Top 10 most dangerous cities in Utah

Utah, known for its stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Salt Lake City to the scenic beauty of the national parks, Utah provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Utah faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Utah are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Utah's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Utah involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Utah. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Utah's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Salt Lake City Population: 200,133 978 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,401

Salt Lake City, UT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Utah with 978 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (578), robbery (205), rape (189) and homicide (6) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 305% higher than the Utah average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Moab Population: 5,303 741 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 135 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,755

The second most dangerous city is Moab. With a population of 5,303 and a violent crime rate that is 206% higher than the Utah average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Moab are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 741 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 135 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Ogden Population: 87,175 555 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 180 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,092

Home to 87,175 residents, Ogden, UT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Utah. Unfortunately for residents of Ogden, crime is widespread, with more than 555 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.52 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 129% higher than the Utah violent crime rate.

Park City Population: 8,467 493 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 203 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,889

With a violent crime rate that is 104% higher than the Utah average, it's not hard to see why Park City made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (23), assault (200), rape (270) and homicide (0). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Park City more vulnerable to high crime.

Tooele Population: 35,313 462 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 216 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,268

The ongoing battle with crime in Tooele, UT, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 462 and a 1 in 216 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Tooele has a violent crime rate that is 91% higher than the Utah average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Tooele.

West Valley City Population: 135,610 441 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 227 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,310

West Valley City, UT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 441 per 100,000 people, which is 82% higher than the Utah average. West Valley City has a population of 135,610, which translates to 1.21 crimes per day and 1 in 227 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in West Valley City which are much safer than others.

Murray Population: 48,969 358 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 279 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,411

A 1 in 279 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.98 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Murray makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 358 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 48% higher than the Utah average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (225), robbery (68), rape (63) and homicide (2).

West Jordan Population: 115,181 333 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 300 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,488

West Jordan, UT is another one of the most dangerous cities in Utah and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 115,181 and a violent crime rate of 333 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 207 counts of assault, 29 counts of robbery, 92 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. All told, the West Jordan violent crime rate is 38% higher than the Utah average.

Riverdale Population: 8,826 319 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 314 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,028

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Riverdale, UT comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Utah with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.87 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 314 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Roosevelt Population: 7,077 314 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 318 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,870

Rounding out our list at #10 is Roosevelt, UT. With a population of 7,077 and a violent crime rate of 314 per 100,000 people (30% higher than the Utah average), some parts of Roosevelt are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 243 counts of assault, 14 counts of robbery, 57 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 318 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Utah

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Salt Lake City	200,133	978	7,401
2	Moab	5,303	741	2,755
3	Ogden	87,175	555	3,092
4	Park City	8,467	493	2,889
5	Tooele	35,313	462	2,268
6	West Valley City	135,610	441	3,310
7	Murray	48,969	358	5,411
8	West Jordan	115,181	333	2,488
9	Riverdale	8,826	319	5,028
10	Roosevelt	7,077	314	2,870
11	Price	8,303	292	1,495
12	Sunset	5,309	270	1,782
13	Clearfield	31,622	236	1,771
14	South Ogden	17,080	205	1,370
15	Hurricane	18,112	199	1,580
16	Orem	97,883	187	1,872
17	Washington	28,192	185	1,455
18	Richfield	7,813	179	3,210
19	Logan	51,266	178	1,450
20	Roy	39,243	168	1,201
21	St. George	87,176	163	1,257
22	Layton	77,268	163	1,829
23	Grantsville	11,488	159	984
24	Centerville	17,527	156	1,938
25	Provo	116,886	147	1,547
26	Ephraim	7,222	137	857
27	Woods Cross	11,423	135	1,908
28	Cottonwood Heights	33,865	124	2,103
29	North Salt Lake	20,721	123	1,892
30	Mapleton	10,270	119	455
31	Bountiful	43,991	111	1,308
32	Springville	33,251	108	1,152
33	American Fork	31,636	102	1,794
34	Clinton	22,191	101	1,308
35	Saratoga Springs	31,273	100	747
36	Heber	16,362	96	906
37	Draper	48,594	96	1,751
38	Nephi	6,168	89	846
39	Spanish Fork	40,069	89	1,091
40	Bluffdale	14,802	88	844
41	Payson	20,181	87	927
42	North Ogden	19,930	86	865
43	Pleasant Grove	38,474	84	1,034
44	Enoch	7,044	82	352
45	Riverton	43,793	80	1,173
46	Pleasant View	10,460	80	792
47	Cedar City	33,404	79	1,396
48	Herriman	45,211	76	856
49	Lindon	11,072	75	3,145
50	Harrisville	6,637	72	3,310

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Utah is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Utah cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.