City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where St Louis and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 314 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis 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. St Louis 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. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Louis and Port St Lucie are 968 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $940 a month (94%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $24,488 (44%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 314 points (89%).
The move
Port St Lucie and St Louis are 968 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $997 a month in St Louis, down $940 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $56,160 in St Louis, down $24,488 (30%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 352 in St Louis, up 314 points (826%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
49% cheaper
St Louis rent is 49% cheaper than Port St Lucie
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so St Louis is 49% cheaper. That's roughly $940/month back in your pocket ($11,280/year). Over five years that's $56,400 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, St Louis 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
44% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 44% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Port St Lucie (about $24,488 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, Port St Lucie is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
89% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 89% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 89% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°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 25% 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 St Louis 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 St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 49% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis 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 44% 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 89% lower than St Louis (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Port St Lucie leads on safety (89/100 vs 22/100 in St Louis). Typical rent is $1,937 in Port St Lucie and $997 in St Louis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Median income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Between St Louis and Port St Lucie, Port St Lucie is ahead on safety — 89/100 safety versus 22/100. Lean St Louis instead when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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