Relocating to SLC any safe areas? (Sandy, South Jordan: sale, crime rate, houses)

[kmurph1021]

Hi,
My hubby and I are relocating to Lehi, UT and I'm just curious what the safest areas to live are? I've read a lot of negative stuff about SLC and all the crime/robberies. What's the safest area to live? We've been looking at South Jordan, Sandy, and Draper. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thankies!

[DP525]

Compare the total crime rate found on this website with where you are from. I'm sure you will find it less. I think you will find it safe in any of the areas you mention.

[chazcrew]

Of those three cities, Draper is probably the "safest", but all three of them are really fine. The crime you've read about is probably more around West Valley or Magna, or some places in downtown SLC. The south end of the valley is quite safe and family friendly. And all of them are reasonable commutes to Lehi. Welcome to Utah!

[kmurph1021]

Thanks for the input guys

[coolcats]

Originally Posted by chazcrew

The crime you've read about is probably more around West Valley or Magna, or some places in downtown SLC.

Not all of WVC or Magna is nice, but sometimes city bashing in the forum contributes to the same kinds of misperceptions everyone seems to get about the whole LDS/NonLDS issue. People begin a reputation and it becomes self-sutaining regardless of reality.

I looked up the latest crime statistics by zip code on Sperling's best places. Magna has a violent crime risk of 3 and property crime risk of 6. The national average is 3 in both categories.

The desireable Sugarhouse neighborhood in Sale Lake scores a 6 and 8 respectively.

Similarly, Sandy, which is considered a respectable suburb, scores a 2 and 5 respectively. Only one point better than Magna in each category.

Granted I don't know their methodology for coming up with the numbers, but it seems to indicate that perceptions can be wrong.

[coolcats]

I should add, I'm not saying the situation is all rosy and perfect. I do feel crime is worse in the Salt Lake Valley than the midwestern town of 50,000 I grew up in. However, compared to most cities of its size its ok.

[RockyMtnr]

[quote=coolcats;276296]

Originally Posted by chazcrew

Magna has a violent crime risk of 3 and property crime risk of 6. The national average is 3 in both categories.
The desireable Sugarhouse neighborhood in Sale Lake scores a 6 and 8 respectively.
Granted I don't know their methodology for coming up with the numbers, but it seems to indicate that perceptions can be wrong.

I've walked the streets of all the neighborhoods in SLC - lived in many. Magna is not a safe place to live or visit. Sugarhouse is. Sandy has a lot of break-ins but you can walk the streets. Best bet for safety is to stay on the east side of town - oh, and downtown SLC, you can walk the streets - but keep your eyes open especially if you get outside the 4 block boundary of downtown. South Salt Lake (25th So-33rd So) isn't too bad either. WVC, you can walk the streets most places ... but maybe not after dark. Big, wild, drug-related problems in Midvale, Magna and WVC, racial problems in all three also - not black -vs- white - but everything else -vs- white.

[coolcats]

[quote=RockyMtnr;276347]

Originally Posted by coolcats

I've walked the streets of all the neighborhoods in SLC - lived in many. Magna is not a safe place to live or visit. Sugarhouse is. Sandy has a lot of break-ins but you can walk the streets.

I have to disagree with your assessment of Magna. When I'm in an area I sort of look for three, perhaps unconventional things, when deciding if I feel safe:

1) How many homes and businesses have security fences and bars around them.

2) Do I see shopping carts from grocery stores just lying around that people have taken because they don't have cars to drive home from the store.

3) Are there "sketchy" people just standing or walking around. By sketchy, I generally mean males 15-30 who could/should be working but aren't.

I don't see any of those things in most of Magna. I do see lots of kids walking home from school by themselves. There is a section called "old Magna" built around 1900 that does have some of those things, and I agree with you on that. But the rest of the area has sort of a rural, backward, cowboy feel to it, or a working class feel. I don't have any vested interest in Magna, other than I drive there to the post office sometimes. I would feel more safe walking there at night than say around Trolley square in Salt Lake.

If you drive around the Rose Park or Glendale areas of Salt Lake you do see those things. Ditto for some of the old areas of West Valley. Don't know about the extent of the drug problems in any of the areas we are talking about, but I'm sure there are some meth houses in all.

[RockyMtnr]

Dear Coolcats; I'm not sure of what area you mean in Magna that isn't oldtown as it skitters off into obscurely-named "other" neighborhoods but - will address a couple things you mention.
First, although there are some problems among youths of school-age, it's not the "roving street gang" style. It's on the side-streets, people shooting back and forth across the streets. As for eyeballing grocery carts ... there aren't groceries within walking distance. I know some "cool" folks out there and for the most part, they're in fear. I actually like the area - but I've lived all over and to me, nothing in SLCounty compares to a barrio or a real-rough part of any larger city. And you're right about the Trolley Square area - it's what I meant by walking outside of downtown proper - although I did it for many years and the only place in the entire valley where I did run into a problem was in the "near" part of Rose Park - if that's what it is, around 1st-4th north and 6th west - west of the tracks. So, enjoy Magna - they've got a great sandwich shop there (can't recall the name) - but I suggest you don't live there.

[coolcats]

Originally Posted by RockyMtnr

Dear Coolcats; I'm not sure of what area you mean in Magna that isn't oldtown as it skitters off into obscurely-named "other" neighborhoods but - will address a couple things you mention.
First, although there are some problems among youths of school-age, it's not the "roving street gang" style. It's on the side-streets, people shooting back and forth across the streets. As for eyeballing grocery carts ... there aren't groceries within walking distance. I know some "cool" folks out there and for the most part, they're in fear. I actually like the area - but I've lived all over and to me, nothing in SLCounty compares to a barrio or a real-rough part of any larger city. And you're right about the Trolley Square area - it's what I meant by walking outside of downtown proper - although I did it for many years and the only place in the entire valley where I did run into a problem was in the "near" part of Rose Park - if that's what it is, around 1st-4th north and 6th west - west of the tracks. So, enjoy Magna - they've got a great sandwich shop there (can't recall the name) - but I suggest you don't live there.

I'm just curious when the last time was that you were out there? There are indeed a few blocks colloquially called "old magna." That's the area I would agree with you on. Maybe that's where you spent your time. Houses built between 1900-1920 to house the miners that moved to the area.

Next there are houses built in the 50', 60's and 70's. Smallish brick houses. That seems to be a working class area. Finally, you have modern neighborhoods built in the last 10 years or so. Again probably working class, but decent everyday houses.

On 35th South, There is a Reams grocery store at about 7200 West, and at about 8000 west there is a Smiths. Both right across the street from most of these neighborhoods, to which I am referring. I might know what sandwich shop you are talking about if its across from the Post Office.

Again, I don't think Magna is a great place, and I don't live there. There are obviously nicer towns, but it's not the wild west ghetto you are describing.

My father-in-Law taught at Magna's Cypress high (commuting from Sandy) until he retired a couple of years ago. He said most of the kids there were good kids, but worked too much after school. I have never heard of shootings across the streets. I too have met several people who live there -- my wife's cousin, several people from church etc. Never heard them express the kind of fears your friends described. Different neighborhoods maybe? Anyway, it doesn't matter that much. You have your perspectives, I have mine. If someone wanted to live there, I would be more concerned about the effects of price appreciation (or lack thereof) on their property due to the bad rap, then shootings etc.