We can all agree that Maine is the best place in America to call home. It’s also the best place to visit. Between the snowy peaks in the winter, green trails in the summer, and salty air at the coast, there’s a lot to love. That’s why we’ve seen folks moving to Maine in record numbers over the past few years. While we do love it here, we’re not without crime like any other state. The stats have been published and the destinations below are the ones deemed to be the most dangerous cities in Maine. Do we agree with all of them? Probably not. But it is interesting to see what others are seeing when considering a move to Vacationland.

1. Augusta, Kennebec County
Augusta, ME 04330, USA
dougtone / Flickr
Augusta is the third smallest capital city in all of America. And if you've been there it might feel just as small as it sounds. But despite feeling small, it still comes in high for violent crime. In fact, it's second for violent crime in all of Vacationland. A bit surprising given that it's the capital of Maine. Of course, Augusta is also known for its history. Check out these incredible historic landmarks in Augusta, Maine.
2. Skowhegan, Somerset County
Skowhegan, ME 04976, USA
tiarescott / Flickr
This town of under 9,000 people comes in pretty high for property crime. The good news is that violent crime has stayed just about the same over the last two years. Moreover, Skowhegan also has a reputation for being the most haunted town in Maine.
3. Biddeford, York County
Biddeford, ME 04005, USA
davidwilson1949 / Flickr
We mostly know Biddeford as one of southern Maine's most up-and-coming towns, but it's also ranked fairly high in terms of danger. It gets its rank due to its violent crime statistics. In fact, if you're in Biddeford your chances of being a victim are 55% higher than if you're in Augusta.
4. Houlton, Aroostook County
Houlton, ME 04730, USA
dougtone / Flickr
Houlton is another smaller town in northern Maine with a high rank in terms of violence. The contributing factor? It ranks first in the state for violent crime. But as a silver lining, it ranks 13th for property crime.
5. Auburn, Androscoggin County
Auburn, ME 04210, USA
dougtone / Flickr
Auburn has become significantly safer in terms of violent crime over the past few years. In fact, it's seen a 34% reduction in it. But property crime has climbed putting residents at a 1 in 21 chance of being a victim. Of course, there's a lot to appreciate about this town, too. Check out this beautiful Maine riverwalk.

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6. Bangor, Penobscot County
Bangor, ME 04401, USA
Patrick Kinney / Flickr
Larger cities do tend to have larger crime issues, but Bangor comes in high in a variety of ways. Residents here have a 1 in 24 chance of being the victim of theft and property crime has gone up about 10%. That being said, Bangor is undoubtedly one of the coolest places to live in Maine.
7. Rumford, Oxford County
Rumford, ME 04276, USA
Bill Brine / Flickr
Rumford really isn't all that bad if you compare it to the others on this list. In fact, you'll have only a 1 in 439 chance of being the victim of violent crime if you live here. Property crime is dropping too, so keep watching this one. It might land on a totally different (and more positive!) list next year. In fact, we included it on our scenic waterfall loop in Maine.
8. Waterville, Kennebec County
Waterville, ME, USA
romanboed / Flickr
There's good news and bad news about Waterville. First, violent crime has gone down by about 10% in the last two years. But, unfortunately, property crime has increased by more than 20% during that same time period. Nevertheless, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more charming town in Maine.
9. Sanford, York County
Sanford, ME, USA
topazz1963 / Flickr
While property crime has been pretty stagnant in Sanford, violent crime has increased by about 25% in the last two years. If you do visit, be sure to check out the local restaurant that's been open for nearly 100 years.
10. Portland, Cumberland County
Portland, ME, USA
Michael Stokes / Flickr
Portland is the most populated city in the state, so it's not surprising that it's on this list. But, overall it's not so bad. Violent crime has gone down by about 7% in the last two years and property crime has stayed about the same. Statistics aside, there really is a lot to love about Portland, Maine.

We recommend you see as much of the state as possible before making any final decisions about where you want to call home. For methodology on how this list was created, visit Roadsnacks. And you might want to take a look at some other lists. Here are the 10 best cities in Maine to raise a family. And here are the 10 happiest cities in Maine. Do you agree that the above list showcases the most dangerous cities in Maine? Be sure to share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you!

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most dangerous cities in Maine

Beth C. | July 29, 2022

What are the most charming small towns in Maine?

Now that we've learned about some of the more dangerous places in Maine, it's time to turn our focus toward something more positive: Maine's delightful small towns. Vacationland is known for its collection of must-visit small towns and each seems to offer its own unique experience. We'd start the list with none other than Searsport. The second-largest deep-water port in the state, this beloved destination is also home to the idyllic Moose Point State Park. When you visit this town, you'll find yourself immersed in gorgeous scenery and fascinating maritime history. In fact, in the 19th century alone, this town built over 200 ships!

Next up on our list of the most charming small towns to visit in Maine would be Brooklin. This town developed as a fishing and seafaring place, and much of that identity is still present today. Other small towns in Maine worth checking out include Rockport in Knox County, Port Clyde in Knox County, Stonington in Hancock County, Phippsburg in Sagadahoc County, Andover in Oxford County, Stratton in Franklin County, Sebac in Piscataquis County, Hartland in Somerset County, and Kennebunkport in York County. Have you visited any of these delightful locales?

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