Students can sleep soundly knowing they’re attending school in one of the safest places in the United States.
Maine is the safest state in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report, with the least number of violent crimes per capita (about 125 per 100,000 residents).
Gorham was recently announced as one of the safest places in Maine. The National Council for Home Safety and Security’s “Safest Cities in Maine” report detailed Gorham as the fourth-safest Maine community. Portland also ranked high on the list, coming in at number 14.
Students at the University of Southern Maine (USM) already know that Portland and Gorham are great places to live. Portland was recently selected by Reviews.org as the Best College Town in Maine, besting several other college-centered communities across the state.
The website ranked communities under 250,000 residents using data from United States Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to analyze overall population, student population, rental costs, college education rates, transportation access, unemployment rates and bar availability. The website also weighed the cost of living, unemployment rates for 20–24 year olds and easy access to cites.
There’s certainly no shortage of bars and local eateries in Portland. In August, Bon Appétit magazine named Portland its 2018 city of the year, the first city under 1 million residents the magazine has picked for the honor. Writer Andrew Knowlton outlined 20 ways to “binge your way” through Maine’s foodiest city.