a mix of geographic isolation, lower traffic volumes, and engaged, cohesive communities committed to local security and well-being.