Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Port St. Lucie, FL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 21 categories
Port St. Lucie
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 32°F
Households earn $12,029 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
86% less violent crime than Port St. Lucie
Rent averages $372/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,684)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $12,029/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Port St. Lucie
Key Differences at a Glance
Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.7 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$12,029
$75,040 vs $63,011/yr
Port St. Lucie
Median Home Value
$13k less
$292,900 vs $305,600
Port St. Lucie
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Port St. Lucie
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
86% lower
16.5 vs 116.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Port St. Lucie, FL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $292,900 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,684⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,040 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 33 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.2% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ST. LUCIE | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,520 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 43.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 21.4% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Port St. Lucie's cost of living index is 101.7 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Port St. Lucie is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 21 categories. Port St. Lucie wins 13 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($292,900 vs $305,600 median home), income ($75,040 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Port St. Lucie, FL and Worcester, MA are about 1,143 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.