If you’re moving to Salt Lake City, UT you’re probably concerned about the crime rates of SLC neighborhoods. Is Salt Lake City safe? It’s true that the Salt Lake City crime rate is higher than average, but there are many safe neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, UT where you can walk to your car without looking over your shoulder or feel comfortable taking the kids to play at the park.
If you have school-aged children, you’ll want to also choose a town with a high-quality school district or easy access to the private school you want your kids to attend. The public school system within the city limits isn’t the best, but there are very good public charter schools located in and around the city to ensure your children get a quality education if private school isn’t an option.
Here’s a list of the safest places to live in Salt Lake City, UT for young professionals, families, and retirees looking for a welcoming community, as well as a list of areas to avoid.
Crime Stats in Salt Lake City, UT – Is SLC Safe?
How safe is Salt Lake City? It greatly depends on where you live in the city. The overall Salt Lake City crime rate is above average, but there are many safe neighborhoods in SLC and the most serious crimes tend to be located in a few areas of the city.
Crime statistics are separated into two major categories, violent crimes, and property crimes. Violent crimes include events like assault, rape, and murder. Property crimes are things like theft, robberies, or vandalism. The Salt Lake City Police Department strives to protect all residents and provides an offense summary for the various types of crimes for all districts by month and year so you can determine the best and worst neighborhoods in Salt Lake City.
However, it’s important to note that crime rates overall are trending lower than they have in years past. Salt Lake City ended 2021 with the last 28 days of the year having a crime rate that was 11.3% lower compared to the previous 28 days, with violent crimes dropping considerably by 18.4%.
Like any US city, within Salt Lake City, there are more dangerous areas where you have a higher risk of crime and locations where you are considerably safer. There are 6,370 crimes per 100,000 people within the city itself, compared to the nationwide crime rate of 2,477 crimes per 100,000 people. When looking at the state of Utah as a whole, the crime rate is closer to the national average, at 2,405 crimes per 100,000 people.
Violent Crime in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City reports 1,442 violent crimes annually. Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Salt Lake City are 1 in 140 people.
Property Crime in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City reports 11,452 property crimes per year, making your chances of becoming a victim of property crime about 1 in 18.
Safest Neighborhoods in Salt Lake City
Whether you’re moving to the city for college, a new job, or looking for a place to raise your family, taking the time to research the various neighborhoods in Salt Lake City helps you find the right area for your needs.
Putting safety first in your search for a new home, you’ll find the lowest crime rates in Salt Lake City tend to be in what’s considered the nice neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, including:
Greater Avenues – Residential Neighborhood with Outdoor Recreation Activities
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- Crime: 2,582 crimes per 100,000 people
- Median home price: $699,900
- Known for: Salt Lake City’s oldest neighborhood with Mormons living next door to liberals, and small homes mixed in with larger homes. Many young professionals and artists call this area their home.
Greater Avenues is one of the best places to live in Salt Lake City, UT if you’re looking for a suburban, residential neighborhood with low crime and easy access to outdoor activities. You’ll find The Avenues close to Wasatch Mountains and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The neighborhood also offers fun cafes, several art galleries, bistros, and wine bars.
Bonneville Hills – Safe SLC Neighborhood with Good Schools
- Crime: 4,692 per 100,000 people
- Median home price: $699,000
- Known for: Above average school district, lots of green space
Over 82% of Bonneville Hills residents own their homes in this predominantly single-family residential neighborhood. A great choice for families looking for a safe neighborhood with good schools. Bonneville Hills is the closest to Foothill Village which offers a semi-regional shopping center. Homes sit back away from the streets, similar to East Bench, and the streets are lined with trees and sidewalks. The area is easily accessible to downtown SLC, the University of Utah, and several parks.
Wasatch Hollow – Safe, Walkable Neighborhood
- Crime: 2,414 crimes per 100,000 people
- Median home price: $702,000
- Known for: Wasatch Hollow Preserve and Wasatch Hollow Park
Located southeast of downtown, Wasatch Hollow is a small neighborhood with a population of about 3,188 and one of the best neighborhoods in Salt Lake City. Both Wasatch Hollow Preserve and Wasatch Hollow Park run through the neighborhood, giving residents the best of both worlds – access to green space while living in a city. Most streets in Wasatch Hollow are wider than average, lined with trees, and offer sidewalks that make this a very walkable neighborhood within the city.
East Central – Popular, Safe Neighborhood for College Students
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- Crime: 4,791 crimes per 100,000 people
- Median home price: $579,000
- Known for: College students and staff, Liberty Park, and botanical gardens
Just outside the University of Utah, the East Central neighborhood has everything the college student would look for: cafes, shops, restaurants, and green spaces. One of the safest areas in Salt Lake City, the neighborhood features a balanced mix of apartments and single-family homes and is a great choice for anyone who works at the university. With a population of 20,893, East Central is more densely populated than some of the other safe neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, but this is a benefit for many who prefer city-living.
Yalecrest – Interesting Architecture with Views of the Mountains
- Crime: 3,160 crimes per 100,000 people
- Median home price: $786,000
- Known for: Upscale neighborhood with early 1900s English Tudor and Cottage-style homes
One of the safest neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, Yalecrest is also among the most historical area known for its architectural variety. You’ll also enjoy views of the mountain peaks from many city streets within Yalecrest, and access to two parks within the neighborhood boundaries. There are just a few restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping opportunities in Yalecrest, so if you live here you’ll need to plan to venture outside the area for groceries or access to nightlife.
East Bench – An Affluent Neighborhood Popular with Families
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- Crime: 2,404 per 100,000 people
- Median home price:
- Known for: Having the high school from Disney’s High School Musical
Located in the foothills of the Wasatch Range, the affluent area of East Bench is one of the best neighborhoods to live in Salt Lake City for families. Most of the homes in this neighborhood are single-family homes with small lots, but there are also apartment buildings. East High School was even featured in Disney’s series, High School Musical. Living in East Bench gives you easy access to lots of things to do, including the Hogle Zoo, the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, and the Fort Douglas Military Museum. There’s rarely a need to venture outside the neighborhood since there’s also a variety of restaurants and the Foothill Village Shopping Center.
Neighborhoods to Avoid in Salt Lake City
Part of choosing Salt Lake City safe neighborhoods is knowing how to avoid the more dangerous areas! It’s no secret that bad areas of Salt Lake City exist and you should not center your search around these areas if you’re looking for a safe place to relocate. Here are the areas to skip in your search for a new home:
- Poplar Grove (pop: 14,748): 48% more crime than Salt Lake City
- Glendale (pop: 25,671): 11,740 crimes per 100,000
- West Pointe (pop: 8,426): 12,076 crimes per 100,000 people
- Fairpark (pop: 7,803): 6,824 crimes per 100,000 people
Safest Salt Lake City Neighborhoods FAQs
Is downtown Salt Lake City safe?
A crime occurs every 15 minutes in downtown Salt Lake City. People who live in the city consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest.
Is it safe to live in Salt Lake City, Utah?
Like all cities, there are areas considered unsafe as well as many safe neighborhoods in Salt Lake City. When relocating to one of the safer neighborhoods, you’re just as safe in SLC as you would be in most other US cities.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Salt Lake City?
If you’re moving into the area, look for a new house or apartment located in the following Salt Lake City neighborhoods:
- Greater Avenues
- Wasatch Hollow
- Yalecrest
- East Central
- East Bench
Map of Safe Neighborhoods in Salt Lake City
Ready to make one of the safest neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, Utah your new home? As long as you know the areas with higher crime rates to avoid, you can safely make one of the best neighborhoods in SLC home for you and your family. When you’re ready to plan the logistics of your relocation, the experienced team at Wasatch Moving is here to help. We know the city and surrounding areas inside-out and can complete your move with ease. Give us a call at (801) 758-0030 for a free, affordable moving quote.
