Maine’s Safest Cities of 2025

Cathy Habas
Cathy Habas
Mar 17, 2025
Icon Time To Read4 min read
Icon CheckEdited ByKit Smith
Icon CheckData Analysis ByDaniel Delgado

For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to write unbiased, human reviews (not robots). Learn more.

11th annual Safest Cities report banner

Here are the 10 Safest Cities in Maine for 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

Maine residents remain less concerned about crime and safety in general compared to the rest of the country, but fewer survey respondents feel safe in The Pine Tree State this year. Mainers went from experiencing the least amount of gun violence nationwide to reporting the fourth highest level on our State of Safety survey, so they may have good reason to feel a little wary. 

Fortunately, crime rates are still incredibly low in many areas of Maine. Three of this year's safest cities reported zero violent crime incidents, and the average violent crime rate for all 10 cities was 0.2 incidents per 1,000 people. 

In this report

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NOTE: If your city is missing from our full report, it means that it was below the population threshold or didn’t submit a complete crime report to the FBI in 2023.

Do people feel safe in Maine? Survey insights for 2025

Bar chart comparing how safe Maine residents feel, with 62% feeling safe versus the 48% national average.

Bar chart comparing how safe Maine residents feel, with 62% feeling safe versus the 48% national average. Image: SafeWise

We didn't have enough data to accurately calculate statewide crime rates for our 2025 report, but our annual State of Safety survey helps us understand trends across The Pine Tree State. 

About 62% of Mainers feel safe in the state, which is the fifth highest percentage nationwide. However, this represents an 8-point drop year over year. An alarming number of Mainers told us their gun violence experiences increased in the 8 months prior to our survey, and this may help explain the drop in overall confidence. 

Still, Maine residents worry less about crime across the board compared to national averages, and a higher percentage worries about package theft (49%) than gun violence (46%) and property crime (42%).

Find safety and security resources in Maine.

Property crime in Maine: Fear vs. reality

Property crime concerns and experiences decreased slightly year over year in Maine. Worries about package theft also decreased slightly even though more Mainers experienced package theft compared to the previous year. 

  • 26% of Mainers experienced a property crime in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 28% the previous year (US 27%).
  • Concern about property crime fell from 44% to 42% among the Mainers who took our survey (US 54%).
  • Mainers are the fifth least likely to worry about property crime in the US. 
  • 33% told us they experienced a package theft in the 8 months prior to the survey—four points lower than the national average and two points higher than the previous year. 
  • Concerns about package theft dropped from 50% to 49% year over year (US 52%).
  • Nearly 4 in 10 (39%) of Maine respondents told us they increased their security measures in the 8 months prior to the survey.
  • Mainers prefer to protect their property with security cameras (48%), guard dogs (32%), and firearms (30%).
"There have been many break-ins in my area this past year. It does worry me that I might not be safe in my house."
—Maine resident*

What security measures are used most in Maine?

Top security measures used in Maine: security cameras, firearms, and guard dogs, compared to national trends.

Top security measures used in Maine: security cameras, firearms, and guard dogs, compared to national trends. Image: SafeWise

What crimes are Maine residents concerned about most?

Bar chart of top crime concerns in Maine, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates.

Bar chart of top crime concerns in Maine, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates. Image: SafeWise

Violent crime in Maine: Fear vs. reality

Maine residents feel more concerned about violent crime year over year. Their first-hand experiences with violent crime also increased.

  • 52% of Maine respondents said they worry about violent crime on a daily basis, up from 36% the previous year (US 59%).
  • The percentage of Mainers who experienced violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey increased from 12% to 14% year over year.
  • Mainers report the same level of violent crime experience as the average American.
  • 32% of Maine residents use some form of personal protection (US 35%).
  • Mainers prefer to protect themselves with pepper spray (21%) and firearms (11%). Pocket knives and stun guns tie for third at 10% each. 
"My biggest concern is hate crimes against me or my family or our property."
—Maine resident*

Attitudes about gun violence in Maine

  • The percentage of Mainers who experienced gun violence increased dramatically from 5% to 18% year over year.
  • In our last report, Mainers reported the lowest level of gun violence experience in the nation. In this year's report, Mainers were the fourth most likely Americans to experience gun violence.
  • Only residents of Georgia, Louisiana, and Kentucky reported higher levels of gun violence experience than Mainers.
  • There were zero mass shooting incidents in Maine in 2024, down from two the year before.
"I worry that mass shootings have been happening all over the country, even a few times in my own state. I wonder what Maine town will be in the news next."
—Maine resident*

*Quotes collected from our latest State of Safety survey.

Bell
New gun safety legislation passed in Maine

On April 18, 2024, lawmakers in Maine took bold steps to enhance gun safety following the tragic shooting in October 2023. Background checks, waiting periods, and mental health initiatives lead the charge. Learn more in our full article.

A closer look at the safest cities in Maine

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

  • Last year's second safest city, Cape Elizabeth, rose to #1 this year.
  • Oakland jumped 13 positions to land at #8.
  • Three cities reported zero violent crimes: Cape Elizabeth, Eliot, and Hampden.
  • Maine's 10 safest cities reported zero murders.
  • The safest cities reported a combined total of two robberies, both of which occurred in Falmouth
  • Eliot was the only city to report zero burglaries.
  • Violent crime decreased year over year in all but two of Maine's safest cities.

The 10 safest cities in Maine

Map of the safest cities in Maine for 2025, listing top 10 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data.

Map of the safest cities in Maine for 2025, listing top 10 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data. Image: SafeWise

Cape Elizabeth, Maine
#1
Cape Elizabeth
(
+1
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    9,601
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.0, 0.1, 0.4
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.6, 2.8, 0.6
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Eliot, Maine
#2
Eliot
(
+1
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    7,369
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.0, 0.1, 0.1
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.8, 2.5, 3.1
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#3
Orono
(
+3
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    11,296
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.2, 0.4, 0.3
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    2.4, 3.7, 6.2
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#4
Cumberland
(
-3
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    8,664
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.2, 0.0, 0.4
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    2.5, 2.1, 3.0
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#5
Hampden
(
-1
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    7,964
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.0, 0.1, 0.0
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    6.0, 5.1, 6.4
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
South Berwick, Maine
#6
South Berwick
(
+2
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    7,768
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.3, 0.5, 0.7
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    3.6, 3.3, 4.6
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#7
Gorham
(
+3
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    17,506
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.2, 0.4, 0.3
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    4.1, 4.9, 3.9
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Oakland, Maine
#8
Oakland
(
+13
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    6,364
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.3, 0.8, 0.5
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    4.9, 7.6, 6.6
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Falmouth, Maine
#9
Falmouth
(
+2
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    13,057
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.3, 0.3, 0.1
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    6.7, 7.3, 5.4
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Map of York, Maine, one of the safest cities in 2025, showing its location.
#10
York
(
+6
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    14,132
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.4, 0.6, 0.4
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    6.0, 6.5, 7.3
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

How we determined the safest cities

Learn how we identified the safest cities on our methodology page.

How to make a safe home anywhere

Over 6 in 10 Americans surveyed don't have a home security system, despite over 50% of all burglaries being residential. Unfortunately, a majority of people who have a security system added it after they had a break-in. One of the best ways to stop a burglary before it happens—and get immediate help if a break-in is detected—is to add a monitored home security system.

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Get a home security system

Find out which companies we recommend for every budget and lifestyle in our roundup of the best security systems—and learn the basics of how to choose a security system

Compare top security systems

Brand
Installation type
Self-monitoring option
Monthly cost Icon Tooltip  Dark
Contract required
Learn more
SimpliSafe
DIY
Icon Yes  LightYes
No
Vivint
Pro
Icon No  LightNo
No *
Cove
DIY
Icon No  LightNo
No *
ADT Shield
Pro
Icon No  LightNo
Yes

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Full ADT disclaimer

Find the safest cities in each state

Click on the state below to check out the safest cities for each state.

Find all endnotes and sources in our full methodology.

FBI Crime Data Explorer, "Documents & Downloads." Accessed March 17, 2025.

  • 2023 Crime in the United States Annual Reports
    • Offenses Known to Law Enforcement
  • 2023 NIBRS Estimation Tables

Bureau of Justice Statistics, "National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Gun Violence Archive, "Mass Shootings." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Cathy Habas
Written by
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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