Portland, ME Crime Map

Portland, ME Crime Map & Neighborhood Safety Ratings

Portland, Maine — home to 213,986 residents — carries an overall crime grade of B-, yet that city-wide figure tells only part of the story. Across the 18 neighborhoods analyzed for this report, the city-wide safety rating climbs to a Very Safe (A), driven by the fact that 72.2% of neighborhoods earned an A grade and the remaining 27.8% landed at a B. Not a single neighborhood scored a C, D, or F. In practical terms, every corner of Portland falls into the broadly safe category, a distinction that sets it apart from most American cities of comparable size.

Safest Neighborhoods in Portland

At the top of the safety rankings sits Stroudwater, a small community of 661 residents with a median household income of $91,176 and the only A+ grade in the city. Close behind are Rosemont (Grade A, median income $94,947), North Deering (Grade A, median income $84,628), and Deering Center (Grade A, median income $83,264) — three neighborhoods that combine strong economic indicators with consistently low crime rates. Back Cove also earns a solid A with a median income of $81,270. Notably, West End achieves a Grade A despite a median income of $47,401, well below the city median of $61,695, suggesting that income alone does not determine neighborhood safety in Portland.

Higher-Crime Areas to Know

The neighborhoods with the most elevated crime readings are still, by national standards, relatively moderate. East Bayside / India Street and Valley Street each received a B- grade, making them the lowest-rated areas in the dataset. West Bayside and Parkside both scored a B, while East Deering came in at a B+. These areas tend to reflect Portland's denser, more commercial corridors where foot traffic and economic activity naturally concentrate incidents. Residents and visitors who spend time in these neighborhoods benefit from staying aware of surroundings, particularly after dark.

Property Crime vs. Violent Crime Patterns

Like most small-to-mid-sized New England cities, Portland's crime profile skews heavily toward property crime rather than violent offenses. Theft, vehicle break-ins, and opportunistic incidents account for the bulk of reported activity, particularly in the B-rated corridors around East Bayside and West Bayside where commercial density is higher. Violent crime, while present, remains concentrated in a narrow set of locations and does not define the day-to-day experience across the city's 18 neighborhoods. The poverty rate of 13.9% and a median rent of $1,204 create pockets of economic stress that can correlate with property crime, but Portland's 3.3% unemployment rate and a median home value of $304,372 reflect a city with enough economic stability to keep crime broadly in check.

How the Interactive Crime Map Supports Better Decisions

Portland's interactive crime map is a practical tool for several distinct audiences. Home buyers evaluating whether to invest near North Deering or Nasons Corner (both Grade A, with median incomes above $76,000) can cross-reference crime grades against listing prices to assess long-term value. Renters weighing apartments in Parkside or East Deering can see exactly how those B-rated neighborhoods compare to adjacent A-rated areas before signing a lease. Daily commuters who pass through East Bayside or Valley Street can use the map to identify time-of-day patterns and adjust routes accordingly. For Portland's growing population of remote workers and newcomers relocating from larger metros, the map offers a grounded, data-backed first look at a city that, on the whole, has earned its reputation as one of the safer urban environments in the Northeast.