Port St. Lucie FL vs West Palm Beach FL — 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%

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

  • Median HH Income$69,261
  • Median Home Price$399,650
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Port St. Lucie
220,453
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
119,508
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Port St. Lucie
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
Port St. Lucie
43.7
West Palm Beach
40.2
West Palm Beach +
Foreign Born
Port St. Lucie
19.5%
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
White
Port St. Lucie
60.0%
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
44.0%
Black
Port St. Lucie
19.2%
West Palm Beach
31.5%
West Palm Beach +
Asian
Port St. Lucie
2.2%
West Palm Beach
2.5%
West Palm Beach +
Hispanic
Port St. Lucie
23.0%
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Spanish at Home
Port St. Lucie
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Port St. Lucie
$78,137
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
$69,261
Per Capita Income
Port St. Lucie
$36,352
West Palm Beach
$44,508
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Port St. Lucie
$65,328
West Palm Beach
$65,328
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Port St. Lucie
5.5%
West Palm Beach
5.4%
West Palm Beach +
Poverty Rate
Port St. Lucie
8.5%
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
14.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Port St. Lucie
26.8%
West Palm Beach
37.6%
West Palm Beach +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Port St. Lucie
$327,700
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
$399,650
Homeownership Rate
Port St. Lucie
83.2%
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
50.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Port St. Lucie
324
West Palm Beach
324
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Port St. Lucie
1453
West Palm Beach
1453
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
30.5%
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
13.1%
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
13.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Port St. Lucie
16.6%
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Port St. Lucie
12.9%
Port St. Lucie +
West Palm Beach
13.0%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Port St. Lucie
N/A
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Port St. Lucie
N/A
West Palm Beach
62.3 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

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

Which City is Right for You?

Port St. Lucie leads in median household income at $78,137, while port St. Lucie offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $327,700. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in Port St. Lucie. West Palm Beach has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, and West Palm Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, West Palm Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.1%.

Compare More Cities

About Port St. Lucie & West Palm Beach