New York NY vs St. Petersburg FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
New York, NY
New York · Population: 8,516,202
- Median HH Income$79,713
- Median Home Price$816,078
- Unemployment7.7%
- Bachelor's+41.0%
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
New York
8,516,202
New York +
St. Petersburg
260,646
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
New York
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
Median Age
New York
38.0
New York +
St. Petersburg
43.1
Foreign Born
New York
36.5%
New York +
St. Petersburg
10.1%
White
New York
35.9%
St. Petersburg
66.2%
St. Petersburg +
Black
New York
22.7%
New York +
St. Petersburg
19.4%
Asian
New York
14.6%
New York +
St. Petersburg
3.1%
Hispanic
New York
28.4%
New York +
St. Petersburg
9.3%
Spanish at Home
New York
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
| Metric | New York, NY | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,516,202 | 260,646 | New York + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 43.1 | New York + |
| Foreign Born | 36.5% | 10.1% | New York + |
| White | 35.9% | 66.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Black | 22.7% | 19.4% | New York + |
| Asian | 14.6% | 3.1% | New York + |
| Hispanic | 28.4% | 9.3% | New York + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
New York
$79,713
New York +
St. Petersburg
$73,118
Per Capita Income
New York
$50,776
New York +
St. Petersburg
$49,823
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
New York
$77,425
New York +
St. Petersburg
$65,328
Unemployment Rate
New York
7.7%
St. Petersburg
4.9%
St. Petersburg +
Poverty Rate
New York
17.4%
St. Petersburg
11.7%
St. Petersburg +
Bachelor's Degree+
New York
41.0%
St. Petersburg
41.3%
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | New York, NY | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $79,713 | $73,118 | New York + |
| Per Capita Income | $50,776 | $49,823 | New York + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,425 | $65,328 | New York + |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7% | 4.9% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poverty Rate | 17.4% | 11.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 41.0% | 41.3% | St. Petersburg + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
New York
$816,078
St. Petersburg
$331,500
St. Petersburg +
Homeownership Rate
New York
32.8%
St. Petersburg
63.0%
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | New York, NY | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $816,078 | $331,500 | St. Petersburg + |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.8% | 63.0% | St. Petersburg + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New York
434
St. Petersburg
324
St. Petersburg +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New York
1736
St. Petersburg
1453
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | New York, NY | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 434 | 324 | St. Petersburg + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1736 | 1453 | St. Petersburg + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
New York
25.1%
New York +
St. Petersburg
32.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
New York
11.9%
New York +
St. Petersburg
12.2%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
New York
15.4%
New York +
St. Petersburg
16.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
New York
10.6%
New York +
St. Petersburg
11.1%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
New York
16.9%
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
New York
11.4%
New York +
St. Petersburg
12.4%
| Metric | New York, NY | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 25.1% | 32.7% | New York + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.9% | 12.2% | New York + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.4% | 16.6% | New York + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 11.1% | New York + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.9% | 16.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 11.4% | 12.4% | New York + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New York
55.4°F
St. Petersburg
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New York
46.6 in
St. Petersburg
N/A
| Metric | New York, NY | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.4°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.6 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
New York
8.1 µg/m³
St. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
St. Petersburg +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
New York
75.0%
St. Petersburg
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | New York, NY | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.1 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | St. Petersburg + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
New York
44.2 min
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | New York, NY | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 44.2 min | 26.8 min | St. Petersburg + |
Which City is Right for You?
New York leads in median household income at $79,713, while st. Petersburg offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $331,500. On public safety, St. Petersburg is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in New York. St. Petersburg has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and St. Petersburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, New York scores better with a lower obesity rate of 25.1%.
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