Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Orlando leads 12 of 21 categories
Orlando
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Port St. Lucie
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Rent averages $175/mo less ($1,509 vs $1,684)
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $8,748/yr
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
86% less violent crime than Orlando
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $40k less ($292,900 vs $332,700)
Households earn $8,748 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 88.6°F
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$8,748
$75,040 vs $66,292/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
86% lower
116.7 vs 835.8 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Median Home Value
$40k less
$292,900 vs $332,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High | $292,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 210,520 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orlando leads 12 of 21 categories. Orlando wins 12 and Port St. Lucie wins 9. 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 Orlando to Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $292,900 median home), income ($66,292 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 94 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.