Utah : Safety by CityWest Jordan, Utah, is a suburb of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area tailored to a family lifestyle with outdoor wonders mixed with shopping and dining experiences you can’t find anywhere else.
It’s easy to begin to write this off as a bedroom community with all the “fun stuff” 13 miles away in Salt Lake City, but then, when you look deeper, you see a community that can thrive in its environment while still surrounded by the “big city” and incredible mountain views and activities.
West Jordan is close to all the major highway connectors in the area and has an intricate public transportation system that can take you to the grocery store or the ski resort and everywhere in between.
Warnings & Dangers in West Jordan
OVERALL RISK: LOW
There's a low overall risk in West Jordan. It's right next door to South Jordan, which is rated by Money Magazine as one of the best places to live in the country. Crime rates are low, the quality of life is high, and activities are plentiful.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Utah has owned the art of public transportation and West Jordan greatly benefits from it. There's low risk with lots of options. The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) offers buses, light rail, trains, drives on-demand, and ski resort routes to reduce traffic in the area. Generally, in a city so spread out, I'd highly recommend renting a car, but there are plenty of options to get around from West Jordan to anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley you'd like to go. Download the UTA GoRide app to learn more. You can even pay for rides right there on your phone. The UTA also has its police force for safety and most vehicles have cameras.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
There was one purse snatching reported in 2020 and no pickpocketing reports, giving it a low risk. There are some big retail areas in West Jordan, so you'll want to keep your wallet close and secured while visiting those, just in case.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There's a rare chance of an earthquake here. In 2020, the Salt Lake Valley was hit by a 5.7 magnitude quake. This was the only major quake in Salt Lake Valley since the city was created. Other parts of Utah are at risk of a quake every 7 years. In the Salt Lake Valley, there have been 136 tornadoes since 1950. Wildfires are a much bigger concern, with up to 1,000 of them annually across the state. West Jordan gets 53 inches of snow a year. All that said, there's still a low risk of a big natural disaster during your visit.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
There were 44 robberies in 2020, and half of those were in a house, so there's a low risk of being mugged. Again, use caution when at one of the entertainment areas, but you don't have to be hyper-vigilant.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Maybe during the 2020 Olympics, there would have been a higher terrorism risk, but overall, West Jordan and the Salt Lake City area aren't known as hard targets. I'd say there's a low risk here, maybe bordering on medium, just because of the size of the metro area.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Under the category of "False Pretenses/Swindle/Confidence Game" crimes in West Jordan by the Utah Department of Public Safety, there were 142 reports. That's a one in 823 chance of being a victim. While that's not a high percentage, it's higher than many other cities I've researched, so we're going to call that a medium risk. It could be that people in Utah just report crimes more often than in other places.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Of all the extensive crime data available for West Jordan, there's nothing that indicates a woman is any more at risk than a man. Traveling solo would always come with inherent risks, but there are enough basic safety measures to keep yourself protected.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The West Jordan tap water is tested more than 100 times each month for safe levels. It meets or exceeds the state and national requirements, so there's a low risk here.
Safest Places to Visit in West Jordan
The West Jordan community has several community parks with all kinds of amenities, from playgrounds to splash pads to sports options.
The Jordan River Trail spans 45 miles and goes through West Jordan.
Hop on a bike and see as many parts of the city as you can peddle or walk to.
It’s open from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
There have been a handful of violent crimes on the trail, but rarely, if ever, involving a stranger danger.
Gardner Village is a shopping and dining destination with a throwback to the pioneer days and history can be seen with every step.
It’s full of unique, small shops with intimate dining settings.
If you’re a sucker for animals like me, the petting zoo here is a must-see.
You can pet, feed, and watch baby goats, sheep, cows, chicks, bunnies, and horses.
For a more traditional shopping experience, check out Jordan Landing.
It’s a master-planned community spanning 500 acres but comes complete with the most popular brand-name stores and 33 restaurants.
There’s also a movie theatre.
Take the 20-minute drive to Rio Tinto Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine (that’s a mouthful!) and see a mine so large it can be spotted from space!
There are dozens upon dozens of hiking trails on the east side of the valley and some of the best skiing you’ll ever find.
It’s such a great ski spot that’s where the Winter Olympics were held in 2002.
Utah Olympic Park is open 7 days a week with varying hours each day.
A no-so-hidden secret is just 10 miles south.
You can see a replica of the “Up” house made famous in the Disney movie.
This is someone’s real home.
The address is 13218 S Herriman Rose Blvd, Herriman, UT 84096.
If you see Russell, tell him we said “hello.”
Places to Avoid in West Jordan
This is one of those cities where even the worst part of town isn’t that unsafe.
There has been an uptick in larcenies and a few more violent crimes on the Jordan River trail.
Rarely do these involve a tourist or stranger being unnecessarily attacked.
This area is growing with new retail and housing opening every couple of months.
This could bring new people into the area for better and for worse.
Overall, it’s a safe neighborhood community with good schools and retail draws that bring people in from other parts of the valley.
The crimes break down like this:
- Violent Crime: 1 in 401 chance
- Theft: 1 in 50 chance (30% of those from vehicles, so lock it up and keep valuables out of plain sight)
- Robbery: 1 in 2658 chance
- Aggravated Assault: 1 in 584 chance
Safety Tips for Traveling to West Jordan
- You might have heard that you can’t drink alcohol in Utah cities unless you are a member of a club or pay a membership fee. That law went away in 2009, so you are free to enter a bar if you choose to drink.
- If you have any safety questions while you are there, you can ask the city directly via text. Text “Hi” to 385.685.WEJO(9356). You don’t need to download an app. Just text your question and you’ll get a response.
- If you are traveling around Salt Lake Valley, here’s an app you can download to keep an early eye on traffic toward your destination. Just search for UDOT Traffic in the app store and you can download direct access to traffic cameras and information.
- Smoking is illegal in public places across Utah, but if you are a smoker, you can ask if an establishment has a smoking room, as several places do.
- We shouldn’t have to tell you not to text and drive, but Utah takes it seriously. You can talk on the phone, but you cannot do anything that requires touching the phone, like texting or searching for directions while driving. If you are caught, you could face a $750 fine, a misdemeanor charge, and up to three months in jail.
- You can’t visit the Salt Lake City Valley without checking out the actual Great Salt Lake. If you go there during warm months, you will see a lot of bugs. Biting gnats, midges, mosquitos, and brine flies can quickly ruin a trip. Locals say the bugs aren’t as bad when you are on the water.
- Another thing to look out for is the stink at the Great Salt Lake. Some locals have even dubbed it “Lake Stink.” The Department of Environmental Quality says the stink comes from the gases of rotting organic material at the bottom of the lake occasionally bubbling up to the surface. The smell is like the most rotten eggs ever. This usually lasts just a few hours.
- If you go walking on any of the trails in West Jordan, especially if you go alone, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back.
- There are mountains just to the west of West Jordan, but not all of them are publicly accessible. Check with the BLM website to see which areas are public lands and which are private. You are far better served going east to the dozens of public trails available.
- There’s a slew of safety advice from the ski resort of your choice. We know you are excited about hitting the slopes, but please read all the intricate details of the safety guides. We wanted to list them here, but there are just too many and they are all important.
So... How Safe Is West Jordan Really?
The biggest warning we can give comes right from the neighboring city of South Jordan.
“Thieves are always going to be opportunistic,” said Public Information Officer Rachael Van Cleave.
“If you make it easy for them, you are going to be their target.”
This is a low-crime area in a low-crime state.
This is a place built for families and growing for more families.
In such a beautiful area, it’s hard to imagine anything bad happening.
I can tell you from personal experience, however, I took an edit near downtown Salt Lake City on a road trip, and it seemed as sketchy as any bad neighborhood I’ve seen before.
West Jordan is nowhere near that area.
The biggest risk will come when the weather gets really cold and you aren’t prepared to dress for it.
You’ll need plenty of layers, especially if you plan on spending time outdoors.
Even if it’s winter, wear sunscreen.
The sun in Utah can be intense.
How Does West Jordan Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| West Jordan | 94 |
| Orlando | 64 |
| Las Vegas | 62 |
| San Francisco | 61 |
| Philadelphia | 60 |
| Houston | 59 |
| Atlanta | 58 |
| Manama (Bahrain) | 54 |
| Tianjin (China) | 67 |
| Brussels (Belgium) | 60 |
| Shanghai (China) | 66 |
| Belize City (Belize) | 37 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
Useful Information
Visas
You don't need any special ID to get into Utah or West Jordan, and you'll take care of all the Visa requirements at the airport.
Currency
You'll use the U.S. Dollar currency here for all purchases. Many activities can be purchased ahead of time on your mobile device. Bring a credit card for purchases and carry only the cash you'll need.
Weather
You get a real winter and a real summer here. Pack accordingly. Winter highs only top out in the 40s and can go down to the 20s or colder. Summer heat peaks in July with an average of 93°(F) and a low of only 69°(F). Keep in mind that's at the 4300-foot elevation of West Jordan. The higher up you go in the mountains, the colder it will get, so pack a jacket if you are going exploring.
Airports
Salt Lake City International Airport is 14 miles from West Jordan. There is an airport in West Jordan, but it's for law enforcement, recreational flying, and flight training. Chartered flights use this airport as well, so if you have a private plane, this could be an option for you. There is no other major airport within reasonable driving distance from Salt Lake City.
Travel Insurance
Winter storms and ripple effects from Midwestern and East Coast storms can delay or stop travel at Salt Lake Airport, so get travel insurance to protect your trip to West Jordan, Utah.
West Jordan Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 29 | 34 | 33 | 27 | 19 | 11 | 5 |
| Low °C | -4 | -2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 1 | -4 |
| High °F | 41 | 46 | 55 | 64 | 73 | 84 | 93 | 91 | 81 | 66 | 52 | 41 |
| Low °F | 25 | 28 | 36 | 43 | 50 | 61 | 70 | 68 | 57 | 46 | 34 | 25 |
Utah - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Ogden | 72 |
| Park City | 78 |
| Provo | 94 |
| Salt Lake City | 55 |
| Sandy | 93 |
| St. George | 94 |
| West Jordan | 94 |
| West Valley City | 65 |
