Top 10 most dangerous cities in Maine

Maine, known for its rugged coastline and picturesque landscapes, offers a tranquil and scenic living experience. From the charming coastal towns like Bar Harbor to the vast wilderness of Acadia National Park, Maine provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its seafood cuisine, lighthouses, and historic sites. Despite its many positives, Maine faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Maine are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Maine's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Maine involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Maine. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and revitalization efforts. Maine's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Augusta Population: 18,662 447 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 224 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,323

Augusta, ME holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Maine with 447 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (347), robbery (26), rape (74) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 333% higher than the Maine average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Biddeford Population: 21,502 336 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 298 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,201

The second most dangerous city is Biddeford. With a population of 21,502 and a violent crime rate that is 225% higher than the Maine average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Biddeford are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 336 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 298 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Lewiston Population: 36,158 277 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 361 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,198

Home to 36,158 residents, Lewiston, ME ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Maine. Unfortunately for residents of Lewiston, crime is widespread, with more than 277 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.76 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 168% higher than the Maine violent crime rate.

Skowhegan Population: 6,341 209 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 478 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,211

With a violent crime rate that is 103% higher than the Maine average, it's not hard to see why Skowhegan made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (12), assault (151), rape (35) and homicide (12). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Skowhegan more vulnerable to high crime.

Waterville Population: 16,623 207 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 484 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,502

The ongoing battle with crime in Waterville, ME, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 207 and a 1 in 484 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Waterville has a violent crime rate that is 100% higher than the Maine average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Waterville.

Sanford Population: 21,166 202 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 496 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,599

Sanford, ME comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 202 per 100,000 people, which is 95% higher than the Maine average. Sanford has a population of 21,166, which translates to 0.55 crimes per day and 1 in 496 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Sanford which are much safer than others.

Portland Population: 66,706 185 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 541 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,870

A 1 in 541 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.51 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Portland makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 185 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 79% higher than the Maine average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (107), robbery (25), rape (45) and homicide (7).

Presque Isle Population: 9,072 183 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 547 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,618

Presque Isle, ME is another one of the most dangerous cities in Maine and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 9,072 and a violent crime rate of 183 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 126 counts of assault, 11 counts of robbery, 46 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Presque Isle violent crime rate is 77% higher than the Maine average.

Westbrook Population: 18,935 178 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 561 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,229

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Westbrook, ME comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Maine with a violent crime rate of 178 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.49 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 561 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Auburn Population: 23,267 166 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 603 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,753

Rounding out our list at #10 is Auburn, ME. With a population of 23,267 and a violent crime rate of 166 per 100,000 people (61% higher than the Maine average), some parts of Auburn are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 99 counts of assault, 17 counts of robbery, 41 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 603 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Maine

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Augusta	18,662	447	4,323
2	Biddeford	21,502	336	3,201
3	Lewiston	36,158	277	2,198
4	Skowhegan	6,341	209	3,211
5	Waterville	16,623	207	4,502
6	Sanford	21,166	202	2,599
7	Portland	66,706	185	1,870
8	Presque Isle	9,072	183	2,618
9	Westbrook	18,935	178	1,229
10	Auburn	23,267	166	2,753
11	Old Orchard Beach	8,952	162	1,482
12	Bangor	32,029	162	4,994
13	South Portland	25,665	157	1,949
14	Ellsworth	8,085	150	3,642
15	Saco	19,716	143	1,657
16	Rockland	7,172	85	2,330
17	Brunswick	15,974	73	1,599
18	Caribou	7,659	68	666
19	Scarborough	5,268	65	1,654
20	Topsham	6,246	52	1,178
21	Kittery	5,297	49	1,712
22	Yarmouth	5,752	44	588
23	Gorham	7,322	43	536
24	Orono	9,523	43	403
25	Bath	8,333	34	906
26	Brewer	9,026	31	2,273
27	Old Town	7,453	27	855
28	Kennebunk	5,792	25	559
29	Belfast	6,710	14	625

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Maine is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Maine cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.