Is Salt Lake City or Vernal Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Vernal is safer than Salt Lake City (Safety Score 15/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 3,322 per 100,000 versus 6,064 for Salt Lake City — 45% lower. Salt Lake City has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Vernal has a 90% lower rate.
Note: Salt Lake City is 19.8x 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
Vernal — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salt Lake City, UT
Vernal, UT
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Salt Lake City | Vernal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 6,064.2 | 3,321.5 | +2,742.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 864.2 | 279.9 | +584.3 |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 9.3 | -4.2 |
| Rape Rate | 158.5 | 74.6 | +83.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 183.4 | 18.7 | +164.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 517.2 | 177.3 | +340.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,200.0 | 3,041.6 | +2,158.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 551.1 | 186.6 | +364.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 4,184.8 | 2,687.1 | +1,497.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 464.1 | 167.9 | +296.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salt Lake City or Vernal safer?
Vernal is safer with a total crime rate of 3,322 per 100K vs 6,064 for Salt Lake City — a 45% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Salt Lake City has a violent crime rate of 864.2 per 100K while Vernal has 279.9. Vernal 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 Vernal, UT
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. With a safety score of 15/100 and a population coverage of 10,718, Vernal has a total crime rate of 3,321.5 per 100,000 residents.