Port St. Lucie, FL Local Data & Statistics

State: FL

Total population: 232,491 Household income: $80,648 Rent: $1,937

Overview

Total population

232,491

Rent

$1,937

Year built

2002

Household income

$80,648

Per capita income

$37,828

Poverty rate

9.5%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Household size

2.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

58.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Florida

Total population

232,491

Adults over 25

168,711

Total households

83,952

Household size

2.8 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$80,648

Per capita income

$37,828

Poverty rate

9.5%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Rent over 30% of income

58.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,937

Year built

2002

Households that rent

16%

Households that own

84%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

57.4%

Black

20%

Asian

2.1%

Two or more races

14.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

24%

Not Hispanic or Latino

76%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.2%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

12.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

29%

High school graduate or GED

30.1%

Some college or associate degree

12.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

28.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Port St. Lucie, FL with: Florida United States

Port St. Lucie, FL

Total population232,491

Rent$1,937

Year built2002

Household income$80,648

Per capita income$37,828

Poverty rate9.5%

Unemployment rate3.4%

Florida State

Total population22,416,077

Rent$1,669

Year built1988

Household income$74,568

Per capita income$42,609

Poverty rate12.6%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityPort St. Lucie, FL	StateFlorida	CountryUnited States
Total population	232,491	22,416,077	334,922,499
Rent	$1,937	$1,669	$1,413
Year built	2002	1988	1980
Household income	$80,648	$74,568	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,828	$42,609	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.5%	12.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Port St. Lucie, FL, Florida and United States →

Summary for Port St. Lucie, FL

Port St. Lucie is located in Florida.

Rent & Income

In Port St. Lucie, the typical monthly rent is $1,937 and the typical household income is $80,648. Rent here is higher than both Florida and the U.S., and household income is higher than Florida and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 9.5%, which is lower than in both Florida and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 16% of households. About 58.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 28.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is similar to Florida and lower than the national rate.

Port St. Lucie, FL — Rent vs Household Income

Port St. Lucie, FL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Port St. Lucie, FL compares in Florida (59 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,937	43 / 59	from lower rent	$1,246 – $2,851
Household income	$80,648	18 / 59	from higher income	$46,195 – $139,825
Poverty rate	9.5%	7 / 59	from lower poverty	6.1% – 30.8%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	45 / 59	from lower unemployment	2.1% – 4.5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Florida with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Port St. Lucie, FL

Rent

For typical rent levels, Port St. Lucie is ranked 43rd out of 59 major areas in Florida. Statewide values span from $1,246 in Winter Haven, FL to $2,851 in Weston, FL.

Household income

For household income, Port St. Lucie ranks 18th out of 59 large places. Across Florida, incomes range from $46,195 in Gainesville, FL to $139,825 in Weston, FL.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Port St. Lucie is ranked 7th among 59 major areas. Across Florida, poverty runs from 6.1% in Weston, FL to 30.8% in Gainesville, FL.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Port St. Lucie in 45th place among 59 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.1% in Miami Beach, FL to 4.5% in Daytona Beach, FL.

💰 Rent in Port St. Lucie, FL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,937 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Port St. Lucie, FL

Annual Household Income: $80,648

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Port St. Lucie, FL

Estimated Rate: 9.5%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Port St. Lucie, FL

In Port St. Lucie, FL, households that rent: 13,430 (16%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	13,430	16%
Owner-Occupied	70,522	84%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Port St. Lucie, FL

In Port St. Lucie, FL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 7,903 (58.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	7,903	58.8%
Other renter households	5,527	41.2%
Total renter households	13,430	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Port St. Lucie, FL

Less than High School: 48,857 people (29%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 50,742 people (30.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 21,697 people (12.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 47,415 people (28.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 168,711

📊 Unemployment Rate in Port St. Lucie, FL

Estimated Rate: 3.4%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Norfolk, VA235,037 Boise City, ID235,701 Spokane, WA229,228 Santa Clarita, CA229,021 Fremont, CA228,518 Richmond, VA227,595 Baton Rouge, LA223,699 Scottsdale, AZ242,169 Hialeah, FL221,901 San Bernardino, CA221,774

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.