1st Advantage MortgageIn St. Lucie County, Florida, the typical household earns $71,457 a year and the typical rent is $1,585. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- St. Lucie County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in St. Lucie County
- How St. Lucie County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in St. Lucie County
- St. Lucie County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in St. Lucie County
- Budget math at the St. Lucie County median
- St. Lucie County households compared
- Before borrowing in St. Lucie County
- A St. Lucie County borrower's checklist
- Florida rules that apply in St. Lucie County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
St. Lucie County at a glance
With an estimated 360,500 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), St. Lucie County ranks 20th of 67 in Florida for population. It covers 572 square miles of land, or about 630 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Port St. Lucie, FL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (3 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Port St. Lucie, with about 232,491 residents, or 64% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in St. Lucie County
The median household income in St. Lucie County is $71,457; statewide it is $74,568, so St. Lucie County runs 4% below Florida as a whole.
| Income band | Share in St. Lucie County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.4% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -3.8 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. 12.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How St. Lucie County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of St. Lucie County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 23% locally and 21% for Florida. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.1% in St. Lucie County. About 76% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | St. Lucie County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | -1.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +1.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Renting and owning in St. Lucie County
A typical St. Lucie County rental runs $1,585 a month including utilities, which is 5% below Florida. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 65% of renter households here. Home values center on $347,300, or 4.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 79%.
| St. Lucie County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,585/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $347,300 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 65% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.7% | 8.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like St. Lucie County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
St. Lucie County next to its neighbors
Martin County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Highlands County, is 55 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than St. Lucie County; Palm Beach County is highest at $83,581 and Glades County lowest at $45,870.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Lucie County | - | $71,457 | $1,585/mo | 79% |
| Martin County, FL | 21 mi | $82,943 | $1,569/mo | 80% |
| Indian River County, FL | 24 mi | $73,491 | $1,357/mo | 80% |
| Okeechobee County, FL | 27 mi | $57,984 | $1,082/mo | 74% |
| Palm Beach County, FL | 50 mi | $83,581 | $1,916/mo | 70% |
| Glades County, FL | 55 mi | $45,870 | $886/mo | 85% |
| Highlands County, FL | 55 mi | $54,897 | $1,035/mo | 79% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in St. Lucie County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in St. Lucie County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 331,723 people, so roughly 8% of residents live outside any named place. White City has the highest median household income on the list ($117,720) and Fort Pierce North the lowest ($40,228), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Fort Pierce North ($921) and steepest in Indian River Estates ($2,191). Names with links open a city guide. The other 9 places are covered here.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie | city | 232,491 | $80,648 | $1,937 | 8 mi |
| Fort Pierce | city | 49,082 | $47,072 | $1,217 | 7 mi |
| Lakewood Park | CDP | 13,866 | $64,023 | $1,206 | 12 mi |
| Indian River Estates | CDP | 7,685 | $64,063 | $2,191 | 9 mi |
| Fort Pierce North | CDP | 7,224 | $40,228 | $921 | 8 mi |
| White City | CDP | 5,744 | $117,720 | $1,065 | 6 mi |
| River Park | CDP | 5,714 | $55,437 | $1,690 | 8 mi |
| Fort Pierce South | CDP | 5,028 | $50,503 | $1,153 | 6 mi |
| Hutchinson Island South | CDP | 4,175 | $65,871 | $1,408 | 15 mi |
| St. Lucie Village | town | 714 | $77,386 | $1,281 | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the St. Lucie County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a St. Lucie County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,955 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,585, takes 27% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $559 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,585, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
St. Lucie County households compared
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 11.4%, against 11.5% for Florida.
| People and households | St. Lucie County | Florida | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.7% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of St. Lucie County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.6% |
Before borrowing in St. Lucie County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for St. Lucie County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Vehicle repairs. 20% of St. Lucie County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Fixed incomes. St. Lucie County's median age is 45.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 65% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A St. Lucie County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Florida rules that apply in St. Lucie County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with St. Lucie County borrowers answers to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Florida guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside St. Lucie County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical St. Lucie County household make?
About $71,457 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 4% below the Florida median.
Is St. Lucie County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,585 against $1,669 statewide, and 65% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in St. Lucie County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 79% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in St. Lucie County?
By population: Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Lakewood Park, Indian River Estates, Fort Pierce North. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Will a St. Lucie County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Florida as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.