Treasure Coast Renters Hit with Sharp Disparities by Home Type and Block

Renters in the same Port St. Lucie or Stuart neighborhood can face strikingly different monthly bills depending on whether they live in a single-family home, a duplex, or a large apartment complex — and even which block they're on, according to new peer-reviewed research.

A 2025 study in the Journal of Housing Economics found that rent diverges meaningfully within neighborhoods based on two underappreciated factors: precise location and structure type. The research, led by Adams B. and colleagues, challenges the common assumption that comparable units in the same ZIP code carry comparable rents. According to available information,

For Treasure Coast renters, the finding carries practical weight. Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties have all seen an influx of in-migrants from South Florida in recent years, intensifying competition for rental stock. A renter comparing a garden-style apartment complex off U.S. 1 in Jensen Beach to a converted single-family rental two streets away may be looking at meaningfully different price points — even if both listings advertise the same bedroom count.

The study's framework also raises questions relevant to the Treasure Coast's uneven housing stock, which ranges from older concrete-block homes near the Indian River Lagoon to newer master-planned communities in western Port St. Lucie. Structure type — not just amenities or square footage — appears to be an independent driver of what landlords can charge, the research suggests.

For renters making decisions now, the practical takeaway is to shop by building type, not just by ZIP code or neighborhood name. Lumping all rentals in a single area into one price expectation can lead to budget miscalculations.

Local renters and housing advocates should examine whether St. Lucie County's rental assistance programs and Martin County's workforce housing initiatives account for these within-neighborhood price variations when setting income eligibility thresholds.

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