ME · 2 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Maine
Maine recorded 103 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024, 72% below the national rate and down 10% since 2022. We cover Portland and Lewiston. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
FBI data · 2024
Most dangerous cities in Maine, ranked
The 2 Maine cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 2 of 2 run above the state average of 103. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland2025 | 251 | 1,943 | 69,840 |
| 2 | Lewiston | 245 | 1,704 | 38,850 |
| Maine average | 103 | |||
| US average | 363 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2024 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Maine crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Maine?
Of the 2 Maine cities in our ranking, Portland has the highest violent crime rate: 251 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.6 times the state average. Lewiston comes next. Even in Portland, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Portland guide shows which ones.
Is Maine safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Maine recorded 103 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024, 72% below the national rate of 363. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 2 city guides cover them block by block.
Is crime going up or down in Maine?
Violent crime in Maine went from 106 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 95 in 2025, down 10%. Property crime went from 1,234 to 961 over 2022–2025, down 22%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.