Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Vernal, UT has a Safety Score of 15/100 — higher crime than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,321.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,527 of 2,971 US cities and #45 of 48 in Utah.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Vernal, Utah Safe?
Vernal, "Dinosaurland," is a remote city in northeastern Utah, serving as a gateway to Dinosaur National Monument. Its economy is historically tied to natural resource extraction. The population is predominantly White, with a significant rural presence.
Vernal has a safety score of 15/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,321.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Vernal ranks #45 out of 48 cities in Utah and #2527 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 15th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 85% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Vernal is rape, at 74.6 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Vernal's total crime rate decreased by 18.4%, with violent crime declining 49.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Vernal Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 30 | 279.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 9.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 8 | 74.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 18.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 19 | 177.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 326 | 3,041.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 20 | 186.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 288 | 2,687.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 18 | 167.9 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Vernal vs Utah Average
How does Vernal's crime rate compare to the Utah state average?
| Metric | Vernal | Utah Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 279.9 | 267.1 | +4.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,041.6 | 1,597.0 | +90.5% |
| Murder Rate | 9.3 | 2.5 | +270.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,321.5 | 1,864.1 | +78.2% |
Vernal Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Vernal, Utah.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,718 | 3,321.5 | 279.9 | 3,041.6 |
| 2022 | 10,368 | 4,070.2 | 549.8 | 3,520.5 |
| 2020 | 10,606 | 3,356.6 | 339.4 | 3,017.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vernal, Utah safe?
Vernal has a safety score of 15/100, meaning it has less crime than about 15% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,321.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Vernal is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Vernal, Utah?
According to FBI data for 2024, Vernal has a violent crime rate of 279.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,041.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Vernal compare to the national average?
Vernal's total crime rate of 3,321.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 10,718 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Vernal?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Vernal include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Vernal safe to visit?
Like any city, Vernal has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 15/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.