City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Stockton and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 195 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,577 in Stockton and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
This is a genuine split. Stockton wins on cost of living and Port St Lucie wins on the job market and 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. Stockton at $1,577 average has pockets that run $1,377 and others at $1,977: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Stockton and Port St Lucie are 2,472 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $360 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $741 (1%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 195 points (84%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Stockton are 2,472 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $360 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $79,907 in Stockton, down $741 (1%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 233 in Stockton, up 195 points (513%).
Stockton, 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 Stockton and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Stockton rent is 19% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Stockton 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 $4,320, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton 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 Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 1% higher than Stockton
Stockton
$79,907
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Port St Lucie (about $741 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
84% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 84% lower than Stockton
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 84% 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. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Stockton and Port St Lucie are about even on typical weather.
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Port St Lucie
72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Stockton sits near 71°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Stockton
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton 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 and professional growth
Port St Lucie is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($80,648). Start with Port St Lucie if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 84% lower than Stockton (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 34/100 in Stockton, with typical rent at $1,937 versus $1,577. I would vet the exact ZIP in Stockton before trading 55 safety points for housing savings.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $79,907), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Median income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $79,907 in Stockton.
Port St Lucie clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Stockton deserves a serious look only when you already know the Stockton block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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