City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Raleigh and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 104 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh is the easier city on typical rent, but Port St Lucie can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Raleigh at $1,572 average has pockets that run $1,372 and others at $1,972: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Raleigh and Port St Lucie are 594 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $365 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, down $4,747 (6%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 104 points (73%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Raleigh are 594 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $365 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $4,747 (6%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 142 in Raleigh, up 104 points (274%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 19% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Raleigh is 19% 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 $4,380, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Raleigh's median income is 6% higher than Port St Lucie
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Port St Lucie
$80,648
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $80,648 in Port St Lucie, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Raleigh (about $4,747 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
73% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 73% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Raleigh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. 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 16% 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 Raleigh 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 and professional growth
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Port St Lucie if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but Port St Lucie is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 73% lower than Raleigh (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
Raleigh carries the heavier crime signal on this page (49/100 safety vs 89/100 in Port St Lucie). That 40-point spread matters more than the $365 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (89/100 in Port St Lucie vs 49/100 in Raleigh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Raleigh and 72°F in Port St Lucie.
Port St Lucie clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Raleigh deserves a serious look only when you already know the Raleigh block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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