The Most Dangerous And Worst Cities To Live In Utah

Utah is a beautiful state with its fair share of wealth and gorgeous views. Despite all of the natural beauty in Utah, not every city is an idyllic place to live. Unfortunately, there is a lot of crime, but what are the worst places to live in Utah?

South Salt Lake and Roosevelt are the worst places in Utah due to violent and property crime rates. Relative to their population, there is a high volume of crime in these cities and others like Ogden. Murray, Tooele, and Park City are among the worst places to live in Utah based on recent crime reports and poverty rates.

Some places are worth avoiding for safety purposes, and that applies to many Utah cities. Follow along as we explore the worst places to live in Utah.

Your prospects of not experiencing a crime in South Salt Lake are pretty grim, and the numbers show it. The 25,017 South Salt Lake risk a 1 in 14 chance of suffering theft, motor theft, and burglary. South Salt Lake’s high property crime makes street parking or owning a home a slightly dangerous prospect.

Assault is also quite common in South Salt Lake, and it contributes to the 1 in 125 violent crime rate. Recently, 131 of the 2,070 were assaults, and robbery and rape made up the other 74 violent crimes. The whopping 18.72% poverty rate contributes to the swell in crime, and nearly 5,000 residents are poor.

There is a high chance of experiencing a crime in Roosevelt, Utah, for such a small population. Roosevelt residents face a 1 in 34 chance of experiencing a property crime within the small city. Theft is far and away from the most common crime in Roosevelt, with 169 recent reports last year.

There may not be as many reported crimes in Roosevelt as in Salt Lake City, but the small population makes the existing crime grimmer. Roosevelt experiences 44 crimes per square mile compared to the 33 crimes per square mile rate in Utah. Luckily, violence is less common and affects only 1 in 233 Roosevelt residents.

You may know Ogden for skiing, mountain biking, and beautiful views, but some know it for its crime. Ogden is one of the most dangerous cities in Utah, and that is primarily due to the high property crime rate. There were recently 3,228 property crimes reported in Ogden, and it tragically affects 1 in 27 residents.

Theft seems to be a sad part of life in Ogden, as 2,398 of the 3,612 recent crimes were stolen property. Violent crimes, such as assault, robbery, rape, and murder, also occur in Ogden but are less common. Even still, violence impacts 1 in 229 Ogden residents, with assault and robbery as the common denominator.

Sure, the cost of living in Salt Lake City is high, but the crime rate in this city tops it. Salt Lake City is packed to the brim with 197,756 residents, and the 13,406 recent crimes rocked the population. There is a large element of wealth in Salt Lake City, but there is sadly a 17.8% poverty rate that drives crime.

The combination of drug-related crimes, property crime, and violence in Salt Lake City makes it dangerous. Violence is less common than theft in Salt Lake City, but it still affects 1 in 135 residents. Far and away, the most common violent crime in Salt Lake City is assault, with 829 recent reports.

Crime is rampant in Murray, Utah, and both violent and property crime rates are high. Theft, vehicle theft, burglary, and assault are the highest reported crimes in Murray. The shocking 253 crimes per square mile in Murray paints a picture of the widespread danger.

Out of the 3,108 recently reported crimes, 2,062 of them were theft-related. Burglary numbers are low, with only 423 recent incidents, but you should always exercise caution in Murray. The least common crime in Murray is murder, with no recent reports, but rape, assault, and robberies do occur.

You can rest easy knowing that violence is rare in West Jordan, but property crime certainly is not. Property crime accounts for 2,555 of the 2,819 total recent crimes in West Jordan, and it’s frightening. West Jordan is spread across 32 square miles, and there are 87 crimes per square mile within city limits.

Crime hotspots are scattered throughout West Jordan, and there’s no rhyme or reason to the dangerous areas. For example, Bacchus on the west side is quite dangerous, but the neighboring Dalton is relatively safe. Violence is quite rare, with only one recent murder, but there are 189 recent assaults and 35 robberies.

Tooele is well known for the iconic Great Salt Lake, but its beauty is mired in a dangerous element. Violence is uncommon in Tooele, but the 43 crimes per square mile are due to a high property crime rate. The overwhelming majority of recent crime reports were thefts, with 690 recent incidents in Tooele.

Tooele boasts a large population of 34,535 residents, and 1 in 42 of them suffer a property crime. Property crime is more common in Tooele than the rest of Utah, and the 106 recent burglaries mean homes aren’t always safe. Violence occurs at a lesser rate, and you only risk a 1 in 493 chance of experiencing it in Tooele.

Park City, Utah, is a small city in size and population, but they make up for it in crime. There may be fewer crime reports than in West Jordan, but the small population means crime is a threat to many. Recently, 276 of the 330 crime reports came from theft and burglary, driving Park City’s high property crime rate.

Luckily, crime is spread out in Park City so that you can find safety in the northern part of the city. Gogorza and Snyderville are safe neighborhoods in particular but going south can be dangerous. Kimball Junction and Woodside Avenue are some of the most hazardous areas in Park City.

Grantsville is located in Tooele County, and it is home to many gorgeous natural springs. This small city made a list because 1 in 61 residents experience a crime of some kind. Of those crimes, the vast majority of them are property-related, with 162 recent incidents reported.

The good thing about Grantsville is that it’s spread out enough that you can avoid crime. With that said, the Burmester area and the city’s center are hotspots for crime in Grantsville. Once you get to Vernon and Ophir, you are generally away from most criminal activity in Grantsville.

Finally, the small city of Riverdale is one of the worst places to live in Utah. For every 1,000 Riverdale residents, there are 66 crimes reported. The vast majority of crime in Riverdale is property-related, and 1 in 16 residents suffer from it.

Riverdale has one of the highest theft rates in Utah, and just recently, there were 491 reports. Considering how small Riverdale is, the 491 crimes per square mile is that much more daunting. To put it into perspective, only 26 of the recent 585 crimes were violent.

The population of downtown Salt Lake City is 3,273 people. The little town gets an A+ for amenities and an A- for public schools, but things start to fall apart after that. The cost of living is high, and employment and housing prospects are limited at best.

In one region of the city, the combined violent and property crime rates have grown to 124 percent higher than the national average. In Downtown Salt Lake City, the chances of being a victim of crime are 1 in 18. The rate of violent crime is 65 percent higher than the national average.

The city of Rose Park has a population of 10,556 people. Along with the expense of living, the amenities are above average. The housing receives excellent grades since it is plentiful and reasonably priced.

The high rates of violent and property crimes and the poor state of the public schools are the significant disadvantages of living in Rose Park. The public schools receive an F from Area Vibes, which is the lowest possible grade.

The rate of violent crime is 98 percent greater than the national average, while property crime is 134 percent higher.

Poplar Grove is a moderately sizable suburb of Salt Lake City, with a population of 14,748 people. Housing receives an A+ from Area Vibes, but you’ll pay a premium price for it because the cost of living gets a B minus.

The schools were given the lowest possible grade, an F. It’s tough to obtain work in the neighborhood, and the crime rate is at an all-time high.

The rate of violent crime is 183 percent greater than the national average, and the rate of property crime is 304 percent higher. In Poplar Grove, the chances of becoming a victim of crime are 1 in 11.

The worst places to live in Utah are South Salt Lake and Roosevelt. Other cities, such as Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Tooele, also boast high crime rates. Similar to the most dangerous cities in Florida, each of these cities has differences in crime between neighborhoods.

If you find yourself in any of these cities, try to exercise caution. Places such as Riverdale, Murray, and Park City can be dangerous. As long as you refer to crime maps and travel in groups at night, you can maintain safety.