D+
94%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
44%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
120%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleWaterville/100k peopleMaine/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime719n/a (estimate)4,5021,3172,324
Murder0n/a0.02.26.3
Rape15n/a93.932.040.0
Robbery3n/a18.810.066.1
Assault15n/a93.959.0268.2
Violent crime33n/a (estimate)207103370
Burglary45n/a281.7115.9269.8
Theft622n/a3,894.31,026.81,401.9
Vehicle theft19n/a119.070.9282.7
Property crime686n/a (estimate)4,2951,2141,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Waterville, ME

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Waterville is 93.7% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Waterville, there were 33 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 207 per 100,000 individuals, 44.1% lower than the national average. Additionally, there were 686 property crimes, amounting to 4295 per 100,000 residents, 119.8% higher than the U.S. average.

Having a crime rate of 4502 per 100,000 residents, Waterville experiences a crime rate that is 93.69% higher when compared to the national average, leading to one of the highest overall crime rates in the nation. It's important to clarify that this doesn't imply the entire city is unsafe. Like any area, Waterville contains neighborhoods with varying safety levels and you can find areas that are notably safer than others, emphasizing the need for targeted crime prevention efforts and community engagement initiatives.

In the latest reported crime year, Waterville recorded zero homicides. This statistic potentially positions the city as a paragon of security, radiating a profound sense of safety for its residents. A low number of severe violent crimes instills a deep feeling of well-being among its community but also establishes a lofty benchmark for other locales aspiring to foster equally secure environments.

Waterville faces some of the nation's most elevated property crime rates, recording 4295 incidents per 100,000 people. This places the city among the worst 10% of all U.S. cities that reported crime. Regrettably, the likelihood of falling victim to property crime in Waterville stands at 1 in 24, significantly surpassing the national average. These statistics underscore the imperative need for bolstered community safety measures to mitigate property crimes and enhance the well-being of its residents.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Waterville?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Waterville. Based on the results of the surveys (8 responses), 63% of people felt that there was very little crime in Waterville and felt safe walking alone at night. While 38% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Waterville a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Waterville, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Waterville presents a total crime rate that is 94% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Waterville experiences an average of 1.97 daily crimes, comprising 0.09 violent incidents and 1.88 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Waterville Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in Waterville. This analysis involves comparing crime rates from one year to the next, enabling the identification of patterns and fluctuations in crime. Such information proves invaluable to residents seeking to make well-informed decisions about their choice of residence. In the most recent year, compared to the previous one, total crime in Waterville has increased by 3.9%. Specifically, violent crime has decreased by 5.7%, while property crime has increased by 4.4%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in Waterville.

Potential Causes for Crime in Waterville

Regions characterized by high population density frequently encompass expansive urban hubs that offer diverse economic prospects. In such areas, income inequality can be exacerbated, creating pockets of poverty alongside affluence. Economic disparities within these regions may correlate with elevated property crimes and, in certain instances, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density numbers generally exhibit reduced Waterville crime rates. Waterville registers a population density of 1228.4 people per square mile, in contrast to the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

In Waterville, 84.2% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of any city can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

In Waterville, the cost of living is 2.04% lower than the national average. A high cost of living can induce economic stress for locals, especially those with limited financial resources. When people grapple with soaring housing expenses, utility bills, healthcare costs, and other essential necessities, they may be driven towards criminal activities, including theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. Conversely, cities boasting a lower cost of living may mitigate economic pressures and potentially result in reduced crime rates.

Waterville crime map



The Waterville crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Waterville as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Waterville crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Waterville crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Crime Quick Facts

  • Waterville crime rates are 94% higher than the national average
  • Violent crimes in Waterville are 44% lower than the national average
  • In Waterville you have a 1 in 23 chance of becoming a victim of crime
  • Waterville is safer than 25% of the cities in the United States
  • Year over year crime in Waterville has increased by 8%

Waterville, ME Crime Quiz

     

    Safest Places to Live in and Around Waterville

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        Daily Crime In Waterville (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Waterville for every 100,000 residents. The Waterville total amount of daily crime is 3.42 times more than the Maine average and 1.94 times more than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Waterville, is 2.00 times more than the Maine average, and it is 1.79 times less than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Waterville has a daily crime average that is 3.54 times more than the Maine average and 2.20 times more than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Waterville (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in Maine and all other cities across the US, is Waterville safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Waterville is safer than 3% of other cities in the state of Maine. In addition, Waterville is safer than 25% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all Maine and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Waterville. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Waterville is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Waterville

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Waterville is 1 in 484
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Waterville is 1 in 24
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Waterville is 1 in 23
        Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Waterville? If you reside in Waterville, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 484. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 24 change that you will become a victim of a property crime. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in Waterville, is 1 in 23.

        Year Over Year Crime In Waterville (per 100,000 people)

        Determining whether Waterville is becoming less or more safe for its residents (per 100,000) is most easily done by comparing year-over-year crime rates. Waterville violent crime rates have decreased by 1%. At the same time, property crime has increased by 9% year over year. Total crimes for Waterville has increased by 8% in the same time frame.

        Waterville police department

        Item Waterville Maine National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)391,653558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.52.13.3
        There are a total of 39 Waterville police officers. This results in 2.5 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 20.5% greater than the Maine average and 23.6% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Maine

        State Total offenders Maine /100K National /100K
        Maine2,822220266
        There are a total of 2,822 sex offenders in Maine. This yields a total of 220 sex offenders in Maine per 100,000 residents which is 17% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Clinton, ME1,22730296325
        Norridgewock, ME1,27246544590
        Oakland, ME2,32495778873
        Winslow, ME4,9081001,2051,305
        Fairfield, ME2,2981541,7211,875
        Waterville, ME16,6232074,2954,502

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Ham Lake, MN16,6301981,3871,585
        Dallas, OR16,6122781,9632,242
        McKinleyville, CA16,6456392,9963,636
        Madison, NJ16,64783578661
        Easton, MD16,5891221,2241,346
        Waterville, ME16,6232074,2954,502
        Source: The Waterville, ME crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.