City comparison
Yes. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 134 in Huntsville, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 127, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Port St Lucie and Huntsville split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 96 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,937 in Port St Lucie and $1,171 in Huntsville.
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. Huntsville 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. Huntsville at $1,171 average has pockets that run $971 and others at $1,571: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Port St Lucie and Huntsville are 632 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $766 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $5,934 (7%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 134 in Huntsville, up 96 points (253%).
The move
Huntsville and Port St Lucie are 632 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $766 a month (65%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $5,934 (8%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 96 points (72%).
Port St Lucie, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Port St Lucie and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 40% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Huntsville is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $766/month back in your pocket ($9,192/year). Over five years that's $45,960 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, Huntsville 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
8% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 8% higher than Huntsville
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Port St Lucie (about $5,934 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
72% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 72% lower than Huntsville
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
134 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 134 in Huntsville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Huntsville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 6% more comfortable than Huntsville
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Huntsville
63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Port St Lucie sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Port St Lucie scores 6% 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 Huntsville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 8% 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 72% lower than Huntsville (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Huntsville
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 40% cheaper here at about $1,171 a month. Choose Huntsville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Huntsville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (51/100 safety vs 89/100 in Port St Lucie). That 38-point spread matters more than the $766 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $74,714), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Median income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $74,714 in Huntsville.
Pick Port St Lucie when you want the stronger safety signal (89/100). Otherwise, Huntsville's case rests on a Huntsville ZIP you trust at $1,171 rent.
Common questions
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