Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 18 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Port St. Lucie
Florida
18
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $411/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,684)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $28,580/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
80% less violent crime than Newark
Households earn $28,580 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 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 39°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$28,580
$75,040 vs $46,460/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
80% lower
116.7 vs 581.2 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Median Home Value
$19k less
$292,900 vs $312,300
Port St. Lucie
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $292,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 210,520 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Port St. Lucie is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 18 of 23 categories. Newark wins 5 and Port St. Lucie wins 18. 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 Newark to Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $292,900 median home), income ($46,460 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 994 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.