Portland and Lewiston Rank Among Safest Cities
A new WalletHub report evaluates safety across the 150 largest U.S. cities and the two largest cities in every state.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Safety
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WalletHub released its annual report ranking the safest cities in America for 2026. Portland placed 11th overall, while Lewiston secured the 39th position in the national study.
Why it matters
The report provides a comprehensive look at how major American cities perform in key safety areas to help residents understand their local standing. It uses 41 distinct subcategories to assess performance across Home and Community Safety, Natural Disaster Risk, and Financial Safety.
Portland earned the top national ranking for Financial Safety, while Lewiston excelled in natural disaster preparedness with a 6th-place finish. These scores were derived from an analysis covering 41 subcategories of safety data.
The players
WalletHub
This is a personal finance website that regularly publishes analytical reports and rankings on various American economic and social metrics.
The details
The analysis included the 150 most populous cities in the nation along with the two largest cities in each state. Portland stood out for its financial security, whereas Lewiston ranked 10th in Financial Safety and 39th overall.
Timeline
WalletHub published the annual safety report in October 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
This study follows the established pattern of WalletHub's annual analysis of city-level safety across the United States. It provides a snapshot of how Maine's largest cities currently compare to historical safety benchmarks.
Residents can utilize these findings to better understand their city's standing in areas like financial safety and natural disaster risk. The data highlights local strengths and vulnerabilities that may influence community planning and personal safety decisions.
The takeaway
Understanding how your city compares to national benchmarks can help highlight specific regional advantages or needs. Residents may want to review their own local preparedness efforts based on these category-specific findings.
Further reading
Explore more rankings and analysis in the Maine Safety section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 102.1 & 105.3 The Shark.
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