Is Salt Lake City or South Salt Lake Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Salt Lake City is safer than South Salt Lake (Safety Score 2/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 6,064 per 100,000 versus 6,641 for South Salt Lake — 9% lower. Salt Lake City has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Salt Lake City has a 33% lower rate.
Note: Salt Lake City is 8.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Salt Lake City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
South Salt Lake — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salt Lake City, UT
South Salt Lake, UT
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Salt Lake City | South Salt Lake | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 6,064.2 | 6,641.0 | -576.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 864.2 | 767.5 | +96.8 |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 7.7 | -2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 158.5 | 158.1 | +0.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 183.4 | 150.4 | +33.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 517.2 | 451.2 | +66.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,200.0 | 5,873.5 | -673.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 551.1 | 620.9 | -69.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 4,184.8 | 4,666.4 | -481.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 464.1 | 586.2 | -122.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salt Lake City or South Salt Lake safer?
Salt Lake City is safer with a total crime rate of 6,064 per 100K vs 6,641 for South Salt Lake — a 9% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Salt Lake City has a violent crime rate of 864.2 per 100K while South Salt Lake has 767.5. South Salt Lake has lower violent crime.
About Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City, founded by Brigham Young, serves as the global headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nestled against the Wasatch Mountains, it is Utah's most populous city with a diverse and growing tech industry. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 212,675, Salt Lake City has a total crime rate of 6,064.2 per 100,000 residents.
About South Salt Lake, UT
South Salt Lake, nestled between I-15 and I-80, is a diverse urban area with a significant Hispanic population. Once a farming community, it retains a blue-collar character with many industrial businesses. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 25,930, South Salt Lake has a total crime rate of 6,641.0 per 100,000 residents.