Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Waterville, ME has a Safety Score of 17/100 — higher crime than 83% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,166.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,471 of 2,971 US cities and #19 of 21 in Maine.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Waterville, Maine Safe?
Waterville, a Kennebec River city, was a major mill town. Colby College, a liberal arts institution, is located here. Its population is around 16,000.
Waterville has a safety score of 17/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,166.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Waterville ranks #19 out of 21 cities in Maine and #2471 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 17th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 83% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Waterville is murder, at 17.8 per 100K — 2.9x the national average. Conversely, aggravated assault is relatively low at just 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Waterville's total crime rate decreased by 13.2%, with violent crime declining 31.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Waterville Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 24 | 142.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 17.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 13 | 77.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 23.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 4 | 23.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 510 | 3,023.7 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 10 | 59.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 474 | 2,810.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 26 | 154.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Waterville vs Maine Average
How does Waterville's crime rate compare to the Maine state average?
| Metric | Waterville | Maine Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 142.3 | 153.9 | -7.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,023.7 | 1,833.6 | +64.9% |
| Murder Rate | 17.8 | 4.0 | +343.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,166.0 | 1,987.5 | +59.3% |
Waterville Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Waterville, Maine.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,867 | 3,166.0 | 142.3 | 3,023.7 |
| 2023 | 15,826 | 3,645.9 | 208.5 | 3,437.4 |
| 2022 | 15,972 | 4,570.5 | 206.6 | 4,363.9 |
| 2021 | 16,667 | 4,181.9 | 210.0 | 3,971.9 |
| 2020 | 16,654 | 2,696.1 | 192.2 | 2,503.9 |
| 2019 | 16,765 | 2,857.1 | 220.7 | 2,636.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waterville, Maine safe?
Waterville has a safety score of 17/100, meaning it has less crime than about 17% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,166.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Waterville is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Waterville, Maine?
According to FBI data for 2024, Waterville has a violent crime rate of 142.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,023.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Waterville compare to the national average?
Waterville's total crime rate of 3,166.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 16,867 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Waterville?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Waterville include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Waterville safe to visit?
Like any city, Waterville has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 17/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.