In February 2024, Travel + Leisure described Tampa as “a city cloaked in sunshine, sandwiched by water, with a rich history, cultural diversity, and a stone’s throw away from award-winning beaches.” They talk up the food, music, and pirate festivals, tout the hopping heart of the reimagined downtown district, and sum up all the rich allure by dubbing Tampa Florida’s new ‘It’.
‘It’ leaves a lot to the imagination. To get a better idea of Tampa’s colorful character, know that one of its nicknames is Champa Bay, in honor of the two Super Bowls and three Stanley Cups the town has claimed in the last twenty years, and it happens to be the lightning capital of the US.
If you plan on moving to the city after hearing all it has to offer, there are two things you need to know. One, is to never call it “Tampa Bay” — as one person put it, “People live in Tampa. Fish live in Tampa Bay”.
The second is what neighborhood you want to make your new home. Like the city itself, the neighborhoods all offer an array of experiences, activities, and vibes. No matter what, you’re sure to find something that fits you in Tampa. let’s dive in and see what’s waiting.
Quick Facts About Tampa
- Population: Tampa the city is growing, with its rising population soon to surpass 400,000 residents. The greater Tampa Bay area, meanwhile, is home to 5 million people, and the central Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area is the 18th largest metropolitan area in the US.
- Rent and Housing: According to Redfin, the median price for a home listed for sale in Tampa is around $390,000, while RentCafe tells us the average rent for an apartment is a little over $1,900, with three-quarters of all apartments coming in above $1,500.
- Cost of Living: According to Payscale, the cost of living in Tampa is right at the national average – and below that of Miami. Across various expenses, only groceries are listed as above average. If you’re moving from New York City, you’ll have over 40% reduction in COL. That number rises to nearly 46% if your current city is San Francisco.
- School Rating: SchoolDigger ranks Tampa’s Hillsborough School District 47th out of Florida’s 67 districts. However, like a lot of cities with lower rankings, there are some highly-regarded schools to be found among the individual listings, so check the ones in your prospective neighborhood for a better idea of what’s in store for your children.
- Quality of Life: Tampa scores well by the input gathered from Numbeo, winning an overall QOL Index Score above 170. This is even with a high cost of living score! Worldwide, Numbeo puts Tampa at #34, one spot below intrastate rival Orlando and among the top ten in the USA.
Tampa is home to lush, attractive parks, a variety of museums, major attractions like Busch Gardens and ZooTampa, and several restaurants and eateries boasting Michelin stars.
There’s a lot waiting for you in Tampa – including the perfect neighborhood from which to live it up. No matter what you’re looking for (or your budget), you’re sure to find a place that fits you best. And to help you find your perfect neighborhood, here’s a list of our favorites.
Best Tampa Neighborhoods for 2024
Downtown
From the Stratz Center for the Performing Arts on the north side to Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park on the south side and all along the water in between, this formerly sleepy downtown area has got it going on.
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park offers a boatload of events, activities, and recreational opportunities to add to the bustle of the heart of downtown. The Tampa Riverwalk is a stretch of pedestrian heaven that offers great views and leads to Water Street Tampa, an ever-evolving mecca of shopping, dining, and buzzing nightlife.
The Tampa Theater, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Bay History Center, and the Glazer Children’s Museum give this urban center a cultural richness and depth, and makes downtown a city lover’s dream.
Channel District
Also known as Channelside, this area east of the Downtown neighborhood feels like an extension of the buzzing metropolitan atmosphere. Channelside Drive is headlined by Sparkman Wharf, which holds a dazzling array of dining, drinking, shopping, and entertainment, including live outdoor music and movies on the lawn. Also here is the conservation-minded Florida Aquarium and, for the seafarer in you, the American Victory Ship and Museum which, like the aquarium, is a non-profit educational endeavor.
There’s plenty more to be had all up and down the eminently walkable Channel District, with an eclectic display of dining options, a burgeoning craft beer scene, and numerous apartments, lofts, and condos for those who want to be just steps away from it all.
Ybor City Historic District
Built on the cigar-making industry, Ybor City and its historic district have seen some ups and downs. Today the area is definitely on the upswing, with trendy, eclectic restaurants mixing with historic architecture, punctuated with the Ybor City Museum State Park. The district has been both a studio and a repository of artistic expression, with a reputation for attracting aspiring artists and serving as the home of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
“[Palma Ceia, a] quiet residential neighborhood south of Hyde Park, has the prime reputation of being one of the safest neighborhoods in Tampa.”
With its historical ties to the cigar industry, it should be no surprise that Ybor boasts a healthy dose of Cuban and Latin American eateries, including Florida’s oldest restaurant. The theme continues with the Cuban Sandwich Festival, while every week the Ybor City Saturday Market turns Centennial Park into a celebration of local food and unique artisanal crafts. And speaking of festivals, let’s not forget the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival.
With the TECO Streetcar Line running from 8th Avenue through the Channel District and all the way to Downtown, the whole heart of Tampa is one easy ride away.
Hyde Park
- Average 1-Bedroom:
- Average Home:
- $1,000,000+ in Historic Hyde Park
- $550,000 in North Hyde Park
Located just southwest of Downtown across the Hillsborough River, Hyde Park offers a small-town feel near the center of Tampa. Hyde Park Village is an attractive and walkable area right in the middle of Hyde Park, North Hyde Park, and the Historic Hyde Park areas, all of which have their charms. Hyde Park Village comes alive on weekends, with both locals and out-of-towners coming in for a good time, giving this section of Hyde Park a more metro feel during those times.
Residents also love Hyde Park for the good schools, the relatively low crime, and various local events, like farmers markets and craft fairs happening all throughout the year. And of course, there’s the country’s longest continuous sidewalk, Bayshore Boulevard, running along the edge of Hillsborough Bay, giving Hyde Park a sweeping view of Tampa unlike any other.
Seminole Heights
North of Downtown and the Channel District, Seminole Heights is a great choice for families and young professionals. The character of the area can be largely attributed to the work of the various artists and musicians bringing color and life to the neighborhood, but Seminole Heights is equally known for its cool and unique food scene found all up and down North Florida and North Nebraska Avenues.
Covering a vast area bisected by I-275, Seminole Heights includes Old, South, and Southeast Seminole Heights. Aside from Florida and Nebraska Avenues, it’s largely residential, and green spaces abound beyond McDugald Park in Old Seminole Heights.
You’ll undoubtedly find space to play and relax with all the choices: Hillsborough River, Rowlett and 22nd Street Parks, the northeast River Tower Park (and its festival), and Lowry Park which includes ZooTampa. And of course, Downtown is just a quick bus trip away.
Palma Ceia
This quiet residential neighborhood south of Hyde Park has the prime reputation of being one of the safest neighborhoods in Tampa. Add brick-lined streets, highly-rated schools, and green spaces like Lions Park and dog parks to the mix, and you have a place people with young children are quickly drawn to.
But Palma Ceia can be for big kids too, with the Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club on the north side and Bayshore Boulevard just to the east. You’ll also find a fair amount of local dining and café/bar options along Bay to Bay Boulevard and up and down MacDill Avenue. But compared to some other neighborhoods in and around the core of Tampa, Palma Ceia can be relatively quiet. Still, for those looking for a place with a bit of everything close by, Palma Ceia is just perfect.
Davis Islands
Certainly one of Tampa’s most affluent neighborhoods, the attractive and genteel Davis Islands are surprisingly not out of reach if you are looking for an apartment to rent. Originally two small natural islands floating among the waters of Hillsborough Bay, the Davis Islands were developed through artificial expansion and now comprise a special enclave unto themselves, sitting right across the water from Hyde Park and minutes from Downtown.
“The greater Tampa Bay area…is home to 5 million people, and the central Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area is the 18th largest metropolitan area in the US.”
All the amenities of a swanky neighborhood are here: waterfront homes and views of the surrounding area, parks, beaches, and trails, a quiet, close community, posh shopping, and a sampling of great dining centered around alluring and walkable Davis Islands Village. If you’ve got your sights set on the height of comfortable, quiet living, Davis Islands may be just what you’re looking for.
The Tampa Bay Area extends for miles along the western Florida coast and includes many more desirable towns and communities that may fit in perfectly with your plans. But if you want to be near the center of all the best things that Tampa offers, the neighborhoods above are a great place to start.
