City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Madison and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 53 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,413 in Madison 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. Madison 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. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Madison and Port St Lucie are 1,202 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $524 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $2,598 (3%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 53 points (58%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Madison are 1,202 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $524 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $78,050 in Madison, down $2,598 (3%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 91 in Madison, up 53 points (139%).
Madison, WI
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 Madison and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Madison rent is 27% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Madison is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $524/month back in your pocket ($6,288/year). Over five years that's $31,440 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, Madison 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
3% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 3% higher than Madison
Madison
$78,050
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Port St Lucie (about $2,598 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
58% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 58% lower than Madison
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% 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. Madison can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. 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 56% 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 Madison 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 Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison 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 3% 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 58% lower than Madison (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
Madison carries the heavier crime signal on this page (63/100 safety vs 89/100 in Port St Lucie). That 26-point spread matters more than the $524 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $78,050), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Weather averages land near 52°F in Madison and 72°F in Port St Lucie.
Port St Lucie clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Madison deserves a serious look only when you already know the Madison block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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