Provo-Orem rated most secure place to live in nation

PROVO — Someone warn David Letterman.

Provo ranks on more "top 10" lists than the late night TV host can churn out.

Just this year, Provo has been acclaimed by various groups as one of the best cities in the nation for business, nuclear families and people who hate stress.

Nearby Brigham Young University has also placed highly on several lists — even being named the nation's No. 1 stone-cold-sober college for five consecutive years by the Princeton Review.

The latest listing, published in the summer issue of the Farmer's Insurance Group's quarterly magazine, ranks the Provo-Orem area as the most secure large metropolitan area in the nation.

Provo Mayor Lewis Billings credited Provo citizens and local law enforcement with making the city safe.

"We have had a really strong focus around here for the last seven or eight years on trying to do things that empower our people," Billings said. "But we're lucky because we have people who are very lawful."

An independent group commissioned by Farmer's Insurance selected the Provo-Orem area over other cities with more than 200,000 residents based on its crime statistics, risk of natural disasters and job loss numbers.

Provo and Orem beat out other "secure" places like Madison, Wis., and Lancaster, Pa.

"I think it shows that we are a community that cares about each other and looks out for each other," said Provo city spokesman Mike Mower.

"Those things combined help reduce instances of crime and increase desirability."

But with a constant deluge of rankings, do these lists really mean anything?

"We certainly haven't hit some plateau where we think we're perfect because people say we're great," Billings said. "We still continue every day talking about what more we can do to improve."

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E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com