If you're moving to Utah County from out of state, one of the first questions on your mind is probably some version of: is it safe?
It's a fair question, and an important one. But it's also one I want to answer the right way. Rather than tell you my opinion of which areas are safe, which wouldn't be fair to you and frankly wouldn't be appropriate for me to do, I'm going to show you exactly where to find the data and how to research any specific area yourself. You know your family and what matters to you. The best thing I can do is hand you the tools to make an informed decision.
Whether you're relocating from a large metro area or another state entirely, the approach is the same: look at the official data, research the specific neighborhood you're considering, and talk to local law enforcement directly. Here's how to do all three, plus a full directory of local contacts to keep handy once you arrive.
Start With the Official Crime Data
The most reliable safety information comes from official law enforcement data, not from opinion or word of mouth. Here are the sources that pull directly from police reporting.
FBI Crime Data Explorer The FBI maintains a national crime database where you can look up reported crime trends by agency and location. It pulls from law enforcement agencies across the country, which makes it useful for seeing reported numbers and trends over time. This is about as official as it gets.
Utah Department of Public Safety Utah's DPS compiles statewide crime and safety data and publishes reports. Good for understanding broader Utah trends and for links to state-level safety resources.
Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification Part of Utah DPS, the BCI handles background checks, the offender registries, and criminal history resources for the state.
How to Look Up Crime Data for a Specific City or Neighborhood
If you want to research a specific city like Lehi, Saratoga Springs, or Eagle Mountain, or a specific neighborhood within one, these third-party tools pull crime data into a map or score format that's easy to read. Each uses its own method, so use more than one and treat them as a starting point.
NeighborhoodScout Provides neighborhood-level crime data and analysis. Search a specific area and see reported crime information in context.
CrimeGrade.org Assigns letter-grade crime ratings down to the neighborhood level based on reported data. Useful for a quick read on any address you're considering.
AreaVibes Combines crime data with other livability factors and lets you look at specific areas.
Here's the most important tip: look up the actual address or neighborhood you're considering, not just the city as a whole. Conditions can vary within any city, and these tools let you get specific. Then verify anything important against the official sources above and with the local law enforcement agency that serves that area.
Find and Contact Your Local Law Enforcement
One of the best things you can do is go straight to the source. Local law enforcement is a genuinely useful resource, and most agencies are happy to answer questions from people considering a move.
One thing worth knowing if you're new to the area: not every Utah County city runs its own police department. Some contract with the Utah County Sheriff's Office instead.
Eagle Mountain is served by the Utah County Sheriff's Office rather than a city police department. Find information at eaglemountain.gov/government/utah-county-sheriffs.
Saratoga Springs has its own police department. See the Saratoga Springs Police Department page.
Lehi has its own police department. See the Lehi Police Department page.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office serves unincorporated areas and several cities including Eagle Mountain. See sheriff.utahcounty.gov.
Don't hesitate to call a non-emergency line and ask questions. They would rather answer your questions than have you guess.
Utah County Law Enforcement Directory
Here's a directory of non-emergency law enforcement numbers across Utah County. For any emergency, always call 911. Keep these for non-urgent matters.
Utah County Sheriff's Office — 801-851-4000 — 3075 N Main St, Spanish Fork Utah Valley Dispatch (non-emergency) — 801-794-3970 Saratoga Springs Police — 801-766-6503 (Utah Valley Dispatch non-emergency: 801-798-5600) Lehi Police — 385-201-1005 (non-emergency and animal control) Alpine / Highland Police — 801-756-9800 American Fork Police — 801-763-3020 Mapleton Police — 801-491-8048 Orem Police — 801-229-7070 Payson Police — 801-465-5240 Pleasant Grove Police — 801-785-3506 Provo Police — 801-852-6210 Salem Police — 801-423-2312 Santaquin Police — 801-754-1070 Spanish Fork Police — 801-804-4700 Springville Police — 801-491-9421 BYU Police — 801-422-2222 Utah Valley University Police — 801-863-5555
Check the Offender Registry
Utah maintains a public offender registry. It's publicly available and free to search.
- Utah BCI offender registries provide the statewide registry.
- The Utah County Sheriff's offender registration page provides county-level information.
Search the specific area you're considering.
Emergency Preparedness and Alerts
Safety isn't only about crime. In Utah County, being prepared for wildfire, severe weather, and other emergencies is a real part of living here, especially given how active recent wildfire seasons have been.
Utah statewide alerts — utah.gov/services/alerts is a good starting point for state-level emergency notifications.
Utah County Emergency Management — 801-851-4130. The county runs an Emergency Notification System for evacuations, severe weather, and other emergencies. Sign up so you'll be alerted if you ever need to evacuate.
Utah County Fire Marshal — 801-851-8341, for fire restrictions and wildfire questions.
Wildfire awareness and evacuation — Utah Fire Info tracks active fires and restrictions statewide. If you're moving into an area near open land or foothills, ask your local fire authority about evacuation routes for your neighborhood. You can read more in my wildfire and air quality guide linked below.
Be Ready Utah — 801-538-3400, the state's emergency preparedness program with guidance on building a family emergency plan and a 72-hour kit.
Other Important Safety Numbers
Worth keeping in your phone once you move:
Emergency — 911 Utah Poison Control Center — 800-222-1222 Domestic Violence Information Line — 1-800-897-LINK (5465) Center for Women and Children (Orem) — 801-227-5038 Utah Child Protection Registry — 1-800-721-SAFE Utah County Children's Justice Center — 801-851-8554 Red Cross — 1-800-RED-CROSS Utah County Animal Services — 801-851-4049
Get Involved: Neighborhood Watch
One of the best safety resources in Utah County isn't a website or an app. It's your neighbors.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office runs a Neighborhood Watch program that trains residents to look out for one another and work with law enforcement to prevent crime. It's free to join, and the Sheriff's Office trains and certifies your group at no cost.
For families in Eagle Mountain, the Eagle Mountain Division of the Utah County Sheriff's Office coordinates the program. To start a Neighborhood Watch in your area or join an existing one, contact the Eagle Mountain Division at 801-789-6712. They'll provide a Starter Handbook and walk you through the process, which includes designating an area leader, a quick background check for that volunteer, and a first neighborhood meeting where a Sheriff's liaison provides training.
The Neighborhood Watch Starter Handbook is available online if you want to read through how it works before you reach out.
Beyond crime prevention, it's one of the easier ways to actually meet the people on your street when you're new to an area. That alone makes it worth a look.
Why I Do It This Way
I live in Utah County. I'm raising my family here, in the same community where I work. I chose to build my life and my business here, and I care deeply about the families I help move into this area.
That's exactly why I won't rank neighborhoods for you or tell you which areas are "safe" and which aren't. That kind of judgment depends on your family, your priorities, and your own research, and it's not something anyone should decide for you. What I can do is make sure you have the official data, the right tools, and the local contacts to feel confident in your decision.
If you do your homework using the resources above and still have questions about life in Utah County, I'm always happy to talk through what I can. I'll point you to the facts and let you draw your own conclusions.
I am here if you have any questions about moving to Utah County.
Relocating to Utah County? Let's talk →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out if a specific Utah County city or neighborhood is safe? Research it yourself using objective data. Start with the FBI Crime Data Explorer (cde.ucr.cjis.gov) and the Utah Department of Public Safety (dps.utah.gov), then use neighborhood-level tools like NeighborhoodScout, CrimeGrade.org, and AreaVibes to look up the specific area. Search the actual address or neighborhood, not just the city, and confirm anything important with the local law enforcement agency that serves it.
How do I look up crime data for Lehi, Saratoga Springs, or Eagle Mountain? Use the same tools for any city: the FBI Crime Data Explorer for official reported data, and NeighborhoodScout, CrimeGrade.org, or AreaVibes for neighborhood-level detail. Enter the specific city or address you want to research. For local context, contact that city's police department, or the Utah County Sheriff's Office for Eagle Mountain.
Who provides police service in Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, and Lehi? Saratoga Springs and Lehi each have their own police departments. Eagle Mountain is served by the Utah County Sheriff's Office. Contact information is on each city's website, and the Sheriff's resources are at sheriff.utahcounty.gov.
What are the non-emergency police numbers in Utah County? Key ones include the Utah County Sheriff (801-851-4000), Utah Valley Dispatch (801-794-3970), Saratoga Springs (801-766-6503), and Lehi (385-201-1005). For any emergency, always call 911.
How do I check the offender registry in Utah? Utah maintains a public registry through the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (bci.utah.gov/offender-registries) and the Utah County Sheriff (sheriff.utahcounty.gov). Search the specific area you're considering.
How do I sign up for emergency alerts in Utah County? Start with Utah's statewide alerts at utah.gov/services/alerts, and contact Utah County Emergency Management (801-851-4130) about the county's notification system. For wildfire information, Utah Fire Info (utahfireinfo.gov) tracks active fires and restrictions.
How do I start or join a Neighborhood Watch in Utah County? The Utah County Sheriff's Office runs a free Neighborhood Watch program. In Eagle Mountain, contact the Eagle Mountain Division at 801-789-6712 for a Starter Handbook and to get your group trained and certified.
Related reading:
- Utah County Schools: A Guide for Families Moving to the Area
- Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality in Utah County: What to Know and How to Protect Your Family
- Eagle Mountain Real Estate Market Update: June 2026
- Saratoga Springs Real Estate Market Update: June 2026
- How Far Are Utah County Cities From Ski Resorts? A Relocation Guide to Drive Times
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer; Utah Department of Public Safety; Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification; Utah BCI offender registries; Utah County Sheriff offender registration; Utah County Sheriff's Office; Eagle Mountain — Utah County Sheriff service; Saratoga Springs Police Department; Lehi Police Department; Utah County Neighborhood Watch Starter Handbook; Utah.gov alerts; Utah Fire Info; NeighborhoodScout; CrimeGrade.org; AreaVibes.
Written by Kat Ashby, Principal Broker and Realtor® at RootQuest Realty LLC in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Kat holds a Utah Division of Real Estate Principal Broker license (Credential #10382396-PB00). She has been actively selling in Utah County since 2020, specializing in buyer and seller representation, new construction, and corporate relocation through Altair Global. She is fluent in English and Portuguese, earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University, and lives in the community she sells in.