01 · the cities
Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie is the New York Mets' spring training home, with golf courses, gated communities, and the slow Atlantic Coast pace that retirees love. It's one of the fastest-growing cities in the country in recent years. The Treasure Coast beaches are quieter and prettier than the bigger Florida metros. Suburban, sunny, and easy.
full dispatch→Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is a three-mile boardwalk, a giant Neptune statue keeping watch, and Atlantic surf that's warm in August and gentle in September. The military presence (Navy and Air Force) gives the city a structured, welcoming feel. False Cape and Back Bay nature areas are wild marshland just south of the high-rises. October on the boardwalk might be the prettiest month on the East Coast.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,331/mo
$1,819/mo
$512/mo less than Port St. Lucie (28%)
Median home price
Median home price
$397k
$375k
$22k less than Port St. Lucie
State income tax
State income tax
0%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,002/mo
$6,035/mo
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
246 days
211 days
35 fewer than Port St. Lucie
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Port St. Lucie edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
50 / 100
57 / 100
7.0 pts ahead of Port St. Lucie
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
23 routes
17 routes
6 fewer direct routes than Port St. Lucie
Metro size
Metro size
537k metro
1.8M metro
the verdict
3
Port St. Lucie
categories won
4
Virginia Beach
categories won
Virginia Beach wins on money. Port St. Lucie has the edge on weather.
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