ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — St. Lucie County is growing fast, and new Census estimates show much of that growth is centered in Port St. Lucie.

The latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates put St. Lucie County’s population at 402,449 as of July 1, 2025, up from 329,226 in 2020.

That’s an increase of more than 73,000 residents, or 22.2%, in just over five years.

For comparison, neighboring Palm Beach County grew from 1,492,191 residents in 2020 to an estimated 1,575,726 in 2025 — an increase of about 5.6%.

That means St. Lucie County has grown at roughly four times the rate of Palm Beach County since 2020.

Even more striking: St. Lucie County started the decade with less than one-quarter of Palm Beach County’s population, but has added nearly as many residents.

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Much of St. Lucie County’s population is concentrated in Port St. Lucie.

The Census Bureau estimates 268,062 people now live in Port St. Lucie, meaning the city accounts for roughly two-thirds of the county’s entire population.

Port St. Lucie has also grown faster than the county overall. The city’s population is up nearly 31% from its 2020 estimates base of 204,826.

So what’s drawing people there?

Jason Coley with Atlantic Shores Realty, Expertise ERA Powered, said affordability remains one of the biggest factors he sees among his clients.

“It’s been picking up big time,” Coley said. “People are moving here because we have a heck of a deal with the bang for your buck. You can get a really nice house.”

Coley works throughout the Treasure Coast and into Palm Beach County, but said about 60% of his business is in St. Lucie County.

He said his clients moving into the area are coming from both outside Florida and communities farther south in South Florida.

“A lot of them are coming from down south,” Coley said. “They’re coming from Broward, Palm Beach. Most of them are. They can just get much more of a home up in our area than they can down south.”

Coley said his own clients are roughly split between people relocating from out of state and those coming from other parts of Florida. He said he also sees buyers coming from Miami-Dade County.

For some South Florida buyers, he believes the decision to continue north into St. Lucie County instead of buying in Palm Beach County comes down largely to price.

“I just strictly think it is pricing,” Coley said. “When they look at what they’re going to be able to get and what they can afford, it just makes it that much harder for them to really have the family dream of what they want.”

According to Coley, a buyer spending between $400,000 and $500,000 in St. Lucie County can find a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a two-car garage on a quarter-acre lot.

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He estimated a comparable newer home in Palm Beach County could cost between $600,000 and $800,000, though prices vary significantly by neighborhood, property and market conditions.

Coley said he sees a range of people making the move, from retirees to young couples and families looking for more space.

For some buyers, living farther north also means a longer commute.

Coley said some of his clients are willing to make that tradeoff, while others are able to work remotely.

“A lot of people are working from home nowadays when we talk to people,” Coley said. “They’re either working remote or willing to make that drive just to have a nicer house.”

New construction helping attract buyers

New construction is another part of Port St. Lucie’s growth.

Communities in and around Tradition continue to add homes as builders compete for buyers.

Coley said some builders are offering incentives such as closing-cost assistance and temporary or permanent mortgage-rate buydowns, which can make new construction more attractive to buyers facing higher borrowing costs.

“They’re giving them cash to close, which is like covering their closing costs,” Coley said. “And they’re also buying down their interest rates.”

The exact incentives and mortgage rates vary by builder, development, buyer and loan.

Coley also believes Port St. Lucie’s expanding selection of restaurants, entertainment and other amenities is helping make the city more attractive to families.

“I think it’s just drawn people in because it’s newer,” Coley said.

Another report highlights Port St. Lucie’s growth

The Census numbers are not the only recent data highlighting Port St. Lucie’s expansion.

A private analysis from workplace technology company Blink recently ranked Port St. Lucie No. 2 among 200 midsized U.S. cities in an index examining population growth and indicators of small-business activity.

The analysis considered population growth along with retail, food and hospitality business density, workforce growth, online search activity and walkability.

The report cited Census data showing Port St. Lucie added 11,880 residents between 2023 and 2024.

The Blink ranking should not be confused with an official Census ranking of America’s fastest-growing cities. It is a private analysis that combines population growth with several economic and business-related factors.

The newer Census estimates now put Port St. Lucie’s population above 268,000.

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With more people arriving, the question becomes whether St. Lucie County can maintain its affordability advantage as demand increases.

Coley said he does not expect interest in the area to disappear anytime soon.

“My crystal ball is broken, so I can’t tell you for sure if it’ll last,” Coley said. “But I will say that people have to live somewhere.”

When asked whether he sees Port St. Lucie’s growth stopping soon, his answer was simple.

“I don’t see it anytime soon.”