Top 10 most dangerous cities in Maine

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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.

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Biddeford Population: 22,077 314 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 319 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,662

Biddeford, ME holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Maine with 314 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (202), robbery (36), rape (67) and homicide (9) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 213% 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.

Portland Population: 68,956 267 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 375 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,746

The second most dangerous city is Portland. With a population of 68,956 and a violent crime rate that is 167% higher than the Maine average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Portland are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 267 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 375 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Augusta Population: 19,148 250 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 399 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,341

Home to 19,148 residents, Augusta, ME ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Maine. Unfortunately for residents of Augusta, crime is widespread, with more than 250 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.69 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 150% higher than the Maine violent crime rate.

Lewiston Population: 37,532 245 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 409 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,773

With a violent crime rate that is 144% higher than the Maine average, it's not hard to see why Lewiston made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (59), assault (116), rape (67) and homicide (3). 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 Lewiston more vulnerable to high crime.

Presque Isle Population: 9,300 220 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 455 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,395

The ongoing battle with crime in Presque Isle, 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 220 and a 1 in 455 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Presque Isle has a violent crime rate that is 120% 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 Presque Isle.

Auburn Population: 23,804 216 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 464 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,644

Auburn, ME comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 216 per 100,000 people, which is 115% higher than the Maine average. Auburn has a population of 23,804, which translates to 0.59 crimes per day and 1 in 464 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 Auburn which are much safer than others.

Ellsworth Population: 8,319 204 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 490 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,553

A 1 in 490 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.56 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Ellsworth makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 204 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 104% higher than the Maine average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (113), robbery (0), rape (91) and homicide (0).

Westbrook Population: 19,325 175 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 572 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,330

Westbrook, ME is another one of the most dangerous cities in Maine and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 19,325 and a violent crime rate of 175 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 102 counts of assault, 34 counts of robbery, 34 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Westbrook violent crime rate is 75% higher than the Maine average.

Bangor Population: 32,703 161 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 620 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,399

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, Bangor, ME comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Maine with a violent crime rate of 161 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.44 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 620 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Sanford Population: 21,841 157 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 638 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,784

Rounding out our list at #10 is Sanford, ME. With a population of 21,841 and a violent crime rate of 157 per 100,000 people (56% higher than the Maine average), some parts of Sanford are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 72 counts of assault, 4 counts of robbery, 81 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 638 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	Biddeford	22,077	314	2,662
2	Portland	68,956	267	2,746
3	Augusta	19,148	250	4,341
4	Lewiston	37,532	245	1,773
5	Presque Isle	9,300	220	2,395
6	Auburn	23,804	216	2,644
7	Ellsworth	8,319	204	2,553
8	Westbrook	19,325	175	1,330
9	Bangor	32,703	161	4,399
10	Sanford	21,841	157	2,784
11	Winslow	5,075	149	1,218
12	Waterville	17,244	142	3,166
13	Skowhegan	6,525	138	3,851
14	Gardiner	5,863	113	1,125
15	Old Orchard Beach	9,273	105	1,147
16	Yarmouth	5,954	89	509
17	Rockland	7,343	85	1,955
18	Saco	20,356	80	1,159
19	Brunswick	16,566	71	1,262
20	Bath	8,599	68	789
21	Kennebunk	5,932	66	698
22	South Portland	26,521	63	1,433
23	Scarborough	5,384	62	1,118
24	Kittery	5,489	54	1,233
25	Houlton	5,030	49	1,563
26	Orono	9,738	47	150
27	Brewer	9,292	41	1,836
28	Topsham	6,494	41	999
29	Old Town	7,646	40	1,036
30	Gorham	7,536	22	420
31	Belfast	6,968	0	633

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.