The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Saco, ME: Crime Maps and Statistics

B+

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	A+
Property Crime Grade	B-
Other Crime Grade	B

Which crimes are included?

$4.75 million

Cost of Crime™ for Saco, ME

In 2025, crime will cost $514 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Saco in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Saco, ME Safe?

The B+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is lower than that of the average US city. Saco ranks in the 72nd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 72% of cities but less safe than 28%. This analysis applies only to Saco's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Saco is 17.50 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Saco Residents generally consider the northwest part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Saco varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 31 in the south neighborhoods to 1 in 113 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of Saco, ME see the most incidents - about 93 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 7 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Saco, ME

The total projected cost of crime in Saco for 2025 is $4,748,229. This translates to approximately $217 per resident and $514 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.5% of the median household income in Saco. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 61.0%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 26.9%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.1%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Saco Compared to Other Cities?

Saco, ME:	$217
Portland, OR:	$544
Eliot, ME:	$116
Maine:	$258
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Saco is $217 per year, which is $248 less than the national average and $41 less than Maine's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Saco:

In Portland, OR, crime costs $544 per person, which is $328 more than in Saco.
In Eliot, ME, crime costs $116 per person, which is $101 less than in Saco

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Saco for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Saco	Cost per Saco Resident
Murder	$1.13 million	$52
Rape/Sexual Assault	$849,877	$39
Robbery	$51,158	$2
Assault	$239,527	$11
Kidnapping	$25,916	$1
Vehicle Theft	$320,808	$15
Burglary	$166,305	$8
Theft	$975,336	$45
Arson	$50,889	$2
Vandalism	$494,736	$23
Animal Cruelty	$6,784	$0
Drug Crimes	$428,249	$20
Identity Theft	$6,429	$0
Total Cost of Crime	$4,748,229	$217

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Saco, ME

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Saco totals $11,653,734 ($532 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $16,401,963 ($748 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Saco crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the south part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Saco has 5, have the same problem. Of Saco’s 21,914 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Saco, ME at ISP Reports.

Saco Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Saco residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	0.3806
Robbery	0.0742
Rape	0.6396
Murder	0.0275
Total Violent Crime	1.122 (A+)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	8.594
Vehicle Theft	0.9454
Burglary	0.8367
Arson	0.0962
Total Property Crime	10.47 (B-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0195
Drug Crimes	2.642
Vandalism	3.160
Identity Theft	0.0379
Animal Cruelty	0.0419
Total "Other" Rate	5.901 (B)

Individual Saco Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Saco is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Saco.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Biddeford, ME	C	A+	C-
Old Orchard Beach, ME	B-	A	C+
Scarborough, ME	A-	A+	B
Bar Mills, ME	A	A+	B+
Goodwins Mills, ME	A+	A+	A
Salmon Falls, ME	A	A+	A-
Kennebunkport, ME	B	A+	B-
Buxton, ME	A+	A+	A
West Kennebunk, ME	A	A+	A-
South Hollis, ME	B+	A	B-

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Saco is lower versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Arcata, CA	F	F	F
Beaufort, SC	D-	D	D
Bay City, TX	D	D-	D-
Baldwin, PA	B-	A-	A-
Bainbridge, GA	D+	D+	D+
Anna, TX	B+	B-	B-
Alum Rock, CA	C+	D+	D+
Altamont, OR	D+	D+	D+
Alsip, IL	C	B-	B-
Alpine, CA	B-	C-	C-

Considering only the crime rate, Saco is safer than the Maine state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Saco, ME average SchoolGrade of A+, with 86% actual proficiency versus 72% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Saco schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

Crime By Zip Code Download

Our proprietary data is available for download by zip code or by state in a CSV Flat File. Please visit our download page for pricing and terms.

Download CSV

Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 22 hours 50 minutes in Saco. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Saco, ME

All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.