Is Port St. Lucie a good place to live? The simple answer to many locals is yes. There are many reasons why Port St. Lucie is one of the fastest growing in the Sunshine State. From young families to retirees, the city is attracting a diverse range of people who enjoy the amenities and lifestyle Port St. Lucie offers. The city is known for its affordable real estate, nature preserves, baseball spring training, and world-class golfing.
US News and World Report rated Port St. Lucie as one of the best places to live in America. The report ranked it high because of its clean streets, quiet neighborhoods, scenic waterways, great weather, and relaxed atmosphere. Below are more reasons people have called Port St. Lucie an excellent place to live.
Port St. Lucie is Safe & Family Friendly
The city’s family-friendly neighborhoods are perfect for young families who want their children in a safe environment. Port St. Lucie is one of the safest in Florida and has lower crime rates than other cities of the same size. Families will discover many amazing parks, plenty of playgrounds, family-friendly restaurants, and other kid-friendly amenities in the city.
Port St. Lucie is also becoming known for Tradition, a highly desirable community that feels like a small town. The master-planned community has thousands of acres of parks and walking trails and connects residents with nature and the community through farmers’ markets, festivals, and other events. The neighborhood is great for all age groups and family sizes.
The city is also committed to ensuring that its police department has the best resources and training to keep Port St. Lucie the safest large city in Florida. In July 2024, the city broke ground on a new state-of-the-art training facility for the police department.
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Port St. Lucie is Affordable
Compared to other cities in Florida, Port St. Lucie is affordable. When most people gauge affordability, they usually look at housing costs. Port St. Lucie has dozens of beautiful neighborhoods where newcomers from pricier spots like Tesoro, Riverland Kennedy, and Vikings Lookout to more affordable communities where homes cost less than $400,000. Homeownership is possible in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Neighborhoods like Hidden Oaks, Crane Landing, Cashmere Cove, and Lyngate offer nice, friendly areas for people who want a quiet and laid-back lifestyle.
Port St. Lucie’s median rent price is $2,700 a month. The city has one of the hottest rental markets in Florida, behind Palm Beach and Tallahassee. Many transplants are moving to Port St. Lucie and making it their new home, increasing occupancy rates and driving a competitive rental market. Despite the hot rental market, Port St. Lucie has some of the most affordable rental prices on the Treasure Coast.
A Growing Number of Job Opportunities
Port St. Lucie has many retirees who move to the city for the weather and laid-back atmosphere, but the city also has job opportunities for professionals. The city has several major employers. Job seekers wondering where to find jobs in Port St. Lucie will find employers like the St. Lucie Public School District, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital, and the City of Port St. Lucie usually have open positions year-round.
There is also a lot of development in the area, including a new hospital coming to Port St. Lucie, that makes future job prospects bright for residents.
The city’s hospitality industry is thriving, with many restaurants, hotels, and retail shops constantly hiring new workers. In the summer of 2024, a new Amazon facility opened, providing more than 1,300 full and part-time jobs with benefits for locals and transplants.
Port St. Lucie Has Great Food and Entertainment Options
People looking for different flavors will find that restaurants in Port St. Lucie have a variety of tastes. The city has almost every type of cuisine one can think of, and hundreds of restaurants are available to satisfy every appetite. The city has everything from upscale steakhouses to laid-back sports bards to holes-in-the-wall restaurants with homemade cooking.
Port St. Lucie has growing nightlife options as well. The city has plenty of excellent spots for locals to have a good time. Port St. Lucie has bars, lounges, breweries, and places to enjoy live music. Spots like Hop Life Brewing, Miller’s Ale House, Shea’s Pub, and the Vine and Barley offer excellent choices for a night out in town.
A Perfect Geographical Location
The city is centrally located on the Treasure Coast, surrounded by tons of beautiful quaint towns. There are many airports near Port St. Lucie, and locals can conveniently use airports on the Treasure Coast for regional flights. Many beaches near Port St. Lucie also make it a lovely place to live. Locals are close to South Causeway Beach, Pepper Park Beach, Blind Creek Beach, and pet-friendly beaches like Walton Rocks Beach. Beaches are typically between 15 and 30 minutes away.
Residents also have easy access to nature. The Oxbow Eco-Center, Spruce Bluff Preserve, and Oak Hammock Park are among many wonderful natural spaces in the city. Locals can spend the day at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens or visit a large neighborhood park with playgrounds and many other amenities. The city’s park system is extensive, and many parks in Port St. Lucie have sports courts, pavilions, playgrounds, trails, tennis courts, and barbecue grills.
The city opened a beautiful space called Pioneer Park in the Port District in 2024. Port St. Lucie plans to open an additional park called Tradition Regional Park, which will be an all-inclusive BMX park. The concrete skatepark will be shaped like a BMX track but designed to accommodate mobility challenges so everyone can use it.
Is Port St. Lucie a Good Place to Live?
By most accounts, Port St. Lucie is a great place to live. In March 2024, the US Census Bureau ranked Port St. Lucie as the fifth fastest-growing city in the nation. Many people are relocating to this area and have Port St. Lucie at the top of their list. Port St. Lucie is a beautiful city with world-class amenities and a great place to live.
