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Port St. Lucie FL vs Virginia Beach VA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Port St. Lucie, FL

Florida · Population: 220,453

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

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia · Population: 457,066

  • Median HH Income$90,685
  • Median Home Price$427,121
  • Unemployment4.3%
  • Bachelor's+40.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Port St. Lucie
220,453
Virginia Beach
457,066
Virginia Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A
Median Age
Port St. Lucie
43.7
Virginia Beach
37.4
Virginia Beach +
Foreign Born
Port St. Lucie
19.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
9.1%
White
Port St. Lucie
60.0%
Virginia Beach
61.6%
Virginia Beach +
Black
Port St. Lucie
19.2%
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
18.9%
Asian
Port St. Lucie
2.2%
Virginia Beach
7.2%
Virginia Beach +
Hispanic
Port St. Lucie
23.0%
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Port St. Lucie
$78,137
Virginia Beach
$90,685
Virginia Beach +
Per Capita Income
Port St. Lucie
$36,352
Virginia Beach
$47,372
Virginia Beach +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Port St. Lucie
$65,328
Virginia Beach
$69,581
Virginia Beach +
Unemployment Rate
Port St. Lucie
5.5%
Virginia Beach
4.3%
Virginia Beach +
Poverty Rate
Port St. Lucie
8.5%
Virginia Beach
8.4%
Virginia Beach +
Bachelor's Degree+
Port St. Lucie
26.8%
Virginia Beach
40.4%
Virginia Beach +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Port St. Lucie
$327,700
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
$427,121
Homeownership Rate
Port St. Lucie
83.2%
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
64.9%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Port St. Lucie
324
Virginia Beach
240
Virginia Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Port St. Lucie
1453
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
1726

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
30.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
36.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
13.1%
Virginia Beach
11.8%
Virginia Beach +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Port St. Lucie
16.6%
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
16.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Virginia Beach
8.3%
Virginia Beach +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
15.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
12.9%
Virginia Beach
12.1%
Virginia Beach +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Port St. Lucie
7.2 µg/m³
Port St. Lucie +
Virginia Beach
8.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Port St. Lucie
75.0%
Virginia Beach
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Port St. Lucie
32.0 min
Virginia Beach
25.0 min
Virginia Beach +

Which City is Right for You?

Virginia Beach leads in median household income at $90,685, while port St. Lucie offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $327,700. On public safety, Virginia Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in Port St. Lucie. Virginia Beach has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Port St. Lucie has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Port St. Lucie scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.5%.

Compare More Cities

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About Port St. Lucie & Virginia Beach

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