St. Lucie County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
St. Lucie County, Florida had an estimated 390,670 residents on July 1, 2024, up 18.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 329,224, across 572 square miles. County output reached $16.68 bn in 2024, 7,292 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 378 7(a) approvals worth $212.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
St. Lucie County
How many people live in St. Lucie County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024360,500
- Households137,453
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$71,457
- Median age45.1
- Median gross rent$1,585 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$347,300
- Home value to household income4.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income26.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher26.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over264,508
- Population under 1870,901
- Share under 1819.7 percent
- Population 65 and over88,534
- Share 65 and over24.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64201,065
- Civilian labor force166,985
- Unemployment rate6.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.7 percent
- Rank by population among Florida counties20th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included208th of 3,222
St. Lucie County is the 20th largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 4.9 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.6 percent against 19.7 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
St. Lucie County
Is St. Lucie County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024390,670
- Census 2020 base population329,224
- Population change since the 2020 census base18.66 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202414,484
- Births, 20243,691
- Deaths, 20244,058
- Natural change, 2024-367
- Net domestic migration, 202411,634
- Net international migration, 20243,223
- Total net migration, 202414,857
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202453,770
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents23rd of 3,144
The county has grown 18.66 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
St. Lucie County
Where are people moving to St. Lucie County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving16,587
- People arriving, from those returns30,210
- Tax returns filed by households leaving10,308
- Net household movement6,279
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.32 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$702.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$79,337
- Average income of a leaving household$59,529
- Largest single originPalm Beach County (3,385 households)
- Largest single destinationMartin County (1,066 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | 3,385 | 6,549 | $228.5 m |
| Broward County | 2,110 | 4,153 | $139.7 m |
| Martin County | 1,360 | 2,391 | $104.9 m |
| Miami-Dade County | 862 | 1,620 | $53.4 m |
| Indian River County | 590 | 1,016 | $29.5 m |
| Suffolk County | 244 | 417 | $26.9 m |
| Orange County | 241 | 354 | $12.9 m |
| Brevard County | 166 | 291 | $8.5 m |
Households arriving report $19,808 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Palm Beach County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
St. Lucie County
What is the St. Lucie County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$16.68 bn
- County GDP, 2023$16.01 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.2 percent
- GDP change over five years52.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Florida areas BEA publishes25th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes301st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$46,277
Output grew 4.2 percent in the latest year and 52.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
St. Lucie County
Employment by industry in St. Lucie County
- Covered employment, annual average90,334
- Establishments reporting8,744
- Average annual pay$53,238
- Average weekly wage$1,024
- Health care and social assistance, employment14,170
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$60,899
- Retail trade, employment13,013
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,252
- Accommodation and food services, employment9,230
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$27,111
- Construction, employment7,137
- Construction, average annual pay$56,544
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment5,252
- Manufacturing, employment4,674
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 14,170 | 1,134 | $60,899 |
| Retail trade | 13,013 | 872 | $38,252 |
| Accommodation and food services | 9,230 | 536 | $27,111 |
| Construction | 7,137 | 1,357 | $56,544 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 5,252 | 740 | $45,604 |
| Manufacturing | 4,674 | 296 | $62,613 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4,195 | 260 | $47,200 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 3,671 | 994 | $70,899 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 14,170 jobs, 15.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Lucie County
How many businesses are in St. Lucie County?
- Establishments, all industries7,292
- Employment at those establishments74,865
- Annual payroll$3.45 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Lucie County
Building permits in St. Lucie County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20244,869
- Declared construction value permitted$1.21 bn
- Single family units authorized4,571
- Multifamily units authorized298
- Multifamily share of units6.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$248,179
- Units authorized per 1,000 households35.4
Single-family homes are 93.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Lucie County
SBA loans in St. Lucie County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded378
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$212.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$562,611
- Median 7(a) approval$229,350
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,302,200
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)3,760
- Jobs per approval9.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active76
- Distinct industries receiving approvals161
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms66
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter283
- Franchise loans60
- Franchise share of approvals15.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countPlumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (16)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (39)
- 504 approvals recorded94
- 504 gross approval dollars$83.3 m
- Average 504 approval$885,957
- Median 504 approval$593,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval12.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.2
- Most active CDCFlorida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc. (43)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$295.9 m
The average approval of $562,611 sits well above the median of $229,350, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Lucie County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in St. Lucie County
Do SBA loans in St. Lucie County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded55
- Paid in full48
- Charged off7
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans12.7 percent
- Status: Charged off7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure257
- Status: Paid in full48
- Status: Cancelled47
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed19
Of the 55 loans that have reached a final outcome, 12.7 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Lucie County
SBA lending by place in St. Lucie County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Port St. Lucie, approvals254
- Fort Pierce, approvals118
- St. Lucie Village, approvals3
- St Lucia, approvals1
- West Palm Beach, approvals1
- Jensen Beach, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie | 254 | $121,876,000 |
| Fort Pierce | 118 | $85,307,300 |
| St. Lucie Village | 3 | $323,500 |
| St Lucia | 1 | $5,000,000 |
| West Palm Beach | 1 | $150,000 |
| Jensen Beach | 1 | $10,000 |
Port St. Lucie accounts for 254 approvals against 118 in Fort Pierce. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Lucie County
How large is St. Lucie County?
- Land area572 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Florida counties49th of 67
- Width, east to west29.5 mi
- Height, north to south24.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land630
- Establishments per square mile12.75
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Lucie County
Flood risk in St. Lucie County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community St. Lucie County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 120285
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 5
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in St. Lucie County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated St. Lucie County (community 120285), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 5, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places St. Lucie County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a St. Lucie County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a St. Lucie County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024360,500
- Households137,453
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$71,457
- Median age45.1
Common questions
St. Lucie County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Lucie County, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates 390,670 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 360,500, in 137,453 households, ranking 20th of 67 Florida counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Lucie County's population growing?
The population has grown 18.66 percent since the 2020 census base of 329,224, to 390,670 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,691 births against 4,058 deaths, with net migration of 14,857. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Lucie County?
$71,457. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $347,300, which is 4.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,585 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in St. Lucie County?
7,292 establishments, employing 74,865 people with an annual payroll of $3.45 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in St. Lucie County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 14,170 jobs, 15.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 90,334 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,238, or $1,024 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Lucie County?
378 7(a) approvals totaling $212.7 m since FY2020, across 76 lenders, with a median approval of $229,350, plus 94 504 approvals worth $83.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in St. Lucie County get paid back?
Of the 55 loans that have reached a final outcome, 48 were paid in full and 7 charged off, a charge-off rate of 12.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in St. Lucie County?
4,869 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.21 bn. Multifamily was 6.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Lucie County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to St. Lucie County come from?
The largest single origin is Palm Beach County, with 3,385 households. Arriving households report an average income of $79,337 against $59,529 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for St. Lucie County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for St. Lucie County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
St. Lucie County
Cities and places in St. Lucie.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in St. Lucie County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie | city | 232,491 | 254 | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Pierce | city | 49,082 | 118 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakewood Park | CDP | 13,866 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Indian River Estates | CDP | 7,685 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Pierce North | CDP | 7,224 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| White City | CDP | 5,744 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| River Park | CDP | 5,714 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Pierce South | CDP | 5,028 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hutchinson Island South | CDP | 4,175 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Lucie Village | town | 714 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 378 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in St. Lucie County, the largest being St Lucia (1), West Palm Beach (1), Jensen Beach (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby