CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
C-

Is Waterville, Maine Safe?

Population 17,579 · Safer than 29% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 17,579, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Waterville earns a C- with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,736 per 100K.

Waterville Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWatervilleMaine AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate340.6248.0363.8
Property Crime Rate1963.31912.81,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate218.0--268.2
Theft Rate1736.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate202.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

230.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

341/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1963/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Waterville

Violent crime in Waterville is close to the national average. The rate of 340.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1963.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,736 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Waterville Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault218
081% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery77
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary314
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,736
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft202
063% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Waterville Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waterville
340.6
State
248.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waterville
1963.3
State
1912.8
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterville Safety

Is Waterville safe?
Not especially. Waterville earns a C- with a crime rate of 230.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Waterville?
230.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 340.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1963.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Waterville safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Waterville's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,736 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Waterville?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Waterville generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Waterville police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Waterville?
Crime rates have held steady in Waterville, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C- grade.
How does Waterville compare to other cities in Maine?
Below average for the state. Waterville ranks behind about 69% of Maine cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Waterville to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Waterville?
Bad. A C- grade and 230.4 per-thousand rate put Waterville below 71% of US cities. Violent crime at 341 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Waterville?
340.6 per 100,000, which is 6% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (218), robbery (77), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Maine

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

C+
See crime rates in Augusta19,155 pop · Grade C+
C+
See crime rates in Saco21,159 pop · Grade C+
C+
See crime rates in Westbrook21,565 pop · Grade C+
C-
See crime rates in Biddeford22,399 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in Sanford22,663 pop · Grade C
D+
See crime rates in Auburn25,441 pop · Grade D+
View all Maine city safety grades

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

Get weekly safety updates for Waterville

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities