Maine is known for its rocky Atlantic Coast and frigid waters.
With a state-wide population of 1.35 million, the Pine Tree State has much to offer.
Residents enjoy ample fishing, fresh Maine lobster, outdoor hiking trails, the black-capped chickadee, 228 miles of rugged coastline, and more than 40,000 acres of wild blueberries.
Maine has ranked consistently as the safest state in the country.
And only 34% of Mainers say they feel a daily concern for their safety.
One contributing factor to the decline of Maine’s crime statistics is the ongoing involvement of city and state governments in protecting its citizens.
Maine’s violent crime rate landed at 1.1 reported this year—the lowest in the United States.
The state’s property crime rate was 11.6, much lower than the national rate of 19.6.
Larceny-theft accounted for 82% of property crimes.
Aggravated assaults accounted for 54% of violent crimes.
And with the lowest property crime and violent crime rates, travel around Maine is relatively safe.
While crime rates in some Maine cities are worth noting, these are the top safest cities in Maine.
Kennebunk
There are many things to do in this town of 12,000 residents.
Kennebunk has a vibrant art scene, boutique shopping, and miles of coastal hiking trails.
The median household income hovers around $75,517.
According to the FBI statistics, Kennebunk beat out Cumberland as the safest city in Maine, with no violent crimes, no murders, or no car thefts reported.
The majority of crimes within the small New England city were property crimes and theft.
Cumberland
Cumberland is a mid-sized Atlantic coast city located on Casco Bay.
The area is known for its historical architecture and harsh winters.
The city’s cost of living is 21.8% higher than the national average, and the median income of the town’s residents is $102,300.
Previously the safest city in Maine for several years, Cumberland has recently seen a slight uptick, less than 1%, in violent crimes and a .5% rise in property crimes.
Cumberland is part of the Portland metro complex, which also has seen an overall increase in crime.
Cape Elizabeth
Cape Elizabeth sits 63 feet above sea level at the tip of the cape.
It is part of the Portland Metroplex and home to over 9,400 residents.
In the past couple of years, the city’s population has increased by almost 2%.
Cape Elizabeth’s cost of living is 26.1% higher than the U.S. average, with the Median Income standing at $123,000.
This small town has also seen a very slight uptick in violent crimes, including assault, over the past two years, but a decrease in property crimes yearly.
Crime in Cape Elizabeth is over two-thirds lower than the national average.
Hampden
Hampden is the fourth safest city in Maine.
According to reported crime statistics, violent crimes have declined to zero.
Property crimes have also dropped a full basis point over the past year.
This overall decline in crime is good news for this Central Maine city with a population of 7,428 and a Median Income level of $86,071.
Part of the Bangor metroplex, the cost of living in Hampden is 9.5% less than the national average.
The city is an industrial paper manufacturing hub located on the Penobscot River.
Forests of wild pine trees surround the town, and it sits just 30 miles from the “Down East” coast.
Eliot
Eliot is part of Southern Maine on the Atlantic Coast.
Almost 7,000 residents live in this York County port town, where it is 13.9% more expensive to live than the national average.
Eliot is a quaint historic sea town known as the Old Port, where the Median Income sits around $79,835 while the Median Home Price is $451,900.
Residents have actively worked to better their downtown area, creating an active commercial, restaurant, and entertainment district.
With the downtown revitalization, Eliot has seen violent crime drop by 70% over the past year, while property crime, especially theft, has increased by 1 %.
Gorham
The population of Gorham, some 18,167 residents, has grown by over 6.7% within the past two years.
A young city with an average of 38, Gorham’s Median Income hovers around $84,767.
And it remains more expensive to live in this coastal sea town – 7.5% above the national average.
However, the daily commute is two minutes less than the rest of the country at 26.4 minutes.
Despite the population increase, both the violent crime rate and the property crime rate have declined in the past year.
Violent crimes are down 1%, and property crimes, mostly theft, are down by over 40%.
Falmouth
Falmouth is a small town in Cumberland County with 12,444 Mainers.
It sits halfway between Bath and Dover, Maine, directly on the coast, and offers residents and visitors several public beaches to complement hiking trails.
In this picturesque town, the resident median income averages $121,285 while the average home price is $660,500.
Not surprisingly, Falmouth’s cost of living is 33.0% higher than the U.S. average.
However, the unemployment rate is one-third of the national average.
Falmouth is another Maine city that has improved in safety over the past several years.
Except for a doubling of property crimes reported to the FBI in 2021, both violent and property crimes have dropped over the past year.
And both rates are well below the national average.
Belfast
This quaint New England town sits at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River estuary.
Nestled between Belfast Bay and Penobscot Bay, Belfast is a popular tourist destination.
The city has a thriving, eclectic artist society and a historic downtown district that complements a solid natural good and sea-to-table market community.
Belfast’s population is roughly 6,700. And it is 8.0% less expensive to live there than the U.S. average.
The most recent reported violent crime rate was zero.
However, the property crime rate increased by about 25% over the past year, primarily because of reported thefts.
This crime increase would account for a slight downward trend in the city’s safety rating.
Oakland
Oakland is a rising star in Vacation Land – a regional name for Maine.
Over the past couple of years, it has risen upward 20 places in the safety rankings.
And over the past year, according to FBI crime statistics, both violent crimes and property crimes have decreased dramatically.
Violent crimes have dropped to 2%, while property theft has been reduced by 30%.
An average home in Oakland, Maine, costs approximately $240,800.
There is plenty to do in a city of 6,300 residents.
The primitive trailhead sits at the mouth of Messalonskee Lake and Stream and is a popular spot for area residents.
Gardiner
Gardiner is part of the Agusta Metroplex in Kennebec County.
This small Maine community has worked hard to increase its safety – jumping into the top ten safest cities in Maine for the first time.
The FBI reported crimes for Gardiner to show a 40% drop in violent crimes but only a 1.4% drop in property crimes annually.
However, both these rates are well below the national average.
Gardiner has a relatively young population – averaging 38 years, with a median income of $49,627.
It is also 16% less expensive to live in Gardiner than the national average.
According to recent census data, the small city’s population of 5700 residents has declined by 3.8% in the past couple of years.
And despite its iconic 19th-century architecture, including a national accreditation as a Main Street America community, the city remains a small New England town.
5 Safety Tips for Traveling to Maine
Let the people you trust know the details of your travel plans.
Consider sending pictures of non-traditional lodging and transportation.
Keep things general when posting information on the internet.
Consider posting vacation pictures after you have left a city or returned home.
Back up critical financial data.
When traveling, save copies of your payment methods to a secondary device.
If your phone is lost, you can still access your data.
Copy emergency information.
Make a physical copy of credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, passport, and birth certificate.
Lock up valuables.
Have an extra wallet.
Use a safe bolted down to store jewelry or electronics when out of your room.
If there is no in-room safe, consider using the hotel safe.
Maine Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Maine Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is a crime committed in Maine?
A crime occurs on average in Maine every 16 minutes.
Maine has seen its crime numbers go down for the 9th year in a row.
While according to national crime statistics, the United States average is 83% higher than in Maine.
What is the most dangerous city to visit in Maine?
The most dangerous city in Maine to visit is the nation’s third-smallest state capital, Agusta.
According to FBI statistics for 2020, 19,000 city residents have a high chance of becoming victims of violent crime.
With a one in thirty probability of being robbed in Augusta – four times the state average.
Overall, there were 692 crimes reported in the city in the past year.
The majority were property crimes – larceny.
What is the safest city in Maine for women?
Women’s traveler’s risk in Maine is low.
The state ranks as one of the best places in the United States for women to travel.
With small towns and minimal population, general safety for women and solo travelers is a priority.
