City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 132 in Arlington, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Arlington and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 94 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,470 in Arlington and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
This is a genuine split. Arlington wins on cost of living and Port St Lucie wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Arlington at $1,470 average has pockets that run $1,270 and others at $1,870: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Arlington and Port St Lucie are 1,069 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $467 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $5,477 (7%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 94 points (71%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Arlington are 1,069 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $467 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $75,171 in Arlington, down $5,477 (7%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 132 in Arlington, up 94 points (247%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Port St Lucie, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Arlington rent is 24% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Arlington is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $467/month back in your pocket ($5,604/year). Over five years that's $28,020 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Port St Lucie, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Arlington is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 7% higher than Arlington
Arlington
$75,171
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Port St Lucie (about $5,477 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
71% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 71% lower than Arlington
Arlington
132 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 132 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Port St Lucie. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Port St Lucie is the easier city. Arlington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Arlington and Port St Lucie are about even on typical weather.
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Port St Lucie
72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Port St Lucie sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Arlington
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Port St Lucie is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($80,648). Start with Port St Lucie if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Port St Lucie is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Arlington (38 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Port St Lucie leads on safety (89/100 vs 52/100 in Arlington). Typical rent is $1,937 in Port St Lucie and $1,470 in Arlington; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $75,171), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Median income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $75,171 in Arlington.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Port St Lucie; Arlington only makes sense when you have walked the Arlington ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,470 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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