Utah is known for its natural wonders and strong religious roots, but it’s also a safe place to live, work, and play. Based on the most recent FBI crime report, the Beehive State’s violent crime rate was 39% less than the US average in 2016, with incidents of murder being especially low. Violent crime was even more uncommon among the state’s twenty safest cities. On average, violent offenses accounted for a mere 3.9% of crimes reported by these cities, and all but two of the state’s safest places cited less than one violent crime per 1,000 people.
Although Utah’s property crime rate was slightly higher than the national norm, the occurrence of burglary—perhaps the most dreaded property crime—was lower. That’s something every Utahn can feel good about considering a burglary occurs approximately every 20 seconds in America. Turning our attention to the twenty safest cities on our list, we found that some reported as few as six property crimes per 1,000 people—that’s 80% less than the Utah average of thirty-one.
We’re pleased to see Utah doing a stellar job at keeping crime under control while taking a balanced, commonsense approach to citizen safety. Just recently, Governor Gary Herbert signed the “Free Range Kids” bill into law. Sponsored by State Senator Lincoln Fillmore, the bill modified child neglect laws, so parents can now let their children walk to and from school or play outside alone.
Help protect your family and make your Utah city safer—consult our Utah Safety Directory, where you’ll find valuable home security information, emergency preparedness tips, and links to many safety programs.
The 20 Safest Cities in Utah
- Highland
Population: 28,862
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.14
Property crimes per 1,000: 6.24
Total crime: 2.22% violent, 97.78% property - Santa Clara/Ivins
Population: 15,107
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.20
Property crimes per 1,000: 7.88
Total crime: 2.52% violent, 97.48% property - Spanish Fork
Population: 38,529
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.26
Property crimes per 1,000: 14.04
Total crime: 1.85% violent, 98.15% property - North Ogden
Population: 18,654
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.27
Property crimes per 1,000: 11.90
Total crime: 2.25% violent, 97.75% property - Pleasant Grove
Population: 38,984
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.31
Property crimes per 1,000: 6.46
Total crime: 4.76% violent, 95.24% property - Clinton
Population: 21,567
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.37
Property crimes per 1,000: 17.02
Total crime: 2.18% violent, 97.82% property - Syracuse
Population: 28,011
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.43
Property crimes per 1,000: 10.92
Total crime: 3.92% violent, 96.08% property - Saratoga Springs
Population: 27,211
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.48
Property crimes per 1,000: 7.31
Total crime: 6.53% violent, 93.47% property - Kaysville
Population: 31,055
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.58
Property crimes per 1,000: 8.79
Total crime: 6.59% violent, 93.41% property - Farmington
Population: 23,505
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.60
Property crimes per 1,000: 19.91
Total crime: 2.99% violent, 97.01% property - American Fork/Cedar Hills
Population: 39,028
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.61
Property crimes per 1,000: 21.98
Total crime: 2.80% violent, 97.20% property - Payson
Population: 19,738
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.66
Property crimes per 1,000: 22.55
Total crime: 2.92% violent, 97.08% property - Orem
Population: 95,640
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.68
Property crimes per 1,000: 25.59
Total crime: 2.66% violent, 97.34% property - North Salt Lake
Population: 20,572
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.68
Property crimes per 1,000: 19.01
Total crime: 3.58% violent, 96.42% property - South Jordan
Population: 70,226
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.75
Property crimes per 1,000: 22.01
Total crime: 3.43% violent, 96.57% property - Springville
Population: 32,825
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.85
Property crimes per 1,000: 20.32
Total crime: 4.20% violent, 95.80% property - Clearfield
Population: 30,783
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.94
Property crimes per 1,000: 21.57
Total crime: 4.37% violent, 95.63% property - Logan
Population: 50,767
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.98
Property crimes per 1,000: 16.62
Total crime: 5.92% violent, 94.08% property - Bountiful
Population: 44,003
Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.05
Property crimes per 1,000: 16.91
Total crime: 6.18% violent, 93.82% property - Roy
Population: 38,167
Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.13
Property crimes per 1,000: 18.37
Total crime: 6.13% violent, 93.87% property
How We Chose the Safest Cities in Utah
To identify the twenty safest cities in Utah, we reviewed the 2016 FBI crime report statistics and population data. Cities that fell below identified population thresholds or that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI were excluded from the ranking system.
Our evaluation is based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) in each city. If there was a tie, we also factored in the number of property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft). To level the playing field, we calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city. This makes it easier to directly compare the likelihood of these crimes occurring in cities with vastly different populations.
Learn more about how we rank our Safest Cities reports.
How to Make a Safe Home Anywhere
Wherever you live, feeling safe in your home can bring greater peace of mind and happiness. Whether your city made our list or not, we recommend adding extra security to your home with monitored security services provided by the nation’s leading home security providers.
To learn more about the home security options available to you, check out SafeWise’s picks for Best Home Security Systems of 2018.
If you would like to contact a SafeWise Safest Cities Analyst, please email info@safewise.com.
Written by Alexia Chianis
Wanderlust junky and mom of two, Alexia is a former police officer and U.S. Army Captain who draws on her experiences to write about a myriad of safety topics. Learn more