Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
One resident finds it hard to find a partner or even friends due to the sprawl and older average age
In their words
“I find it a really difficult place to find a partner, even friends, between the extremely sprawled area and the fact that the average age is over 35,...”
10.43 on a 1 to 20 scale, averaged across the metro. More walkable than 84% of U.S. metros.
EPA National Walkability Index
Median age
37.9
Half of residents are older, half younger
2024 Census (ACS 5-year)
How the county voted, 2024
50.9% Republican, 47.8% Democrat
Hillsborough County, presidential race
2024 presidential results by county
Crimes reported to the FBI each year
227 violent crimes per 100,000 people
Florida overall: 345. Violent crimes are murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crimes (burglary, theft, car theft): 806 per 100,000. Hillsborough County
FBI, 2024
City LGBTQ+ laws and policies
100 out of 100
Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index rates a city's non-discrimination laws, services and policies, not how people feel.
One resident said Tampa employers still offer salaries from fifty thousand to eighty thousand dollars, with entry level corporate jobs around fifty thousand
In their words
“Tampa employers will still throw around $50k to $80k salaries. Entry level corporate jobs pay around $50k, experienced professionals can get...”
Pick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
October
Average high 85°F, low 68°F
About 2.5 inches of rain and snow
Clouds cover about 47% of the sky (a mix of sun and clouds)
Over a year: about 73 days at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing. Plan on central air: summer power bills run high here. Winters are a mix of sun and clouds: clouds cover about 52% of the sky from December to February, and 64% in summer.
1991 to 2020 averages, NOAA climate data (ACIS). Cloud cover: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2025
Fall brings a warm, dry season with temperatures gradually cooling into the mid-70s.
From a weather source, not a resident
What locals say
Based on 58 resident comments on Reddit.
Resident testimonyGeneral impressionsMoved here from Detroit
One resident who moved from Detroit as a teen and has lived in Tampa since age 16 describes themselves as a huge rock music fan.
In their words
“I'm not a transplant anymore. I just turned 28 and have lived in Tampa since I was 16. I moved here from the Detroit metro. I'm a huge rock music fan...”
One resident said they moved to Tampa last May and did not expect the winters to get so cold, having to give up hobbies for now.
In their words
“Hey everyone just moved to Tampa last May and I did not expect the Winters to get so cold, I had to get rid of a lot of my hobbies for now and go into...”
Of about 407,243 rented homes in the Tampa area, 78% rent for under $2,000 a month and 96% for under $3,000.
Under $1,000: 16%
$1,000 to $1,499: 34%
$1,500 to $1,999: 28%
$2,000 to $2,499: 14%
$2,500 to $2,999: 5%
$3,000 or more: 4%
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Hiring movers
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
Moving in as a renter
The middle rented home in the Tampa area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.
Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Moving to Florida: before and after
Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Florida DMV.
Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Schools
One public school district serves this county, with about 224,538 students. The county also has 51 public charter schools and 107 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.
Public Public charter Private District that covers the center of Tampa: Hillsborough County School District
District lines: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.
Closest public schools to the center of Tampa
Elementary
Rampello K-8 Magnet School0.3 mi
Public
grades K to 8 · 806 students · 16.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 63%, math about 69% (state: reading about 53%, math about 55%)
Channelside Academy of Math and Science0.5 mi
Public charter
grades K to 8 · 333 students · 15.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 55%, math about 36% (state: reading about 53%, math about 55%)
Washington Elementary School0.7 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 335 students · 12.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 28%, math about 50% (state: reading about 53%, math about 55%)
Middle
Rampello K-8 Magnet School0.3 mi
Public
grades K to 8 · 806 students · 16.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 63%, math about 69% (state: reading about 53%, math about 55%)
Channelside Academy of Math and Science0.5 mi
Public charter
grades K to 8 · 333 students · 15.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 55%, math about 36% (state: reading about 53%, math about 55%)
Stewart Middle Magnet School1.1 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 801 students · 23.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 49%, math about 46% (state: reading about 53%, math about 55%)
High school
Blake High School0.8 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,584 students · 22 per teacher
Hillsborough High School2.8 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,768 students · 19.9 per teacher
Middleton High School3.2 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,565 students · 22.4 per teacher
Private
St Peter Claver Catholic School0.5 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 96 students · 10.7 per teacher
Tampa Preparatory School0.6 mi
Private
grades 6 to 12 · 705 students · 10.9 per teacher
St Johns Episcopal Parish Day School0.6 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 484 students · 8.3 per teacher
Straight-line miles from the center of Tampa, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Florida's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.
224,538 students · 18.1 students per teacher · 309 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
School choice and pre-K in Florida
Going to school in another district
State law says districts must accept students from other districts when they have room, under set rules. Ask the district you'd like about space and deadlines.
Picking a different school in your district
State law says families can ask for a different school in the same district, and the district must allow it when there's room.
Free state pre-K
63% of 4-year-olds in Florida attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.
School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Daycare and preschool
Florida keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
Age
Daycare center
Home daycare
Infant (under 2)
$240/week
about $12,500 a year
$175/week
about $9,100 a year
Toddler (2)
$190/week
about $9,900 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)
$175/week
about $9,100 a year
$150/week
about $7,800 a year
School-age
$125/week
about $6,500 a year
For an infant at a center: $240/week here, $225 across FL, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 15% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 237 students · $13,420 a year
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.
The facts behind it
Typical home value
$356,843
What a typical home sells for across the Tampa area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 1% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $101 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 100.9 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Average commute
28 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
3 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 2.8 miles from the town center (Flexential). The largest is about 97,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $7,136 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in FL. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively High
Hail is a real cost here: roof claims are common and some insurers charge a separate, higher deductible for wind and hail. Covered parking helps protect a car.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
7 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
16.7 per 100,000 people a year
264 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. FL average: 17.1 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 11.4 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 1,796 people without housing in the Tampa/Hillsborough County area: 950 in shelters and 846 outside, down from 1,893 in 2024. FL: 11.9 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Unemployment
4%
The share of people looking for work who can't find it, averaged over the year. U.S.: about 4%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
Median household income
$75,011
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.84% of home value a year
About $840 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
No state income tax
FL's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
