Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Port St. Lucie, FL
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 22 categories
Port St. Lucie
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,040
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520
San Jose
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
Homes cost $857k less ($292,900 vs $1,149,600)
81% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $842/mo less ($1,684 vs $2,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $60,970/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,970 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.7 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
81% lower
116.7 vs 606.8 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Median Home Value
$857k less
$292,900 vs $1,149,600
Port St. Lucie
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$60,970
$136,010 vs $75,040/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Port St. Lucie, FL | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $292,900 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,684⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,040 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 33 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.2% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ST. LUCIE | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,520 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.5 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.4% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Port St. Lucie's cost of living index is 101.7 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Port St. Lucie is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 22 categories. Port St. Lucie wins 13 and San Jose 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 Port St. Lucie to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($292,900 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($75,040 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Port St. Lucie, FL and San Jose, CA are about 2,495 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.