Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The data are hard on it. Its weakest is cost of living — the typical home is worth about $374K, 5 years of the Port St. Lucie metro’s $75K median household income. Safety is weaker too: its crime rate is higher than 78% of U.S. towns, with 63 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Hazard risk is weaker too — FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 89% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top. Where it does best is walkability (A): it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 85% of U.S. towns. Overall, that makes a C−, good for 492nd of 634 in Florida. Nationally, it does better than 16% of U.S. towns. Only 1 of Florida’s 327 towns score higher on civic life.
Figures: home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FBI crime data, 2025 · FEMA National Risk Index.
Where Stuart beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
15,593 counted in 2010 and 17,425 in 2020; an estimated 19,451 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 11.9% since 2020, after 11.7% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Florida), ordered by how far Stuart is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 778 in 1920, 17,425 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1906 and 4 maps from 1948 on.
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Stuart, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 17, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Stuart.
Stuart is a second-home town, draws workers from Port St. Lucie and beyond and is healthier than towns with similar incomes.
29,251 jobs are based in Stuart, 4.2 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. Jobs based here grew from 22,313 in 2013 to 29,251.
Since 2013, Stuart has added 6,938 jobs, to 29,251 in 2023. 17% of Stuart residents live below the poverty line, where Florida’s towns sit at 11% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. The median household income here is $60,000.
| Stuart | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 24% | 5% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 25 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Three of its 15 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed. Its public schools are run by the Martin school district. The 3 public schools in Stuart teach 1,128 students between them.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stuart Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 777 | B+ |
| Martin County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,055 | B− |
| Felix A Williams Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 500 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within FL on state tests and graduation
86 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 10 properties have flooded more than once.
Households in Stuart have drawn federal disaster aid in 13 declared disasters, most recently in 2024. 86% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from hurricanes, followed by inland flooding at 9%.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Reported crimes fell from 507 to 349 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
In Stuart, the violent crime rate is 3.1 per 1,000 residents, against 2.1 in Florida’s towns and 1.6 across U.S. towns. Its rate of thefts and burglaries stands at 14.2 per 1,000 residents.
| Stuart | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.1 per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 14.2 per 1,000 residents | 12.6 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
3.9 miles of trail in 24 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Haney Creek Park, at 83 acres. Parks and preserves in Stuart: 24, covering 297 acres.
| Stuart | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 2.9% | 3% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Haney Creek Park Nature Trails & Dog Park | 1.1 mi | 112 |
| 2. Haney Creek Park | 0.4 mi | 83 |
| 3. Guy Davis Ballfield and Park | 0.3 mi | 28 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
January nights average 55.5°, milder than in 99% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 90°.
Snow is a rarity. In Stuart, the January low is 56°F.
| Stuart | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 56°F | 51°F | 22°F |
| July high | 90°F | 91°F | 85°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
15.6% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, against 7.8% statewide, which helps explain the older median age.
Stuart’s midpoint age comes in at 48.6 years. People 65 and older are 29% of residents (21% statewide). It is growing: up 12% since 2020, to 19,451 residents (2025 estimate). Among residents here, 17% are under 18.
| Stuart | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 29% | 20% | 18% |
| Median age | 48.6 years | 42.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 17% | 20% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 31% | 29% |
55% women, 45% men
About 81 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.6 points). Across Florida, 50.9% of residents are women.
| Stuart | FL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.9% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.4% | 9.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.9% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.2% | 12.7% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.5% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.9% | 13.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.9% | 11.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 15.1% | 9.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7% | 10.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.7% | 27.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.7% | 18.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.5% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.8% | 21.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.2% | 12.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
The typical value, about $374K, is 9% below its December 2023 peak.
For households in Stuart, the share who own their home is 59%. The going rate for rent for Stuart comes to $1,586 a month. In Stuart, the typical sale closed at 95.4% of the list price.
| Stuart | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 59% | 72% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,586 a month | $1,647 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Against the 8,986 U.S. towns with household incomes like Stuart’s, it is healthier than 76%, so its B− isn’t only a matter of income.
In Stuart, 15% of adults have diabetes. On the CDC’s 31 measures, Stuart is ahead of Florida on 9 and behind on 6.
| Stuart | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 37% | 36% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 12% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| What stands out | Stuart | FL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.7% | 13.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 13.1% | 16.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.8% | 9.1% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Stuart. Close and well known come first.
Big draw38 mi LakeLake Okeechobee22 mi Ancient siteUrca de Lima
36 mi MuseumFlagler Museum
21 mi MuseumNational Navy UDT-SEAL Museum
13 mi Stadium & arenaFirst Data Field34 mi Zoo & aquariumLion Country SafariLake Okeechobee: NASA, Public domain · Flagler Museum: Roger Wollstadt from Sarasota, Florida, CC BY-SA 2.0 · National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · First Data Field: JoeCondon, Public domain
1 within 15 miles of the center of Stuart
About 5 of every 100 Stuart residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Florida.
Where Stuart’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
4 places in Stuart on the National Register of Historic Places.
18 notable people were born in Stuart.
City in Florida, United States
Stuart is a city in and the county seat of Martin County, Florida, United States. Located in southeastern Florida, Stuart is the largest of five incorporated municipalities in Martin County. The population is 17,425 according to the 2020 U.S. census. Stuart is the 126th largest city in Florida based on official 2019 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. It is part of the Port St. Lucie, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. Stuart is frequently cited as one of the best small towns to visit in the U.S., in large part because of its proximity to the St. Lucie River, Indian River Lagoon, and the Atlantic Ocean.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
4 towns share a border with Stuart.
All 3 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its C−; North River Shores (C) is closest.
| Town | FL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuart | #492 | C− | C− | C− | B+ | B− |
| North River Shores | #362 | C | D | — | B+ | A− |
| Jensen Beach | #318 | C | C− | — | B+ | B+ |
| Rio | — | — | B− | — | B+ | B− |
| Palm City | #183 | B− | D | — | B+ | A |
Rio has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. North River Shores, Jensen Beach, Rio and Palm City report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Stuart with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Stuart grades C− overall, better than 16% of U.S. towns and #492 of 634 in Florida. It grades B− for health, C− for safety and B+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
18 notable people were born here, including Chris Marquette and Tori Penso.
