City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 110 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield 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. Bakersfield at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Bakersfield and Port St Lucie are 2,334 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $465 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $108 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 110 points (74%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Bakersfield are 2,334 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $465 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $108 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 148 in Bakersfield, up 110 points (289%).
Bakersfield, CA
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 Bakersfield and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 24% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Bakersfield is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $465/month back in your pocket ($5,580/year). Over five years that's $27,900 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, Bakersfield 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
1% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 1% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Port St Lucie (about $108 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
74% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 74% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. Bakersfield can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Bakersfield and Port St Lucie are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Port St Lucie
72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°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 Bakersfield
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Bakersfield 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 1% 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 74% lower than Bakersfield (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
Safety is the widest gap: Port St Lucie scores 89/100 versus 48/100 in Bakersfield. Rent is $1,937/month in Port St Lucie and $1,472/month in Bakersfield, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $80,540), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Median income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Port St Lucie is ahead on safety (89/100 vs 48/100); Bakersfield is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,472/month rent plus $80,540 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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