Safest Cities in Maine: A Latest Safety Ranking

Maine is famous for its rugged coastline and beautiful fall foliage. But is it a safe place to live? In this article, we are going to give you a list of the top 10 safest cities in Maine with reference to current crime statistics. We will also review Maine's crime statistics and, as a bonus, offer some advice on staying safe in Maine and answer some of the most frequently asked safety questions about the safest city in Maine.

Is Maine Safe?

Maine is relatively safe. Maine is among the lowest violent crime and property crime rates in the U.S. The odds of becoming the victim of a violent crime in Maine are 1 in 211 and nationally at 1 in 82. Maine's property crime rate is about half the nation's average.

Maine ought to sit pretty high on your list if you are looking for a safe place to settle down. But read on to find one of the 10 safest places to live in Maine according to the most recent FBI crime data.

Top 10 Safest Cities in Maine

Here are the 10 safest towns in Maine that provide the most security and peace of mind:

Cumberland

Cumberland is a beautiful town that accommodates a population of 8616 residents. It is the safest town in Maine – you hardly ever get to know about anyone being robbed or assaulted over there. By 2024, the violent crime rate became zero, and the property crime rate was 2.1. Crimes such as theft are still very minimal and actually remain really low.

Cape Elizabeth

Cape Elizabeth is another great place, home to approximately 9,500 people. You will hardly ever witness any act of violence – we are talking about one or two cases per year at most. Well, yes, they get the odd cycle stolen or window smashed, with a property crime rate of 2.8.

Eliot

In Eliot, about 7,000 people appreciate the peaceful atmosphere. You can walk around with no worries at all – major crimes are extremely rare. The violent crime rate is 0.1, and the property crime rate is 2.5.

Hampden

Hampden is another sweet spot with a population of approximately 8,000 people who can live without much fuss. Dangerous crimes? Almost never! They do handle some theft and vandals, but not of the sort that gives people nightmares at night. It has a violent crime rate of 0.7.

Belfast

Belfast is a small city with a population of 7,000 people, but it is quite tranquil. There is almost no violence there. It gets a few more minor offenses, but it is doing alright with those. Those numbers are going down every year. The property crime rate in 2024 was 6.1.

Orono

Orono, with a population of almost 12,000, has a slightly different story. Though crime in general is very low, it is slightly higher than in other small towns with serious crimes. For example, it has a violent crime index of 0.4.

Kennebunk

Kennebunk, with a population of about 12000, remains mostly composed throughout. Very few violent crimes ever take place here – in fact, in one year, they had no violent crime at all! Smaller crimes don’t really fluctuate much; there isn’t much of a change or increase in that area. The property crime rate is 5.7.

South Berwick

There are a few more issues in South Berwick compared to some other places, but it is still very safe. Their minor crime statistics are also improving, and their violent crime rate is 0.5.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor, a small coastal town home to about 7,500 people, had one messy period but quickly got back on its feet. Now, it is very promising, with only a few problems from time to time, such as a property crime rate of 5.1.

Gorham

Then there is Gorham – the largest town of the lot, with a population of over eighteen thousand people. It is, however, incredibly small, and yet it remains one of the most peaceful places. Whether it is a serious or minor issue, the numbers are still very low and constant. The violent crime rate in Gorham in 2024 was 0.4, and the property crime rate was 4.9.

Criteria for Ranking the Safest Cities in Maine

To produce our safety ranking, we relied on the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Reporting statistics (2020-2022). Specifically, we analyzed violent crime rates and property crime rates for Maine cities with at least 7,000 residents.

For each type of crime, we calculated the number of offenses per 1,000 city residents. Cities were ranked from 1 to 10 for both violent and property crime rates over the past three years.

Crime Rate in Maine’s Cities

While Maine is generally safe compared to other states, some concerning Maine crime rate trends have emerged in recent years based on FBI data:

• Experiences with property crime increased year over year, with 28% of Maine respondents reporting a run-in during the 12 months prior to the survey (US 27%)
• Reported experience with violent crime rose from 9% in last year's report to 12%.
• Nearly 3 in 10 (29%) Maine respondents use a firearm to help protect their home (US 28%).

How to Stay Safe in Maine Cities

While the safest places to live in Maine rank favorably for public safety compared to other states, residents should still exercise reasonable precautions. Here are tips for staying secure in the Pine Tree State:

Lock Doors

Locking doors and windows, even when leaving briefly, is a simple way to deter opportunistic burglars. Make sure sheds and garages also stay locked when not in use. Nearly a third of break-ins in Maine happen through unlocked entryways.

Neighborhood Watch

Getting to know neighbors and looking out for suspicious activity can enhance safety block by block. Consider launching a neighborhood watch program on your street. Additional eyes and ears never hurt when trying to protect homes.

Install Security Cameras

Surveillance cameras help corroborate crime reports and may discourage trespassers. Positioning cameras to capture approaches to entryways tends to provide useful evidence for police investigations.

Are you looking for a new security camera for your home in Maine? Consider the new Reolink Duo 3 WiFi with a 16MP UHD resolution and a 180-degree field of view!

Seek Local Safety Resources

Most Maine cities and towns provide public safety tips for residents. Sign up for email alerts and check municipal websites regularly for updated guidance. Local law enforcement also typically offers home safety audits upon request.

FAQs

What city in Maine has the lowest crime rate?

Based on our analysis of recent FBI crime statistics, Cumberland has the lowest crime rate in Maine. This affluent Portland suburb sees almost no violent crime annually. Property crimes are also less common in Cumberland than in other cities in the state.

Where does Maine rank for safety?

Maine has the second-lowest violent crime rate and fourth-lowest property crime rate of all 50 states. Only Vermont edges out Maine when it comes to violent crime rates. So Maine ranks among the top 5 safest states in America overall.

Is New Hampshire safer than Maine?

Maine and New Hampshire have nearly identical violent crime rates. However, New Hampshire's property crime rate is significantly higher. So, Maine is generally regarded as a somewhat safer state than its neighbor to the south.

Conclusion

With miles of coastline and abundant natural areas, Maine offers a great quality of life. And residents can enjoy the state’s beauty with real peace of mind. According to recent FBI data, Maine has among the lowest crime rates nationwide.

We crunched the numbers to rank Cumberland, Cape Elizabeth, Eliot, Hampden, and Belfast as this year's five safest cities in Maine. What Maine cities would you nominate as safe places to live? Let us know in the comments below!