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 59 Maine cities. We discovered that while parts of Maine are dangerous, most of the towns in Maine have crime rates below the national average.
250 violent crimes /100k · 4,091 property crimes /100k · #3 most violent in Maine
Located in
Kennebec County, Maine
Augusta is one of the least populous state capitals in the United States, with a population of 19,164. 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
267 violent crimes /100k · 2,479 property crimes /100k · #2 most violent in Maine
Located in
Cumberland County, Maine
Portland, Maine is vastly different from its west coast name doppelganger, Portland, Oregon (the former inspired the name of the latter). Portland is the most populous city in Maine with its metropolitan area being home to roughly a third of Maine’s total population.
The city is a popular tourist destination. Popular attractions include the Old Port District and the Portland Head Light. The heavily populated city offers residents and tourists all the economic, cultural, entertainment, arts, and foodie amenities of a big city.
Like a big city, it is rife with crime. Portland has an overall crime rate of 2,746/100k and a property rate of 2,479/100k which is higher than the national average. If you’re in Portland, keep an eye on your belongings as the property crime rates here are higher than the state and national averages.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
314 violent crimes /100k · 2,349 property crimes /100k · #1 most violent in Maine
Located in
York County, Maine
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 22,310 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 70 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
161 violent crimes /100k · 4,238 property crimes /100k · #11 most violent in Maine
Located in
Penobscot County, Maine
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 31,598 residents. However, in Maine, that makes it the number 3.0 biggest city in the state. As such, the 27 car thefts and 16 robberies in a year become a massive crime wave.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
216 violent crimes /100k · 2,428 property crimes /100k · #6 most violent in Maine
Located in
Androscoggin County, Maine
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 5 most dangerous spot in Maine. In an area with just 25,038 people, the city suffers 54 violent crimes in a year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
204 violent crimes /100k · 2,349 property crimes /100k · #7 most violent in Maine
Located in
Hancock County, Maine
Ellsworth, the sixth most dangerous place to live in Maine, has a concerning crime rate. With a population of 8,812, this city in Hancock County experienced 18 violent crimes, including 8 rapes and 0 robberies. The property crime rate is also high, with 207 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
220 violent crimes /100k · 2,175 property crimes /100k · #5 most violent in Maine
Located in
Aroostook County, Maine
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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
157 violent crimes /100k · 2,627 property crimes /100k · #12 most violent in Maine
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 622 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 587 times.
138 violent crimes /100k · 3,713 property crimes /100k · #15 most violent in Maine
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 323 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 (and maybe consider investing in renters or homeowners insurance).
142 violent crimes /100k · 3,024 property crimes /100k · #14 most violent in Maine
Located in
Kennebec County, Maine
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 3,024/100k. 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Maine’s statewide median.
On the map
Where crime hits hardest in Maine
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most dangerous cities in Maine for 2026?
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 2024 data, specifically the 2024 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 59 cities in Maine.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 59 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 eleventh time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Maine and is updated for 2026.
The full plate
Crime By City In Maine
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Dangerous Index | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Augusta | 2.50 | 19,164 | 4,341 | 250 | 4,091 | 1 |
| 2 | Portland | 4.00 | 69,310 | 2,746 | 267 | 2,479 | 5 |
| 3 | Biddeford | 5.00 | 22,310 | 2,662 | 314 | 2,349 | 2 |
| 4 | Bangor | 6.00 | 31,598 | 4,399 | 161 | 4,238 | 5 |
| 5 | Auburn | 6.50 | 25,038 | 2,644 | 216 | 2,428 | 1 |
| 6 | Ellsworth | 7.50 | 8,812 | 2,553 | 204 | 2,349 | 0 |
| 7 | Presque Isle | 8.00 | 8,642 | 2,395 | 220 | 2,175 | 0 |
| 8 | Sanford | 8.50 | 22,345 | 2,784 | 157 | 2,627 | 0 |
| 9 | Skowhegan | 9.00 | 8,700 | 3,851 | 138 | 3,713 | 0 |
| 10 | Waterville | 9.00 | 16,867 | 3,166 | 142 | 3,024 | 3 |
| 11 | Lewiston | 10.00 | 38,850 | 1,773 | 245 | 1,529 | 1 |
| 12 | Rumford | 11.50 | 6,034 | 2,038 | 166 | 1,873 | 0 |
| 13 | Fairfield | 13.50 | 6,557 | 2,318 | 122 | 2,196 | 0 |
| 14 | Westbrook | 15.50 | 20,608 | 1,330 | 175 | 1,155 | 1 |
| 15 | Farmington | 17.00 | 8,727 | 1,535 | 126 | 1,409 | 0 |
| 16 | Rockland | 18.50 | 7,059 | 1,955 | 85 | 1,870 | 0 |
| 17 | Winslow | 20.00 | 8,049 | 1,218 | 149 | 1,068 | 0 |
| 18 | Brunswick | 24.00 | 22,662 | 1,262 | 71 | 1,191 | 0 |
| 19 | Old Orchard Beach | 25.50 | 9,503 | 1,147 | 105 | 1,042 | 0 |
| 20 | South Portland | 25.50 | 26,931 | 1,433 | 63 | 1,370 | 0 |
| 21 | Paris | 26.00 | 5,429 | 1,160 | 74 | 1,087 | 0 |
| 22 | Gardiner | 26.00 | 6,222 | 1,125 | 113 | 1,013 | 1 |
| 23 | Saco | 26.00 | 21,144 | 1,159 | 80 | 1,078 | 0 |
| 24 | Buxton | 27.50 | 8,591 | 1,013 | 116 | 896 | 0 |
| 25 | Houlton | 28.00 | 6,080 | 1,562 | 49 | 1,513 | 0 |
| 26 | Berwick | 28.50 | 8,364 | 921 | 120 | 801 | 0 |
| 27 | Brewer | 29.50 | 9,639 | 1,836 | 41 | 1,795 | 0 |
| 28 | Kittery | 29.50 | 11,031 | 1,233 | 54 | 1,178 | 0 |
| 29 | Bridgton | 30.00 | 5,772 | 1,091 | 69 | 1,022 | 0 |
| 30 | Scarborough | 31.00 | 24,147 | 1,118 | 62 | 1,056 | 0 |
| 31 | North Berwick | 31.50 | 5,275 | 455 | 171 | 284 | 0 |
| 32 | Windham | 32.00 | 20,064 | 847 | 85 | 763 | 0 |
| 33 | Winthrop | 32.50 | 6,224 | 1,173 | 48 | 1,125 | 0 |
| 34 | Freeport | 32.50 | 8,795 | 1,114 | 57 | 1,057 | 0 |
| 35 | Norway | 33.00 | 5,356 | 1,923 | 19 | 1,904 | 0 |
| 36 | Wells | 33.00 | 12,027 | 807 | 83 | 723 | 0 |
| 37 | Bath | 36.00 | 8,871 | 789 | 68 | 721 | 2 |
| 38 | East Millinocket | 36.50 | 6,860 | 889 | 58 | 831 | 0 |
| 39 | Yarmouth | 37.00 | 9,036 | 509 | 89 | 421 | 0 |
| 40 | Kennebunk | 37.50 | 12,040 | 698 | 66 | 631 | 0 |
| 41 | Camden | 39.75 | 5,221 | 1,168 | 0 | 1,168 | 0 |
| 42 | Falmouth | 40.00 | 13,004 | 654 | 62 | 592 | 0 |
| 43 | Oakland | 40.50 | 6,396 | 876 | 47 | 829 | 0 |
| 44 | Old Town | 40.50 | 7,433 | 1,036 | 40 | 996 | 0 |
| 45 | Topsham | 40.50 | 9,814 | 999 | 41 | 958 | 0 |
| 46 | Bucksport | 41.00 | 5,039 | 595 | 60 | 536 | 0 |
| 47 | Waldoboro | 41.00 | 5,378 | 1,041 | 37 | 1,004 | 0 |
| 48 | Lisbon | 45.00 | 9,731 | 668 | 41 | 627 | 0 |
| 49 | York | 45.00 | 14,249 | 505 | 49 | 456 | 0 |
| 50 | Bar Harbor | 49.00 | 7,538 | 504 | 27 | 478 | 0 |
| 51 | Belfast | 50.25 | 7,111 | 633 | 0 | 633 | 0 |
| 52 | Orono | 50.50 | 12,641 | 150 | 47 | 103 | 0 |
| 53 | South Berwick | 51.00 | 7,847 | 446 | 25 | 421 | 0 |
| 54 | Hampden | 52.00 | 8,057 | 484 | 12 | 472 | 0 |
| 55 | Sabattus | 52.50 | 5,161 | 213 | 39 | 174 | 0 |
| 56 | Gorham | 52.50 | 18,344 | 420 | 22 | 398 | 0 |
| 57 | Cape Elizabeth | 55.50 | 9,610 | 187 | 21 | 166 | 0 |
| 58 | Cumberland | 56.25 | 8,845 | 260 | 0 | 260 | 0 |
| 59 | Eliot | 56.75 | 7,511 | 200 | 0 | 200 | 0 |
Source: FBI UCR 2024. 59 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Locking It All Up In Maine
So what is the most dangerous city in Maine? After analyzing 59 cities in Maine, Augusta takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Maine based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Augusta ranks as the most dangerous city in Maine for 2026.
The most dangerous cities in Maine are Augusta, Portland, Biddeford, Bangor, Auburn, Ellsworth, Presque Isle, Sanford, Skowhegan, and Waterville.
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. Not sold on Maine? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Maine FAQs
Is Maine a dangerous state?
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.
Is Portland, ME a dangerous city?
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.
