At a Glance:
- HGTV included Port St. Lucie on its list of the best mid-size cities in the United States
- The feature highlights Clover Park, Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, and Savannas Preserve State Park
- Port St. Lucie’s population grew by 5 percent in a single year, according to the article
Port St. Lucie landed a spot on HGTV’s list of the best mid-size cities in the United States, joining 20 other growing communities recognized for their quality of life and outdoor appeal. The feature calls out Port St. Lucie’s population growth and its mix of sports, nature, and beach access as reasons the city stands out nationally.
According to HGTV, Port St. Lucie is now home to more than 200,000 residents and grew by 5 percent in a single year, a pace the outlet points to as evidence of the city’s rising national profile.
Why It Matters
National recognition from an outlet like HGTV puts Port St. Lucie in front of a broad audience of potential residents, visitors, and homebuyers researching where to move next. For local businesses and the tourism economy, that kind of exposure can translate into real interest from people outside Florida who are actively searching for their next city.
The list also reflects a broader trend already familiar to Treasure Coast residents. Port St. Lucie has consistently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in Florida in recent years, and this kind of coverage reinforces what local data has shown about the city’s sustained population growth.
What HGTV Highlighted
HGTV pointed to Clover Park as a standout, noting it serves as the spring training home for the New York Mets. The stadium draws visitors each spring and has become one of the city’s most recognized landmarks.
Beyond baseball, the feature highlighted Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens and Savannas Preserve State Park as draws for nature lovers, calling out opportunities for kayaking, biking, and birdwatching. HGTV also pointed visitors toward Jensen Beach for quieter stretches of coastline and strong fishing access.
Port St. Lucie appeared alongside cities like Tampa, Chattanooga, Boise, and Knoxville, all recognized for combining affordability, outdoor recreation, and steady population growth. The list draws on population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and rankings from the Milken Institute, a nonpartisan economic think tank that tracks city performance nationally.
The Bigger Picture
The recognition adds to a growing list of national accolades for Port St. Lucie in recent years, as the city continues to attract new residents drawn to its affordability relative to South Florida, its outdoor amenities, and its proximity to the water. City officials have leaned into that growth, investing in parks, trails, and recreational facilities that align with the qualities HGTV highlighted.
For longtime residents, the list is a reminder that the qualities keeping them here, including access to nature, baseball, and the coast, are the same ones now drawing national attention.
Source: HGTV, U.S. Census Bureau, Milken Institute
