Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 17 of 22 categories
Modesto
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,684)
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
82% less violent crime than Modesto
Homes cost $89k less ($292,900 vs $381,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 56°F
More college-educated — 26.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 88.6°F
Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.7 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$1,665
$75,040 vs $73,375/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
82% lower
116.7 vs 655.7 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Median Home Value
$89k less
$292,900 vs $381,800
Port St. Lucie
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High | $292,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 ✓ Larger | 210,520 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Port St. Lucie is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 17 of 22 categories. Modesto wins 5 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 Modesto to Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $292,900 median home), income ($73,375 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 2,453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.