Safety
Maine’s crime rate rose 6% in 2022 but remains one of the very lowest in the nation.
Unfavorable movement since the last available data
Benchmark: Maine’s crime rate will remain 33% or more below the U.S. rate through 2030.
Overview
Maine’s crime rate in 2022, 13.2 per 1,000 residents, was 44% below the national average and third lowest of the 50 states. This is likely due in part to the age of Maine’s population, since criminal offenses decline with age. There was a 7.6% increase in property crimes in 2022, but Maine’s property crime rate was still about 1/3 below the national average (12.1 per 1,000 residents compared to 19.5 nationally). Violent crimes continued to fall and were 73% below the U.S. average.
Crime rates measure physical safety, an important aspect of quality of life. Crime is costly to individuals and impacts communities by depressing property values, discouraging investment, and increasing insurance premiums. The crime rate includes data on larceny, burglary, aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, rape, robbery, arson, and murder.
Fig. A
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Reported Crimes per 1,000 People
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation