Ogden is a breathtakingly charming city located at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains in northern Utah. This incredibly historical city is known for its world-class ski resorts, incredible parks, historic buildings, the Weber State University, and close proximity to the Wasatch Mountains. Once a frontier land, Ogden proves to be especially ideal for families, singles, and college students while it further boasts spectacular nature views and a vibrant arts and culture scene. If you’re considering moving here from across the state or country, you’re probably wondering if living in Ogden Utah is safe — let’s take a look!
Ogden Utah has recently installed up-to-date surveillance and investigative technology that aims to enhance the safety of residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Likewise, in order to reduce the frequency of gang offenses, the city of Ogden Utah enforced The Project Safe Neighborhood Task Force. The Weber County Sheriff’s Office has further put together a Street Crimes Unit in response to the crime rates.
Is Ogden Utah safe? And is Ogden safer than Salt Lake City? Ogden is one of the largest cities in Utah, yet it proves to be safer than many of the equally sized or larger cities. Like any city, there are areas that are best to be avoided. While the overall crime here lacks perfection, you’ll find there are many areas and neighborhoods in Ogden that are very safe and family-friendly.
In order to help you understand the city’s crime rates and safest neighborhoods, we’ve created a complete Ogden Utah crime rate guide.
Note: All data comes from the FBI Crime Reporting Statistics of 2020.
Understanding the Ogden Utah Crime Rate – How Are Crime Rates Calculated
Doing some digging on the city’s crime rate is the most common way to decide whether or not a city is safe. In the United States, crime rates are calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population. This number is then multiplied by 100,000. The result is the annual scale of crime instances per 100k. This method provides a basic crime rate for cities of varying populations. The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics (UCR) is where you can find crime rates that are calculated with this method. However, due to the chances of misleading information, keep in mind that the FBI discourages comparing cities based on their crime rate.
If not all crimes are equal, then how are they calculated? Well, there’s a lengthy list of all possible offenses that could be committed. However, only the index crimes are considered in crime rates. Property crimes and violent crimes are the two main categories of crime rate statistics. Theft, shoplifting, burglary, larceny, vandalism, and arson are included in property crimes. Likewise, violent crimes include more dangerous matters such as murder, kidnapping, rape, battery, sexual assault, robbery, manslaughter, and homicide. Because many crimes lack equivalent definitions across varying states, the determination of the crimes is often left to the subjective opinion of law enforcement.
Crime rates indeed make for a good research starting point. However, when determining if a city is safe overall, crime rates should not be the key factor. Many things can cause a misleading crime rate, such as:
- Unreported crimes such as domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Depending on the indicator, crime trends can look good or bad. For instance, the overall crime rate can drop despite there being an increase in murder.
- Crime rates often overlook unique factors, like the target and the assailant knowing each other.
- Shootings alone typically aren’t included in crime rates.
The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) is gradually replacing the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR). This is because the NIBRS collects over 20 index crimes in comparison to the UCR, which collects only 8. The NIBRS further collects more data and differentiates between attempted and completed crimes. Regardless of the improvement, the system still has its flaws, such as high and rising crime rates that are misleading.
What is the Ogden Utah Crime Rate?
Let’s first dive into the Ogden crime rate. The total crime rate per 100k people in Ogden Utah is 3,806. This means there is a 1 in 26 chance of being a victim of crime. To break this down even more, the violent crime rate in Ogden is 505 per 100k people, which gives you a one in 198 chance of being a victim of violent crime. Regarding property crime in Ogden, there is a crime rate of 3,301 per 100k people which indicates you have a 1 in 30 chance of being a property crime victim.
How does the safety of Ogden compare to the safety of Salt Lake City and the U.S.? According to the FBI, the total crime rate in Ogden is 39.7% higher than the Utah average and 62.2% higher than the national average. Utah has a total crime rate of 2,725 per 100,000 people giving you a 1 in 37 chance of being a victim of crime.
The total crime rate in Salt Lake City is 8,275 per 100k people– that’s 252.7% higher than the country. This is alarming when compared to Ogden’s crime rate of 3,806. Considering this, Ogden has a significantly better crime rate than Salt Lake City.
Ogden Utah Crime Map and Crime Reports
While there is no official crime map for Ogden Utah, you can find more information by using the Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer. Select the state of Utah and the Ogden Police Department. If you want to report a crime online or take a look at the Ogden Utah crime reports and tracking, the city of Ogden’s official website and police department has everything you need.
Violent crime in Ogden Utah
The murder rate in Ogden Utah per 100k people is 5, which is about 61.3% higher than the state yet 23.6% lower than the national average. In 2020, there were 4 Ogden murders and non-negligent manslaughters.
The Ogden violent crime rate per 100,000 people is 505. The majority of these crimes are aggravated assault– the remaining crimes consist of rape, robbery, manslaughter, and murder. The violent crime rate in Ogden UT is 93.7% higher than the Utah average and about 30.2% higher than the national average.
The chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in Ogden is 1 in 198, which is higher than the state and national average.
Property Crime in Ogden Utah
The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Ogden Utah is 3,301, which is 33.9% higher than the state and about 68.6% higher than the nation. Property crime is mostly made up of larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and burglary. The chances of becoming a victim of property crime in Ogden Utah is 1 in 30.
Is Ogden safer than Salt Lake City? Not only is the overall crime rate much lower in Ogden than in Salt Lake City, but both violent and property crimes are considerably lower as well. Compared to the U.S. average, the violent crime rate in Salt Lake City is 137.8% higher, whereas that of Ogden is only 30.2% higher. Likewise, Salt Lake City’s property crime rate is a staggering 275.4% higher than the national average, while Ogden’s is 68.6% higher.
High Crime Areas in Ogden Utah
Curious about which parts of Ogden UT are unsafe or dangerous? Keep in mind that even the safest cities in the U.S. have their fair share of not-so-good areas. The northeast and southwestern parts of Ogden Utah tend to have the lowest crime rates, whereas the highest amount of crime in Ogden is focused toward the center of the city. Below are a few Ogden areas that should probably be avoided.
- Downtown Ogden is home to great theaters, fascinating art exhibits, a recreation center, top-rated museums, and beautiful parks. Like most downtowns, this area in the city center is more prone to police engagements and 9-11 calls.
- West Ogden sits west of the downtown and portrays similar crime rates. Ogden has some of the highest crime rates along the streets connecting to 24th Street, which runs through both downtown and West Ogden.
- West Ogden Heights is another neighborhood that experiences high rates of crime as opposed to the state and U.S. average.
Safe Neighborhoods in Ogden Utah
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According to Ogden crime statistics, much of the Ogden crime is concentrated toward downtown leaving many safe areas along the outer parts of the city. Below are a few of them:
- Harrison Boulevard is located to the far southeast of the city and is one of the more affluent Ogden neighborhoods.
- Albertsons Center is another great low-crime area in Ogden that is great for raising a family.
- Burch Creek is just south of Weber State University and is one of the safest neighborhoods in Ogden.
In Ogden UT, the further out you go from the center, the lower the crime rates tend to be. Ogden has plenty of safe areas that branch off of Harrison Blvd.
Campus Crime & Safety
For those attending Weber State University, it’s wise to keep in mind the following information:
- In 2019, the university had 5.94 incidents per 1000 students. The majority of offenses that occur at Weber State University are disciplinary actions.
- You’re welcome to check out the Weber State University crime reports and information. You can also report a crime on their website.
- In case an unexpected event occurs, keep your mobile device on you.
- Lock up your home and car before leaving. Try not to leave any valuables behind.
- Pickpockets and fake vendors are sneaky, so stay alert!
Ogden Utah Police Department
Below is information regarding the police department in Ogden, Utah:
- The city of Ogden is served by the Ogden City Police Department with 129 sworn police officers
- Chief of Police: Eric R. Young
- The Ogden City Police Department was established in 1855
- To access Ogden police records, you must submit a request using this form.
- Ogden Utah police headquarters: 2186 Lincoln Avenue, Ogden, UT 84401
- Non-emergency number: 801-395-8221
Ogden Utah Crime FAQs
What is the Ogden Utah crime rate?
Ogden Utah has a crime rate of 3,806 per 100,000 people. This gives you a 1 in 26 chance of being a victim of crime.
Is Ogden Utah safe?
While the city has several areas with higher rates of crime, there are many safe and family-friendly areas in Ogden to choose from.
Is Ogden safer than Salt Lake City?
The crime rate in Ogden is 3,806 per 100k people, whereas the Salt Lake City crime rate is 8,275 per 100k people. Therefore, it’s safe to say that Ogden has a better crime rate.
All things considered, Ogden Utah has many safe areas to consider moving to. When you’re ready to relocate, give Wasatch Moving a call at 801-758-0030 for top-notch customer support from our friendly Ogden movers.
