The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities in Maine

Property and Violent Crime Rates in Maine Cities

Despite the state’s low population, some cities in Maine have property crime totals in the thousands. Just two years ago, a devastating mass shooting in the town of Lewiston left 18 people dead and 13 others wounded.² Meanwhile, other Maine cities have experienced considerably less crime. For instance, according to FBI and Census data, the town of Kittery has only 10 violent crimes per the 10,784 people that live there.³

What makes some of Maine’s cities safer than others? Let’s look at the data to understand why the Pine Tree State has less crime and how, even as one of the safest states in the country, Maine’s cities still have their fair share of felonies.

Maine’s Safest Cities

• Kittery: Located near the Piscataqua River Bridge and bordering New Hampshire, Kittery isn’t only low in violent crime, it’s also a first stop for many travelers visiting Maine. Kittery’s low violent crime rates could be attributed to its aging and relatively high-income populations. According to research from the U.S. Department of Justice, younger people with lower incomes are more likely to report being a victim of violent crime than older, higher-income individuals.⁴ In Kittery, Census data indicates that about 27.4 percent of the population is over 65 and the median household income is $85,457 ($4,847 above the national average). Given Kittery’s population makeup, it makes sense that the city has so few violent crimes, even while thousands of people live there.
• Orono: FBI and Census data indicate that Orono has just 18 violent crimes per its population of 12,253. Unlike Kittery, Orono’s population is younger, with many attending the University of Maine. While research has found that college towns tend to have higher crime rates,⁵ Orono’s low violent crime might have more to do with the city’s geography than its student population. At 20 square miles, Orono is bisected by the Stillwater River and forests cover much of its land. Its geography doesn’t support a vibrant nightlife — Orono has fewer bars, clubs and event venues than a typical college town. As a result, many University of Maine students may choose to socialize or live off campus in the larger neighboring city of Bangor, which could contribute to Orono’s low violent crime rates.
• Washburn: Fellow Mainers may not be surprised to read that, according to FBI and World Population Review data, Washburn has 66 property crimes per 1,519 people living there.⁶ Washburn is a part of Aroostook County, which is often referred to as “The County.” The County is known to take up the largest land area in Maine yet has a small and dwindling population. This is due to the region’s frigid temperatures and the decline of lumber and potato farming industries. Also, much like the rest of the state, many living in The County are older. Per the World Population Review, Washburn has 346 seniors living there and the population is declining by a rate of 0.07 percent each year. While low on crime, Washburn represents a more significant trend of population scarcity and aging populations in The County and Maine overall.
• Eastport: A befitting name, Eastport is the easternmost city in the U.S.⁷ The FBI’s and World Population Review’s data found that the city has 77 property crimes per population of 1,310. Similar to Washburn, the low property crime rates in Eastport can be attributed to low population density, an aging population (528 of the 1,310 people who live in Eastport are seniors) and cold temperatures. Eastport is also an island, making it more geographically isolated than other cities and contributing to its low population numbers.

Maine’s Most Dangerous Cities

• Biddeford: Famously a residence of former President George H.W. Bush, Biddeford touts one of Maine's highest violent crime rates. According to FBI and Census data, Biddeford has 326 violent crimes per 22,367 people living there. This is likely due to the University of New England in Biddeford and college towns tending to have more violent crime. Although Biddeford has a high number of violent crimes relative to other Maine cities, the town also has a larger population, which likely accounts for its high crime rate.
• Lewiston: Like Biddeford, Lewiston has a larger population than most cities in Maine, which correlates with its higher violent crime rate. According to FBI and World Population Review data, Lewiston has 321 violent crimes per 38,404 residents. Bates College is also located in Lewiston, making it another Maine college town with high violent crime. The Lewiston shooting in 2023 also added to the city's violent crime numbers.
• Bangor: Given Orono’s small size and geography, many University of Maine students rely on the nightlife of the neighboring city of Bangor. According to FBI and Census data, this could account for the city’s 4,013 property crimes among a population of 31,628. Bangor has also felt the impact of the shuttered lumber industry in Maine, leading to key establishments in the area remaining abandoned and empty. For instance, most Bangor Mall stores are closed or about to be shut down. Research has shown that vacant or unsecured buildings like the Bangor Mall are 1.8 times more likely to get theft calls to the police.⁸ This likely accounts for the higher amounts of property crime in the area.
• Augusta: Being the capital of Maine, Augusta also has a high population and, subsequently, higher property crime rates. According to FBI and Census data, the city has 4,226 property crimes per 19,102 people. Like Bangor, Augusta has several abandoned business buildings in its downtown area that may also contribute to its higher property crime rates.

Statewide Crime Trends in Maine

Violent and property crime in Maine ranks well below the national average and, per FBI data, is decreasing yearly by 0.8 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively. While this might seem like a breath of fresh air for the state, the reason behind this decline paints a less optimistic picture.

Maine’s rapidly aging population likely contributes to its low crime rates and could have dire consequences for the state. With many of its residents being 65 and older, Maine will have fewer people eligible to work and support its economy. This could become problematic in the future when considering the depletion of Maine’s core industries, such as lumber, fishing and potato farming. Without an eligible workforce and viable industry, the state’s economy will end up paying the price.

To avoid the economic fallout of an aging workforce and to attract new industries to the state, Governor Janet Mills has created incentives for students to attend college in Maine. This includes a free community college program that incentivizes students from within and outside of Maine to attend college and live in the state. While this would be a solution for Maine’s economy, the increase in younger people moving to or staying in Maine may lead to higher crime rates.

An increasing immigrant population may also provide a much-needed boost to Maine’s economy. So far, people moving to Maine from other countries have helped support lobstering and fishing as locals age out of the industry.⁹ While immigrants in America have historically been blamed for increased crime, research from Stanford University indicates the opposite — immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than Americans born in the U.S.¹⁰

There’s no denying that Maine is a beautiful state to live in and visit. It means encouraging younger people to live and work in Maine to keep this glorious state thriving and to strengthen its economy. While this shift could lead to a rise in crime, it may be a necessary risk that Mainers must be willing to face or work proactively to prevent. Otherwise, it could prove disastrous for the state’s economy and the rapidly aging population currently living there.

Where Our Crime Data Comes From

Unless specified otherwise, the information in this article is based on crime data compiled by the FBI and made available through the Crime Data Explorer. Statewide violent and property crime statistics are drawn from the FBI’s 2023 Crime in the United States Report (Table 5), while metro area data comes from Table 6, which breaks down offenses by metropolitan statistical areas. For city-level crime rates, we referred to Table 8, which lists reported offenses by state and city.