Fort Lauderdale FL vs Port St. Lucie FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Florida · Population: 183,032

Median HH Income$79,935
Median Home Price$510,297
Unemployment5.3%
Bachelor's+39.8%

Port St. Lucie, FL

Florida · Population: 220,453

Median HH Income$78,137
Median Home Price$327,700
Unemployment5.5%
Bachelor's+26.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fort Lauderdale

183,032

Port St. Lucie

220,453

Port St. Lucie +

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fort Lauderdale

N/A

Port St. Lucie

N/A

Median Age

Fort Lauderdale

42.9

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

43.7

Foreign Born

Fort Lauderdale

26.7%

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

19.5%

White

Fort Lauderdale

51.3%

Port St. Lucie

60.0%

Port St. Lucie +

Black

Fort Lauderdale

28.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

19.2%

Asian

Fort Lauderdale

1.6%

Port St. Lucie

2.2%

Port St. Lucie +

Hispanic

Fort Lauderdale

20.1%

Port St. Lucie

23.0%

Port St. Lucie +

Spanish at Home

Fort Lauderdale

N/A

Port St. Lucie

N/A

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Port St. Lucie, FL	Better
Population	183,032	220,453	Port St. Lucie +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	42.9	43.7	Fort Lauderdale +
Foreign Born	26.7%	19.5%	Fort Lauderdale +
White	51.3%	60.0%	Port St. Lucie +
Black	28.8%	19.2%	Fort Lauderdale +
Asian	1.6%	2.2%	Port St. Lucie +
Hispanic	20.1%	23.0%	Port St. Lucie +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fort Lauderdale

$79,935

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

$78,137

Per Capita Income

Fort Lauderdale

$57,845

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

$36,352

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fort Lauderdale

$65,328

Port St. Lucie

$65,328

Tie

Unemployment Rate

Fort Lauderdale

5.3%

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

5.5%

Poverty Rate

Fort Lauderdale

15.2%

Port St. Lucie

8.5%

Port St. Lucie +

Bachelor's Degree+

Fort Lauderdale

39.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

26.8%

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Port St. Lucie, FL	Better
Median HH Income	$79,935	$78,137	Fort Lauderdale +
Per Capita Income	$57,845	$36,352	Fort Lauderdale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$65,328	$65,328	Tie
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	5.5%	Fort Lauderdale +
Poverty Rate	15.2%	8.5%	Port St. Lucie +
Bachelor's Degree+	39.8%	26.8%	Fort Lauderdale +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fort Lauderdale

$510,297

Port St. Lucie

$327,700

Port St. Lucie +

Homeownership Rate

Fort Lauderdale

53.8%

Port St. Lucie

83.2%

Port St. Lucie +

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Port St. Lucie, FL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$510,297	$327,700	Port St. Lucie +
Homeownership Rate	53.8%	83.2%	Port St. Lucie +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

324

Port St. Lucie

324

Tie

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

1453

Port St. Lucie

1453

Tie

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Port St. Lucie, FL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	324	324	Tie
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1453	1453	Tie

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

30.3%

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

30.5%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

12.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

13.1%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fort Lauderdale

16.2%

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

16.6%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

14.7%

Port St. Lucie

14.5%

Port St. Lucie +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

14.9%

Port St. Lucie

14.5%

Port St. Lucie +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

13.0%

Port St. Lucie

12.9%

Port St. Lucie +

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Port St. Lucie, FL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	30.3%	30.5%	Fort Lauderdale +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	12.8%	13.1%	Fort Lauderdale +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.2%	16.6%	Fort Lauderdale +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	14.7%	14.5%	Port St. Lucie +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	14.9%	14.5%	Port St. Lucie +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	13.0%	12.9%	Port St. Lucie +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Lauderdale

75.5°F

Port St. Lucie

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Lauderdale

66.5 in

Port St. Lucie

N/A

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Port St. Lucie, FL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	75.5°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	66.5 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

7.2 µg/m³

Port St. Lucie

7.2 µg/m³

Tie

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fort Lauderdale

75.0%

Port St. Lucie

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Port St. Lucie, FL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.2 µg/m³	7.2 µg/m³	Tie
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fort Lauderdale

28.5 min

Fort Lauderdale +

Port St. Lucie

32.0 min

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Port St. Lucie, FL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	28.5 min	32.0 min	Fort Lauderdale +

Which City is Right for You?

Fort Lauderdale leads in median household income at $79,935, while port St. Lucie offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $327,700. On public safety, Port St. Lucie is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Port St. Lucie has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Lauderdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.3%.

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About Fort Lauderdale & Port St. Lucie

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