Is Lewiston or Waterville Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Lewiston is safer than Waterville (Safety Score 47/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100,000 versus 3,166 for Waterville — 44% lower. Lewiston has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Lewiston has a 86% lower rate.
Note: Lewiston is 2.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Lewiston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Waterville — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lewiston, ME
Waterville, ME
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lewiston | Waterville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,773.5 | 3,166.0 | -1,392.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 244.5 | 142.3 | +102.2 |
| Murder Rate | 2.6 | 17.8 | -15.2 |
| Rape Rate | 66.9 | 77.1 | -10.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 59.2 | 23.7 | +35.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 115.8 | 23.7 | +92.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,529.0 | 3,023.7 | -1,494.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 164.7 | 59.3 | +105.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,245.8 | 2,810.2 | -1,564.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 118.4 | 154.2 | -35.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lewiston or Waterville safer?
Lewiston is safer with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100K vs 3,166 for Waterville — a 44% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lewiston has a violent crime rate of 244.5 per 100K while Waterville has 142.3. Waterville has lower violent crime.
About Lewiston, ME
Lewiston, Maine, a former mill town on the Androscoggin River, is known for its Franco-American heritage and the Bates College campus. It's Maine's second-largest city by population. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 38,850, Lewiston has a total crime rate of 1,773.5 per 100,000 residents.
About Waterville, ME
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. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 16,867, Waterville has a total crime rate of 3,166.0 per 100,000 residents.