Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 17 of 21 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
Port St. Lucie
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Rent averages $101/mo less ($1,583 vs $1,684)
Cons
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $18,969/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Port St. Lucie
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.7%)
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
72% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Households earn $18,969 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
More college-educated — 26.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 101.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$18,969
$75,040 vs $56,071/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
72% lower
116.7 vs 414.6 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $292,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 73.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Port St. Lucie is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 17 of 21 categories. Miami Gardens wins 4 and Port St. Lucie wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Miami Gardens to Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $292,900 median home), income ($56,071 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 92 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.