City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 112 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Port St Lucie is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Jacksonville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Port St Lucie is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Jacksonville at $1,465 average has pockets that run $1,265 and others at $1,865: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and Port St Lucie are 224 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $472 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $10,776 (15%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 112 points (75%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Jacksonville are 224 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $472 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $10,776 (13%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 150 in Jacksonville, up 112 points (295%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 24% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Jacksonville is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $472/month back in your pocket ($5,664/year). Over five years that's $28,320 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, Jacksonville 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
15% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 15% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Port St Lucie (about $10,776 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Port St Lucie is the stronger labor market on paper. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 75% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% 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. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
2% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Jacksonville 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. Port St Lucie scores 2% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Jacksonville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 15% higher ($80,648), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 75% lower than Jacksonville (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
Jacksonville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 89/100 in Port St Lucie). That 41-point spread matters more than the $472 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $69,872), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Median income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Port St Lucie clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Jacksonville deserves a serious look only when you already know the Jacksonville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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