City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 158 in Riverside, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Riverside is cheaper. Median rent is $1,914 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Riverside and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 120 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,914 in Riverside and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
This is a genuine split. Riverside 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 crime gap is citywide. Port St Lucie has rougher pockets and Riverside has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Riverside and Port St Lucie are 2,238 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,914 a month in Riverside to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $23 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $91,045 in Riverside to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, down $10,397 (11%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Riverside to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 120 points (76%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Riverside are 2,238 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,914 a month in Riverside, down $23 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $91,045 in Riverside, up $10,397 (13%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 158 in Riverside, up 120 points (316%).
Riverside, CA
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 Riverside and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Riverside rent is 1% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Riverside
Winner$1,914/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,914 a month in Riverside versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Riverside is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $23, or $276 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Riverside's median income is 13% higher than Port St Lucie
Riverside
Winner$91,045
Port St Lucie
$80,648
Median household income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $80,648 in Port St Lucie, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Riverside (about $10,397 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, Riverside is the stronger labor market on paper. Port St Lucie can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
76% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 76% lower than Riverside
Riverside
158 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 158 in Riverside (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 76% 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. Riverside can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Riverside and Port St Lucie are about even on typical weather.
Riverside
77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Port St Lucie
72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Riverside averages about 77°F (84°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Riverside sits near 77°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
Riverside is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,914 a month. Choose Riverside if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Riverside is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($91,045). Start with Riverside 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 76% lower than Riverside (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 46/100 in Riverside, with matched rent near $1,937/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Riverside before trading 43 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $80,648 in Port St Lucie — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
If safety drives your move, Port St Lucie is the stronger match (89/100 safety versus 46/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Riverside, treat $1,914/month rent and $91,045 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Riverside and Port St Lucie, plus other cities in CA and FL.
