Quick answer: In the sources I could confirm, Fort Pierce had lower median home values and rents than Port St. Lucie, but a higher city millage rate. The Q2 2026 median single-family sale was $405,000 in Port St. Lucie and $273,450 in Fort Pierce, although Fort Pierce's quarter had only 69 closed sales. Proposed 2026 city rates are 4.8750 mills in Port St. Lucie and 6.9000 mills in Fort Pierce, and I found no record of final adoption for either. Your real cost depends on the specific home, its tax code and its insurance.
Two cities in the same county can have very different housing numbers, and it is easy to mix up the measures. Census medians describe multi-year estimates. Sales medians describe one quarter. Tax rates describe a city's levy, not a bill. This article puts each figure in its own category, shows what each one measures, and explains why a headline comparison can mislead.
Home values and rent: the Census figures
The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 five-year American Community Survey estimates, released January 29, 2026, are the same vintage for both cities. The median value of owner-occupied homes was $369,200 in Port St. Lucie and $250,800 in Fort Pierce. The median gross rent was $1,937 in Port St. Lucie and $1,217 in Fort Pierce. These are multi-year estimates, so they lag the current market. I have not reviewed their margins of error, and they should be read as broad measures, not current prices.
Recent sales: the second quarter of 2026
Florida Realtors' local market metrics for St. Lucie County, covering April through June 2026 and released July 17, 2026, show these single-family results:
| Single-family, Q2 2026 | Port St. Lucie | Fort Pierce |
|---|---|---|
| Closed sales (year over year) | 1,192 (+7.3%) | 69 (-24.2%) |
| Median sale price (year over year) | $405,000 (+1.2%) | $273,450 (-11.5%) |
| Average sale price | $429,339 | $405,478 |
| Median time to contract | 52 days | 53 days |
Fort Pierce had 69 closed single-family sales in the quarter, against 1,192 in Port St. Lucie. A sample that small can swing from quarter to quarter, so treat the Fort Pierce median as one data point, not a trend. The same report series shows townhouses and condominiums in the two cities. Port St. Lucie had 71 closed sales with a median of $219,000, and Fort Pierce had 82 with a median of $192,000.
City tax rates: millage, not a bill
The St. Lucie County Property Appraiser's table lists city rates in mills, which are dollars of tax per $1,000 of taxable value. The city rate for Port St. Lucie is its operating rate plus voted debt. I calculated the totals, because the table does not print them.
| City rate, mills | 2025 final | 2026 rollback | 2026 proposed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie (operating plus voted debt) | 4.9750 (4.6607 + 0.3143) | 4.5094 (4.1951 + 0.3143) | 4.8750 (4.6107 + 0.2643) |
| Fort Pierce | 6.9000 | 6.5491 | 6.9000 |
The Port St. Lucie City Council approved 4.8750 mills for fiscal 2026-27 at its July workshop, with budget adoption set for September. I did not find a record of final adoption for either city, so treat the 2026 figures as proposed. At the proposed rates, Fort Pierce's city rate is 2.0250 mills higher. That works out to about $202.50 a year on $100,000 of taxable value, from the city levy alone. The county, the school district and other taxing authorities also levy tax, and those lines are not part of this comparison.
What the comparison does not tell you
A city millage rate is not a tax bill. Your bill depends on the parcel's assessed value, exemptions, the taxing districts that apply to the address, and any non-ad valorem assessments. Flood zone, flood insurance and homeowners premiums were not part of this research, and they can differ between two neighborhoods by more than a rate table shows. HOA and CDD charges depend on the specific community. For tax, insurance and lending questions, use a CPA, an insurance agent and a lender.
What I leave out on purpose
Census data also includes household income and owner-occupancy rates, and I left those figures out of this comparison on purpose. Describing who lives in a neighborhood, or what their incomes are, can read as steering under the Fair Housing Act. Comparing price, rent and taxes is the honest and appropriate measure. Where a family should live is their decision, and the right home is the one that fits the budget, the commute and the property.
How to use this for your own budget
Compare the same kinds of property. A townhome in one city is not a single-family home in the other, and a 1990s ranch is not a new build. Pull the most recent tax bill for each address you are considering, and ask the seller which non-ad valorem lines appear on it. Then run the monthly number, including the insurance quote, before you decide which city gives you more for your budget.
Questions buyers ask about the two cities
Which city has the lower 2026 city millage?
Port St. Lucie, at a proposed 4.8750 mills, compared with Fort Pierce at a proposed 6.9000 mills. Both are proposed figures, and I found no record of final adoption for either.
Are homes more expensive in Port St. Lucie?
In the Q2 2026 Florida Realtors data, the median single-family sale was $405,000 in Port St. Lucie and $273,450 in Fort Pierce. Fort Pierce's quarter had only 69 closed sales, so the figure can change quickly.
Is rent lower in Fort Pierce?
In the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey estimates, median gross rent was $1,217 in Fort Pierce and $1,937 in Port St. Lucie. These are multi-year estimates, not current asking rents.
Can the Census and sales figures be compared directly?
No. Census medians are multi-year estimates of owner-occupied values, and sales medians describe a single quarter. Present them as different measures, as this article does.
Talk with William. Comparing Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce for your budget? Send me your price range and the property types you want. I will pull the current figures for the addresses you are considering and show you the monthly cost, including taxes. Call or text (772) 800-2274 or send a message.
General information, not tax, lending, insurance, legal or financial advice. Census figures are multi-year estimates. Sales figures are for a single quarter in St. Lucie County. Millage rates are proposed unless stated otherwise and change when final budgets are adopted. Figures as reviewed on October 20, 2026. William Merchant, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Gold. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Port St. Lucie city, Florida
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Fort Pierce city, Florida
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 to 2024 ACS release tip sheet (January 2026)
- St. Lucie County Property Appraiser: Taxing authority rates and hearing information (2026 proposed)
- City of Port St. Lucie: City Council lowers millage rate for 11th straight year (2026)
- Florida Realtors local residential market metrics: St. Lucie County single-family homes, Q2 2026
- Florida Realtors local residential market metrics: St. Lucie County townhouses and condos, Q2 2026
- 42 U.S.C. 3604, Discrimination in the sale or rental of housing
- Florida Statutes 760.23, Discrimination in housing (2025)
- Fla. Admin. Code 61J2-10.025, Advertising rules for real estate licensees
