The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Maine


The most dangerous places in Maine are Augusta and Waterville for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Most dangerous cities in Maine research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Maine.

We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 60 Maine cities. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in Maine is Augusta based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in Maine is 447 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in Maine is 3,876 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in Maine is Cumberland.

  • Maine is the 49th most dangerous state in the United States.

Most Dangerous Cities In Maine Map


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References


If you’ve ever been on Maine Ave. in Rumford or Q St. in South Portland, you know that Maine has some dangerous places.

It turns out that Maine has more dangerous cities than you would expect. We are here to tell you the location of the most dangerous places in Maine.

How’d we do it?

We consulted the FBI’s latest crime report for violent and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. We compared the per capita crime rates in 60 Maine cities. We discovered that while parts of Maine are dangerous, most of the towns in Maine have crime rates below the national average.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Maine For 2024

  1. Augusta
  2. Waterville
  3. Biddeford
  4. Skowhegan
  5. Bangor
  6. Sanford
  7. Lewiston
  8. Presque Isle
  9. Auburn
  10. Ellsworth

Many of Maine’s cheapest places are also the state’s most dangerous.

But, what is the most dangerous place in Maine for 2024? The most dangerous place in Maine is Augusta.

If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in Maine are, look at the list below.

For more Maine reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Maine For 2024

Augusta, ME

Source: Wikipedia User Terry Ross from Augusta, Maine, United States | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 19,013
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 447 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,876 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Augusta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Augusta is one of the least populous state capitals in the United States, with a population of 19,013. It is home to the University of Maine at Augusta, the Blaine House, Fort Western, and the Viles Arboretum. Since the early 2000s, the downtown district has undergone revitalization to bring back business.

Behind the rich history, culture, and art scene, there is a darker side. Augusta residents experience higher levels of robbery, assault, violent crime, burglary, and car thefts at a rate that is significantly higher than Maine’s average. These crimes, however, occur less frequently than the national average. The number of larceny and property crimes in Augusta surpass the US average. As dangerous as this capital city is, it isn’t surprising that the city’s population has been slowly shrinking since 2009.

Waterville, ME

Source: Wikipedia User Billy Hathorn | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 15,972
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 206 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,295 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Waterville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Once again, the city of Waterville is one of the most dangerous cities in Maine, though its population has been gradually increasing since 2011. A significant amount of its residents make less than $10,000 per year, but a larger percentage holds a doctorate degree than the average US city.

Waterville has one of the highest property crime rates in the state of Maine with 4,295/100k. Waterville’s car theft, larceny, burglary, aggravated assault, violent crime and robbery rates all surpass the state’s average.

Also, another interesting fact about Waterford is that there are women than men with a 53/46% split. This imbalance is greater than the state and national averages. If you’re looking for a girl, but don’t mind putting yourself in harm’s way, Waterville may be the place for you.

Biddeford, ME

Source: Wikipedia User Tomasso, English Wikipedia | GFDL

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 22,647
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 335 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,865 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Biddeford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

The coastal community of Biddeford is home to the University of New England and it hosts the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival. It was settled by Europeans in 1616, making it one of the oldest European settlements in the United States. It now boasts a population of 22,647 and is the county’s commercial center.

An increase in population tends to increase the crime rate. This correlation is no exception in Biddeford where its crimes propel it slightly above the national crime rate, and significantly higher than Maine’s average crime rate.

Though its violent crime rate is below the national average, its 76 violent crimes is above the average rate for Maine. Similar to Houghton, the majority of Biddeford’s property crimes come in the form of larceny.

Skowhegan, ME

Source: Wikipedia User Tim Pierce | CC BY-SA 4.0

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 8,595
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 209 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,001 (Fifth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Skowhegan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

The city of Skowhegan is just over an hour drive west of Bangor Maine. This smaller community is a haven for budding and experienced artists who attend internationally-renowned Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Residents are also treated to the annual Skowhegan State Fair, the oldest state fair in the United States.

Skowhegan, however, has a problem with crime, with an above average number of crimes committed per 100,000 people. Of its crimes, property crime is the most prevalent with 258 cases in last reporting year.

If you’re thinking of getting a place for your art studio, be sure you keep your artwork stored safely inside.

Bangor, ME

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 32,078
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 162 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,831 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Bangor: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Bangor has a lot going for it. You have a casino. You have museums. You have a 30-foot statue of Paul Bunyan. What more could you need?

A lock on your door, that’s for sure.

In many states, Bangor would count as a small town, given that it only has 32,078 residents. However, in Maine, that makes it the number 3.0 biggest city in the state. As such, the 33 car thefts and 19 robberies in a year become a massive crime wave.

6. Sanford

Sanford, ME

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY-SA 4.0

Population: 22,315
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 201 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,397 (Ninth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Sanford:

Promising excellent schools, open recreational spaces, and excellent job opportunities, Sanford ‘s crime rate has put a damper on its potential as a great place to live. While Sanford, Maine is one of the state’s newest cities, it isn’t off to a good start as it is again ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in Maine in its brief existence.

With 580 crimes, Sanford has the dubious distinction of ranking among the top in the state for burglary, property crime, and total crime. The most common crime in Sanford is property crime which has occurred 535 times.

Lewiston, ME

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 36,488
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 276 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,921 (13th most dangerous)
Murders: 3
More on Lewiston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Lewiston, located between Maine’s capital of Augusta, and Portland, is the second largest city in Maine and is considered as the economic and commercial center of Maine. This has made the city one of the most ethnic, cultural, and religiously diverse communities in the state. Lewiston is also home to the largest French-speaking community in the United States. Besides its diverse population, the city prides itself on its great schools, access to medical care, and low violent and property crime rates.

Sounds like the perfect place to live, right?

Lewiston missed the infamous top-ten dangerous cities list in previous years, but has now bumped up to 7. This is likely due in part to its averages of murder, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, car theft, and property crime are significantly higher than the averages of Maine for those categories.

Presque Isle, ME

Source: Wikipedia User Dayzle | CC BY-SA 4.0

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 8,746
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 182 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,435 (Eighth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Presque Isle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

This city in northern Maine features all the things a family will love: jobs, arts, culture, a rich food scene, colleges. This small city offers the perfect balance of amenities you’d find in a big city including three colleges, The Aroostook Centre Mall, and the Northern Maine Regional Airport, and the quaint, intimacy of a small town complete with a fairground. While Presque Isle, the largest city in the county has a low unemployment rate and low rent, it has a poverty rate that is quite a bit above average.

Presque Isle has a violent crime rate that is higher than the Maine average, but less than the national average. Residents of Presque Isle have a higher risk of being a victim of car theft, larceny, burglary, and property crime thanks to higher averages of those crimes relative to the US and Maine averages.

Auburn, ME

Source: Wikipedia User Aissa Richards | CC BY 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 24,122
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 165 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,586 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Auburn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Auburn used to be big in the shoe business. About a hundred years ago, a single factory in town manufactured three-quarters of the all the white canvas shoes sold in the world.

These days, this town in southern Maine has a reputation based on something besides making footwear that’s hard to keep clean. In fact, the last century has seen a major shift in the community’s claim to fame. These days, Auburn has to contend with its ranking as the number 9 most dangerous spot in Maine. In an area with just 24,122 people, the city suffers 40 violent crimes in a year.

Ellsworth, ME

Source: Wikipedia User Billy Hathorn | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 8,676
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 149 (16th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,492 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Ellsworth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Ellsworth, the tenth most dangerous place to live in Maine, has a concerning crime rate. With a population of 8,676, this city in Hancock County experienced 13 violent crimes, including 7 rapes and 2 robberies. The property crime rate is also high, with 303 incidents reported.

While Ellsworth’s location near Acadia National Park and its historical significance make it appealing, addressing the crime issue is crucial for residents’ well-being.

Crime By City In Maine

Rank City Population Total Crimes Per 100K Violent Crimes Per 100K Property Crimes Per 100K Murders
1 Augusta 19,013 4,323 447 3,876 0
2 Waterville 15,972 4,501 206 4,295 0
3 Biddeford 22,647 3,201 335 2,865 0
4 Skowhegan 8,595 3,211 209 3,001 1
5 Bangor 32,078 4,994 162 4,831 0
6 Sanford 22,315 2,599 201 2,397 1
7 Lewiston 36,488 2,197 276 1,921 3
8 Presque Isle 8,746 2,618 182 2,435 0
9 Auburn 24,122 2,752 165 2,586 2
10 Ellsworth 8,676 3,642 149 3,492 0
11 Portland 68,199 1,869 184 1,684 5
12 Paris 5,349 1,420 205 1,215 0
13 South Portland 27,445 1,949 156 1,792 0
14 Fairfield 6,507 1,874 153 1,721 0
15 Rockland 7,081 2,330 84 2,245 0
16 Old Orchard Beach 9,244 1,482 162 1,319 0
17 Westbrook 20,741 1,229 178 1,051 0
18 Saco 20,936 1,657 143 1,514 0
19 Houlton 6,071 1,910 82 1,828 0
20 Winslow 7,970 1,304 100 1,204 0
21 Brunswick 21,888 1,599 73 1,525 0
22 Farmington 7,520 1,130 93 1,037 0
23 Scarborough 22,913 1,654 65 1,588 0
24 Norway 5,201 1,980 38 1,941 0
25 Bridgton 5,640 992 88 904 0
26 Buxton 8,528 961 93 867 0
27 Kittery 10,279 1,712 48 1,663 0
28 Berwick 8,185 830 109 720 0
29 Brewer 9,634 2,273 31 2,242 0
30 Oakland 6,300 873 95 777 0
31 Lisbon 9,660 1,035 72 962 0
32 Gardiner 5,675 986 70 916 0
33 Topsham 9,680 1,177 51 1,126 0
34 Rumford 5,929 1,855 16 1,838 0
35 Wells 11,760 884 68 816 1
36 North Berwick 5,163 484 96 387 0
37 Winthrop 6,168 583 81 502 0
38 Freeport 8,802 1,215 22 1,192 0
39 Bucksport 5,080 905 39 866 0
40 Caribou 7,352 666 68 598 0
41 Bath 8,834 905 33 871 1
42 York 13,977 693 64 629 0
43 East Millinocket 6,823 1,187 14 1,172 0
44 Sabattus 5,113 352 78 273 0
45 Windham 19,048 787 36 750 0
46 Old Town 7,372 854 27 827 0
47 Yarmouth 9,009 588 44 543 0
48 Falmouth 12,695 708 31 677 0
49 South Berwick 7,653 392 65 326 0
50 Gorham 18,482 535 43 492 0

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Maine for 2024?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Maine. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Maine, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for Maine.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Maine cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 60 cities in Maine.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 60 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.

Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Maine — Augusta. Any ties went to the smaller city.

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Maine and is updated for 2024.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Maine FAQs

No, Maine is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #2 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Maine ranks 50th most dangerous in the United States — 70.64% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Pine Tree State ranks 47th most dangerous in the United States — 40.84% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

No, Portland is not a dangerous city. Portland ranks as the #548 safest out of 1433 major cities over 30,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Portland might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Portland ranks 957th highest in America — 50.61% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 849th highest in the United States — 22.12% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Maine

Most Dangerous Cities In Maine Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Maine

So what is the most dangerous city in Maine? After analyzing 60 cities in Maine, Augusta takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Maine based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2022.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Augusta ranks as the most dangerous city in Maine for 2024.

The most dangerous cities in Maine are .

We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Augusta and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.

Many of Maine’s cheapest places are also the state’s most dangerous.

But, what is the most dangerous place in Maine for 2024? The most dangerous place in Maine is Augusta.

If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in Maine are, look at the list below.

Learn more about the safest places in Maine.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in Maine:

  1. Bar Harbor (Pop. 7,478)
  2. Waldoboro (Pop. 5,314)
  3. Orono (Pop. 11,651)
  4. Kennebunk (Pop. 11,804)
  5. Belfast (Pop. 7,037)
  6. Hampden (Pop. 7,864)
  7. Camden (Pop. 5,326)
  8. Eliot (Pop. 7,162)
  9. Cape Elizabeth (Pop. 9,535)
  10. Cumberland (Pop. 8,616)

For more Maine reading, check out:

References

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

2 thoughts on “The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Maine

  1. SEEMS TO ME WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAWS OF SELF DEFENSE. AND PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO PROTECT WHATS YOUR AT AL COST !!!!!!! You see crime drop !!!!!!!! KING OF HIS CASTLE LAW !!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WORKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Biddeford is not very crime filled Sanford is way worse take into an account children setting bulidings on fire but no one says anything about that

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