Firstly why Port-St-Lucie, Florida?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Port-St-Lucie
• State: Florida
• Population: 215,643 people
• Port-St-Lucie’s quick summary would be Celebrated for its beautiful waterways and the scenic PGA Village.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 12,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 8,000 annually
• Net Migration: 4000 more people in (net) annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 4,000
• Number of Homeless people: 400

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it offers a slower pace of life and natural beauty attracting retirees and families

Perk #1: Port-St-Lucie Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 31%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 73%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is White
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly Black
• The median income is (and growing)  $58,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Port-St-Lucie is $60,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $2000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Port-St-Lucie’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 110 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $2,735
• Property Tax %: 1.32%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,300
• Rent for an average house: $1,900
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Tradition
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Port-St-Lucie, Tradition, St-Lucie-Village, Fort-Pierce, and probably could include Jensen-Beach
• Avg. Age of Homes in Port-St-Lucie: 24 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 1.5%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Port-St-Lucie’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Port-St-Lucie are  Retail, Healthcare, and Education
• Port-St-Lucie Job Scene: moderate job market with focus on healthcare and retail
• The General Tech Scene: modest tech scene primarily focused on healthcare and community services , ,
• Port-St-Lucie Resident’s pay $1,200 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Port-St-Lucie: 6.5%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 80 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 11

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Port-St-Lucie

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $120 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-95 runs through Port St. Lucie providing critical access
• Commute Time: 27 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: evening traffic jams on Gatlin Boulevard
• Transportation Score: 36 out of 100 described as Some Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Port-St-Lucie: 95,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.4
• No. of Car Washes: 4 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Port-St-Lucie: flhsmv.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 60 of 100
• Local Airport: St. Lucie County International

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Port-St-Lucie’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Hurricanes
• General Weather in Port-St-Lucie is best described as experiences mild winters with cool temperatures and hot humid summers with occasional thunderstorms
• Winter Weather in Port-St-Lucie i’d describe as mild with rain
• Spring Weather in Port-St-Lucie can be described as warm with rain possible
• Summer’s in Port-St-Lucie are mostly hot and humid
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Port-St-Lucie is usually warm with sunny days
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 76 days in summer
• Days in a row in Port-St-Lucie below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 60 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually good air quality with low pollution sources
• Port-St-Lucie Winter Air generally good air quality with seasonal fluctuations

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Port-St-Lucie Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Port-St-Lucie 3
• While the number of trade schools inside Port-St-Lucies’s city limits are 3
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the St. Lucie County Library System

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Port-St-Lucie Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 8 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Port-St-Lucie only Doctors is about 70
• Local Hospitals here is  6
• Full-time Port-St-Lucie only Police Officers is about 200
• Crime Rate Index: 25/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Port-St-Lucie’s Monthly utility bill average is $130
• Port-St-Lucie’s Monthly Gym Membership: $50
• Port-St-Lucie’s Water Quality Score: 76

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Port-St-Lucie

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 10 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: rapidly growing city known for green spaces and parks
• You might enjoy concerts at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Port-St-Lucie  has a relaxed nightlife with local bars and restaurants catering to families and friends alike

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Port-St-Lucie

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Offers a variety of local dining options and fast food
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 30 scattered around Port-St-Lucie
• The Popular Sports Team is Port St. Lucie High School
• Top Level Political Climate in Port-St-Lucie can be described as politically diverse area focused on community needs and development
• Port-St-Lucie’s Longer standing religious establishment is Port St. Lucie First Baptist Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Port-St-Lucie Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Port-St-Lucie has 30 Parks?
• Tradition Square is Port-St-Lucie’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Port St. Lucie Farmers Market normally open Saturday 8am-1pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, golfing, and fishing

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Port-St-Lucie Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Port-St-Lucie can be described as rapidly growing suburban area with a focus on community
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Port-St-Lucie hiking local trails community sports activities visiting parks
• The Cities people commute to from Port-St-Lucie are Fort-Pierce 17 miles away Jupiter 25 miles away Palm-Beach 43 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Port-St-Lucie or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: evening traffic jams on Gatlin Boulevard. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Port-St-Lucie’s Hurricanes risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Tradition is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Port-St-Lucie are Fort-Pierce 17 miles away Jupiter 25 miles away Palm-Beach 43 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 25 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Port-St-Lucie has 0 days in a row below freezing and 76 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Port-St-Lucie people have an average (positive or negative) $2000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   400 homeless people living in Port-St-Lucie. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general politically diverse area focused on community needs and development could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Port-St-Lucie.

Retiree & Senior Life in Port-St-Lucie

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can may benefit from local exemptions focusing on property tax relief
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is The Vineyards
• Port St Lucie Senior Center offers health programs social activities and community resources for seniors

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Port-St-Lucie, Florida?

If Port-St-Lucie, Florida ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Port-St-Lucie, Florida, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!