Safety
Maine’s crime rate fell 2% in 2021.
Favorable movement since the last available data
Benchmark: Maine’s crime rate will remain 33% or more below the U.S. rate through 2030.
Overview
Prepared by Maine Development Foundation for the Maine Economic Growth Council, November 2023 31 Benchmark: Maine’s crime rate will remain 33% or more below the U.S. rate through 2030. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation 23 – Safety Maine’s crime rate in 2021, 12.5 per 1,000 residents, was 44% below the national rate of 22.2 and among the lowest of the 50 states. This is likely due in part to the age of Maine’s population, since criminal offenses decline with age. Maine’s property crime rate was about one-third of the national average (107.7 per 1,000 residents compared to 334 nationally), and violent crimes were 40% 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
Federal Bureau of Investigation