Portland, ME Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Portland, ME Crime

Is Portland, ME safe?

Yes — Portland earns an overall crime grade of B- and a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A) based on analysis of 18 neighborhoods. Remarkably, 100% of neighborhoods analyzed fall into the safe A or B range: 72.2% (13 neighborhoods) received an A grade, and the remaining 27.8% (5 neighborhoods) received a B grade. Not a single neighborhood scored below a B. Suburbs like Stroudwater (A+), Rosemont (A), and North Deering (A) consistently rank among the safest, while even the comparatively higher-crime areas — East Bayside/India Street and Valley Street — hold a B-, still well within the safe tier. For context, Portland's population of roughly 214,000 and low unemployment rate of 3.3% contribute to a stable environment that keeps crime rates below national norms across virtually every part of the city.

What is the crime rate in Portland, ME?

Portland's crime profile is notably strong for a New England city of its size. Across all 18 analyzed neighborhoods, 72.2% earned an A grade and 27.8% earned a B grade — meaning zero neighborhoods fell into C, D, or F territory. The areas with the highest relative crime levels are East Bayside/India Street (B-), Valley Street (B-), West Bayside (B), and Parkside (B), which tend to see more property-related incidents and minor disturbances typical of denser urban corridors. By contrast, residential neighborhoods like Back Cove (A), Deering Center (A), and Oakdale (A) report very low incident rates. The city's median household income of $61,695 and an unemployment rate of just 3.3% are economic indicators that correlate strongly with Portland's sustained low-crime environment.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Portland, ME?

Thirteen of Portland's 18 analyzed neighborhoods earned an A grade, making the city unusually safe across the board. The top performers are:

• Stroudwater — A+: The city's single A+ neighborhood, with a median household income of $91,176 and a small, tight-knit population of about 661 residents.
• Rosemont — A: Highest median income among analyzed neighborhoods at $94,947, population ~4,560.
• North Deering — A: The largest safe neighborhood by population (~11,421) with a median income of $84,628, demonstrating that safety scales well here even at higher density.
• Deering Center — A: Median income of $83,264, population ~4,250 — a consistently low-crime residential area.
• Back Cove — A: Popular with young professionals, median income $81,270, population ~3,019.
• Oakdale — A: Median income $66,799, showing that A-grade safety isn't limited to the highest-income pockets of the city.
• West End — A: One of Portland's more urban neighborhoods (pop. ~5,849), yet still earns an A despite a lower median income of $47,401 — a testament to strong community cohesion.

Additional A- neighborhoods — East End, Riverton, and Nasons Corner — also maintain excellent safety records with median incomes ranging from $55,338 to $76,467.

Which neighborhoods in Portland, ME have higher crime?

Even Portland's "higher crime" areas remain solidly in the safe range. The five neighborhoods with the most elevated crime grades are:

• East Bayside / India Street — B-: The most urban, mixed-use corridor in the city, where foot traffic and nightlife density contribute to a higher relative incident rate, though still a B-.
• Valley Street — B-: Adjacent to downtown, this neighborhood shares some of the same urban dynamics as East Bayside.
• West Bayside — B: A transitional neighborhood undergoing redevelopment; crime is low but slightly above the city's safest tiers.
• Parkside — B: A densely populated residential area with a B grade, meaning crime remains well-controlled relative to comparable U.S. cities.
• East Deering — B+: The highest-graded of the five "elevated" areas, essentially bridging the gap between B and A territory.

Importantly, a B- is still a safe grade — it simply means these neighborhoods warrant a bit more situational awareness, particularly around property security, compared to Portland's A-rated suburbs.

Is Portland, ME a good place to live?

The data makes a compelling case. Portland's city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A) is backed by hard numbers: 100% of neighborhoods score A or B, unemployment sits at just 3.3%, and the median household income of $61,695 reflects a working economy. The median home value of $304,372 and median rent of $1,204 position Portland as more affordable than many comparable coastal New England cities, while the poverty rate of 13.9% — though worth monitoring — hasn't translated into widespread crime given the strong A and B grade distribution. Families drawn to North Deering or Rosemont will find top-tier safety grades paired with above-average incomes, while renters and young professionals gravitating toward West End or Back Cove enjoy A-grade safety in walkable, amenity-rich settings. Overall, Portland's combination of low crime, low unemployment, and a vibrant cultural scene makes it one of Maine's most livable cities.

How does Portland's crime compare across its 18 neighborhoods?

The spread is remarkably tight. With 72.2% of neighborhoods at an A grade and 27.8% at a B grade, Portland shows almost no crime variation by national standards — the gap between the safest neighborhood (Stroudwater, A+) and the least safe (East Bayside/India Street, B-) is only a few letter grades, not the stark disparities seen in many U.S. cities. Population density plays a role: lower-density areas like Stroudwater (661 residents) and Nasons Corner (~3,927 residents) tend to cluster at the A and A- tier, while denser, more commercially active corridors like East Bayside and Valley Street sit at B-. Even so, no neighborhood crosses into C territory, which speaks to Portland's consistently community-oriented approach to public safety across all 18 analyzed areas.