15 Pros and Cons of Living in Stuart, FL

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I never heard of Stuart, Florida until someone pointed the place out to me.

Now, I’m wondering what the pros and cons are of living in the Martin County Seat of Stuart, FL. 

Pros of Living in Stuart, FL

The “pros” of living in Stuart, FL depend on your interests.

I didn’t immediately mention that it’s known as the “fishing capital of the world” because that would most interest fish lovers. 

I love water though.

I’d relocate to Stuart, FL just for that reason.

You might have different motivations to live here than I would, however, and that’s okay.

I found at least eight different advantages of making this location your semi-permanent or permanent home. 

1. Large Cities A Short Drive Away

I like to live outside a city and still have access to it.

That doesn’t mean I’d want to hide in a suburb, but perhaps I’d fit into a cozy little town.

Stuart, Florida has a small-town reputation but is a short drive from major cities. 

Cities Within Driving Distance

You only have to drive south from Stuart about 49 minutes to get to West Palm Beach, Florida, for instance.

There’s also Ft. Lauderdale, which is only about an hour and 29 minutes away from the south.

If traveling southbound, you can also make it to Miami from Stuart in only about two hours.

You also can travel north to Orlando in a little more than two hours from Stuart. 

If you elect to pay highway tolls, you can also make it to Cocoa Beach in approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The no-toll route still isn’t terribly long of a trip either.

It would take you about two hours. 

2. Close Access to Beaches

Stuart, FL is no Miami, Palm, or Ft. Lauderdale Beach destination when it comes to college spring break celebrations.

That can be a good thing no matter your age, and you may not even feel the need to make an appearance at the larger beaches once you know what’s available. 

Some people in their 20s and 30s, for example, have children.

If that’s you, you may feel better about checking out Stuart, Bathtub, or Jensen Beaches.

Retired people, creative writers, and students may also fit in better in these smaller coastal areas.  

You can access these beaches near Stuart, FL from the Florida A1A SE Ocean Blvd roadway.

If driving, you’ll cross over St. Lucie and Indian Rivers.

It only takes between 13-17 minutes to arrive at these destinations, depending on where in Stuart you are now. 

Several other beaches exist along the route from Stuart to Cocoa Beach too.

Don’t forget Hobe Sound Beach on Jupiter Island as well, which you can drive to in about 30 minutes southbound. 

3. Social Opportunities (Day, Evening, and After Hours)

Stuart, FL is no Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Orlando in terms of nightlife.

Don’t worry though.

This location still provides you with the connection with other people that you feel you need. 

Day and Evening Activities

I think the social opportunities offered in Stuart are an excellent idea for people who do feel the need to connect with people but do not stay up until 2 a.m.

On the other hand, Stuart does have its share of after-hour fun too.

During the daytime and early evening, you can attend various community events promoted by Martin County.

For instance, they just announced the Pub Crawl, Weekly Garage Tours (classic car show), and a country dance event all to take place in August 2022.

For later this year, there’s an ArtsFest coming up in November.

After Hours Fun

There are some bars, pubs, and nightclubs that are open for the few people who do stay up after hours.

I don’t do it as much as I used to, but I would want to know that I have the option to partake in after-hours fun if I feel up to it.

Right in Stuart, you’ll find the Cafe Martier @ Post Office Arcade on Osceola Street.

It’s described as a “bar and restaurant plus dining hotspot for singles” on Google.

However, it’s also a place to try European cuisine.

It offers a French historical feel but caters to what it calls the “modern American palette.” 

The second closest place is the Harpers Pub.

They do have a location right in Stuart, but you also might enjoy the St. Lucie Boulevard location. 

The St. Lucie Harpers Pub, by the way, is described as an “unassuming Irish pub with pool and darts.”

That sounds more like my scene personally, but you are not me.

You will have to find out for yourself what pub you’d like best. 

4. Reasonable Cost of Living

Stuart’s overall cost of living rank is 98.9.

That makes it about one percent less expensive than the national average to live in.

Transportation, housing, and utilities are what cost less here.

These amenities range from as high as 10% to about 4% cheaper than in the rest of America.

The savings may not seem like much, but any discount on living expenses could help.

Besides, you may make a higher salary here, depending on your chosen profession.

An increased income will help you save money too. 

5. Plenty of “Green Space” and Natural Scenery

I like living in a location that offers plenty of green space and natural scenery.

Parks in this location include Kiwanis, Martin Luther King, and Haney or Shepherd Park.

You also can enjoy the stretches of wildlife preserve regions Stuart has access to.

One I’d like to spend time in is the Inlet Aquatic Reserve, which stretches from Jensen to Jupiter Beaches. 

About 23 minutes south of Stuart, you will also find the Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park.

Even closer to Stuart, the Savanna Preserves State Park is only about 16 minutes away from the north. 

6. Urban/Suburban Balance

Stuart seems to have just enough city and country life.

The number of restaurants, coffee shops, stores, and other amenities provides an urban balance against the natural areas that exist here. 

Stuart, Florida also has suburban communities where parents and their children may feel most comfortable.

Most of the areas west of South Kanner Highway, for instance, are where I’d feel the safest bringing children.

I recommend west of the South Fork of St. Lucie River to start. 

7. Retired People Welcome Here

I don’t blame the retired people that settle here.

I know what it’s like to feel alone even though I am not technically a senior citizen yet.

Stuart offers plenty of leisure space and boating, so you’d probably feel more relaxed here than in a crowded beachfront city. 

I even heard it’s a place for people who have pets.

That’s excellent news for me because I hope to retire with a pet if I have to live alone at that time in my life. 

In fact, Stuart has a rather sizable nature spot called Poppleton Creek Dog Park in a prominent downtown location.

I trust it as an excellent place to bring a canine companion, and I would give this dog park and this location a chance if I had a reason to live here.   

8. Plenty of Outdoor Activity Space

With all the available green space in Stuart, it wouldn’t be hard to find an outdoor activity to engage in.

It’s not just fishing either, by the way.

There’s also plenty of paddle boarding and boogie boarding or surfing here.

You can hike, bike and swim too.

Otherwise, just sunbathe or have an outdoor picnic on the beach or in a park. 

Cons of Living in Stuart, FL

1. Not the Safest Florida Location

Approximately 61% of other locations are safer.

Most of the violent crimes occur downtown and on the peninsula and coastal areas.

However, violence is not the number one worry here. 

The worst crime ratings include the “other” or miscellaneous crime categories.

You will have to worry about theft in most cases, rather than violence.

Either way, watch your back.

Know what you’re getting into before entering a neighborhood, especially alone. 

2. Nightlife May Require Travel

Don’t get me wrong. Stuart, Florida does have its beaches and the social opportunities I shared with you already.

It is also home to the Island Vibes Kava Bar and its share of Wi-Fi cafes. 

In addition, Stuart features the Terra Fermata local live music venue.

Plus, it has the Lush Lounge, which has enough room for both small and large event groups. 

It may be hard, however, if you’re single and you live in a neighborhood where it’s mostly children and families.

If you don’t feel like going to bed by midnight like everyone else, you may want to go to Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

Some places are open until 2:00  a.m. though.

If you like to stay up all night, you’d probably want to check out a neighborhood where you would feel most comfortable doing that. 

Let’s say you really do like the Island Rood Cava Bar and want to make that your regular hangout.

You can find mid-tier and affordable apartments near it.

You’d be living downtown, by the way, which may be more affordable and convenient but is a higher safety risk. 

3. Limited Shopping

Yes, Stuart, Florida has The Fresh Market grocery store and the B&A Flea Market.

There are also more shopping opportunities downtown.

However, it’s not the first choice for high-end shopping.

If you’re looking for boutique-quality handbags or couture clothing, you won’t find much of that directly in Stuart.

You’ll have to travel to one of the nearby larger cities, such as Miami or Orlando. 

4. Bugs and Critters

Stuart, FL lies close enough to the equator that you’ll have to expect an increase of invasive pests.

One of the most common is ants.

You also might contend with lizards you didn’t intend on having as pets.

Cockroaches, rodents, flies, ticks, and mosquitoes may also make you uncomfortable.

Don’t be surprised if people are a little OCD about cleanliness here.

5. Inconvenient Ferry Travel to Ocean

Stewart, FL doesn’t have the convenient ferry routes that some other cities may have.

It could take you 45 minutes to over an hour to travel from this location to the ocean. 

If you’re using the ferry to commute, make sure you leave in plenty of time.

Even when not working, you need to plan enough time for delays when returning.

6. Not Much Racial Diversity

Stuart reportedly does not have much racial diversity.

It doesn’t mean the town won’t welcome people of ethnic backgrounds other than their own though.

It is just what it is for now. 

Approximately 76.7% white and about 15.7% Latino live here.

Only a small fraction of Stuart residents are of African American or Asian American/of Pacific Island origin.

Of course, this may not affect you as much if you’re of the majority ethnic group.

I think I would have a hard time with this.

The city in WI I am from is quite diverse for its size, and having most people of one ethnic background, race or culture would bother me. 

7. 2021 Toxic Water Crisis

In 2021, the town of Stuart will experience a toxic algae water crisis nearby it.

The Environmental Protection Agency declared at this time that the water may have too high of a concentration of it for drinking. 

The EPA also said that residents shouldn’t touch, inhale or offer this water to adults, children, or pets.

This sounds scary to me, but I feel comforted by the recent 2022 updates that indicate improvements.

Here are some recent reports about the local beaches too. 

Pros and Cons of Living in Stuart, FL – Summary Table

Florida Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Florida Safety Review

Safety Index:

70

• OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
• MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
• TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
• SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW