Utah, a state notorious for polygamy and unregulated alcohol stores, has its fair share of high-risk locations. In 2023, RoadSnacks developed a list of Utah’s most hazardous sites, utilizing data analysis to educate the public about these areas.
Here’s how we did it: we examined 60 cities, diving into the FBI’s most current crime report for data on violent and property crime in regions with more than 5,000 inhabitants. While Utah’s overall crime rate exceeds the national average, there is space for improvement in the state’s most dangerous locations.
Many Utah residents believe their section of the state is gorgeous, but this is not the case for individuals who live in the state’s most dangerous areas. These neighborhoods are plagued by not just high crime rates, but also unemployment, poor income, and a lack of rehabilitation programs.
This scenario is especially troubling given that Utah is the country’s sixth richest state. The question arises: Should the state change its income and sales tax policy to meet these concerns? While we can’t give a precise response, it’s evident that the money does not appear to be spreading beyond Utah’s major cities.
Continue reading to find out which Utah communities offer little career possibilities, poor pay, and high crime rates.
Let us be clear: we are not discussing the dangers of sports such as snowboarding in Park City without a helmet. We’re talking about the type of peril that makes news on Salt Lake City’s KUTV at six o’clock. These cities are plagued by daytime robberies, auto thefts, and frequent shootings, and certain neighborhoods within them should be avoided at all costs.
1. South Salt Lake
- General Livability Index: 5/10
- Population: 25,816
- Last Year’s Rank: 1 (No Change)
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 964 (Most dangerous)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 9,203 (Most dangerous)
Regrettably, South Salt Lake is the riskiest city in Utah, exceeding the capital. While the rate of property crime has remained relatively stable from the previous year, the frequency of violent crime has declined dramatically. However, South Salt Lake remains Utah’s most dangerous neighborhood, with people having a 1 in 103 risk of being victimized by assault, theft, sexual assault, or murder in 2020.
This emphasizes the significance of keeping attentive while visiting South Salt Lake’s parks. Furthermore, South Salt Lake has the state’s highest property crime rate, including the highest burglary rate, with around five instances each week.
2. Salt Lake City
- General Livability Index: 6/10
- Population: 202,187
- Last Year’s Rank: 2 (No Change)
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 922 (Second most dangerous)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 7,352 (Second most dangerous)
Salt Lake City, the capital and most populous city of Utah, regrettably occupies the second position in terms of crime. While the natural beauty of Big Cottonwood Canyon offers an escape, the city’s streets are less peaceful. With 1,865 violent crimes documented in 2020, Salt Lake City exhibited the second-highest violent crime rate of any city.
A monthly homicide and a daily average of thefts were among these. Security is crucial here, as Salt Lake City experienced the second-highest burglary rate statewide. Additionally, maintain a secure vehicle; otherwise, you risk becoming one of the 2,192 residents whose vehicles were taken that year.
3. Murray
- General Livability Index: 8/10
- Population: 49,169
- Last Year’s Rank: 3 (Down 1)
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 482 (Seventh most dangerous)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,652 (Third most dangerous)
Murray, Utah, situated to the south of Salt Lake City, ranks as the fourth most perilous locality in the state of Utah in 2022. In 2020, the state had the third-highest property crime rate, which meant that residents had a 1 in 15 chance of experiencing a robbery or property damage.
This suggests that you should secure your belongings before heading to Murray City Park and always lock your doors, as on average, Murray sees more than one burglary and one car theft daily. Violent crime is also a concern, with Murray recording the 16th-highest rate of sexual assault cases in Utah.
4. Moab
- General Livability Index: 4/10
- Population: 5,362
- Last Year’s Rank: 7 (No Change)
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 876 (Third most dangerous)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,778 (12th most dangerous)
Moab, the smallest city on this list, has become a sought-after tourist hotspot for mountain bikers, off-roaders, and hikers keen to explore Arches National Park. However, the city’s crime rate has become very high. While property crime decreased slightly over the last reporting year, violent crime increased significantly.
As a result, residents faced a 1 in 114 chance of a violent attack in 2020, the third highest rate in Utah. A lot of this violence is because Moab has the most sexual assaults of any city in Utah.
5. Riverdale
- General Livability Index: 7/10
- Population: 8,876
- Last Year’s Rank: 8 (No Change)
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 270 (12th most dangerous)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,382 (Sixth most dangerous)
Returning to the Ogden region, we locate Riverdale, the sixth least safe location to inhabit in Utah. Despite being eighth on this list, Riverdale recorded the sixth-highest overall crime rate in Utah, more than double the national average.
This is primarily due to Riverdale having the sixth highest property crime rate in the state, with residents facing a 1 in 22 chance of experiencing theft or vandalism in 2020. On the positive side, only two violent crimes were committed per month in Riverdale, on average.
Conclusion
Utah’s dangerous city rankings, which are derived from crime statistics, draw attention to certain areas. With high rates of property and violent crime, South Salt Lake is at the top of the list, highlighting safety concerns. Salt Lake City, Murray, Moab, and Riverdale also face crime challenges. Addressing socio-economic issues, the state must consider policy changes for improved safety in high-risk regions.