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C

Is Portland, Maine Safe?

Population 69,911 · Safer than 33% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Portland, Maine sits below average for US cities. The C grade comes from a 218.9 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime well below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,670 per 100K.

Portland Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPortlandMaine AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate214.4248.0363.8
Property Crime Rate1974.51912.81,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate179.0--268.2
Theft Rate1670.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate477.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

218.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

214/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1975/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Portland

Violent crime in Portland is well below the national average. The rate of 214.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1974.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,670 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Portland Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault179
067% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery54
085% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary352
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,670
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft477
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Portland Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portland
214.4
State
248.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portland
1974.5
State
1912.8
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portland Safety

Is Portland safe?
Not especially. Portland earns a C with a crime rate of 218.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs well below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Portland?
218.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 214.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1974.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Portland safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Portland's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,670 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Portland?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Portland generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Portland police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Portland?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Portland's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Portland compare to other cities in Maine?
Middle of the pack for Maine. Portland isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 43th percentile among Maine cities.
How safe is Portland to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is well below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Portland?
Bad. A C grade and 218.9 per-thousand rate put Portland below 67% of US cities. Violent crime at 214 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Portland?
214.4 per 100,000, which is 41% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (179), robbery (54), and murder (2.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Maine

Similar-sized communities in Maine. Compare crime rates across the state.

C
See crime rates in Lewiston38,866 pop · Grade C
D+
See crime rates in Bangor32,518 pop · Grade D+
C
See crime rates in South Portland27,007 pop · Grade C
D+
See crime rates in Auburn25,441 pop · Grade D+
C
See crime rates in Sanford22,663 pop · Grade C
C-
See crime rates in Biddeford22,399 pop · Grade C-
View all Maine city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Portland

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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