City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 108 in Mesa, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 131, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mesa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,620 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Mesa and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 70 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,620 in Mesa and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
This is a genuine split. Mesa wins on cost of living and the job market and Port St Lucie wins on 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. Mesa at $1,620 average has pockets that run $1,420 and others at $2,020: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Mesa and Port St Lucie are 1,916 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,620 a month in Mesa to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $317 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $82,752 in Mesa to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, down $2,104 (3%).
The crime index goes from 108 in Mesa to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 70 points (65%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Mesa are 1,916 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,620 a month in Mesa, down $317 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $82,752 in Mesa, up $2,104 (3%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 108 in Mesa, up 70 points (184%).
Mesa, AZ
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 Mesa and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Mesa rent is 16% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Mesa
Winner$1,620/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,620 a month in Mesa versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Mesa is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,804, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Mesa still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Port St Lucie.
Planning to buy in Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Mesa's median income is 3% higher than Port St Lucie
Mesa
Winner$82,752
Port St Lucie
$80,648
Median household income is $82,752 in Mesa versus $80,648 in Port St Lucie, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Mesa (about $2,104 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
65% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 65% lower than Mesa
Mesa
108 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 108 in Mesa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% 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. Mesa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Mesa and Port St Lucie are about even on typical weather.
Mesa
79°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Port St Lucie
72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mesa averages about 79°F (87°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Mesa sits near 79°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Mesa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,620 a month. Choose Mesa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Mesa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($82,752). Start with Mesa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
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 65% lower than Mesa (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Port St Lucie: Port St Lucie scores 89/100 versus 58/100 in Mesa, with typical rent at $1,937 versus $1,620. I would vet the exact ZIP in Mesa before trading 31 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (89/100 in Port St Lucie vs 58/100 in Mesa), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $82,752 in Mesa versus $80,648 in Port St Lucie.
Port St Lucie clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Mesa deserves a serious look only when you already know the Mesa block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Mesa and Port St Lucie, plus other cities in AZ and FL.
