Located in West Central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg are often referred to together - as in, the “Tampa-St. Pete area.” In fact, St. Petersburg and Tampa each anchor the Tampa Bay region. Both cities offer excellent quality of life, plenty of sunny weather, quick access to beaches, and entertainment.
However, the cities do have some important differences. Tampa is a larger city and has more job opportunities - and traffic. St. Petersburg is smaller and is closer to the beach. The best city for you will depend on what you are looking for in a place to live - and the budget for your next home.
Based in Lithia, Eaton Realty helps clients buy and sell homes throughout Hillsborough County, including Tampa and St. Petersburg. If you’re interested in buying a home in the Tampa Bay area, we will work with you to help you find a house that fulfills your dreams (and won’t break the bank). Reach out today to talk to one of our Tampa real estate agents about your property search.
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Tampa vs. St. Petersburg: Which Is the Best Place to Live?
The greater Tampa Bay area has a lot to offer. It has great weather year-round, quick access to beautiful beaches, and diverse communities. If you are moving to the region, you may be debating where to live - Tampa or St. Petersburg. Read on to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of living in each city.
Population
Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida, with an estimated population of 398,173 people. Its population is fairly young, with just 13% of all residents aged 65 or older and 20.8% under the age of 18. It is a diverse city, with 44.1% of the population identifying as white, 26.7% identifying as Hispanic or Latino, and 21.8% identifying as Black. 18.4% of the population of Tampa is foreign-born.
St. Petersburg is a smaller city. It has an estimated population of 261,256. Its population skews slightly older, with 19.9% of residents aged 65 and older and 16.3% under 18. It is also less diverse than Tampa, with 67% of its residents identifying as white, 20.1% identifying as Black, and 8.8% identifying as Hispanic or Latino. 9.8% of all St. Petersburg residents were born outside the United States.
Regarding population, Tampa is both younger and more diverse—and there are more people in Tampa than in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg might be a better choice if you want a smaller, less dense city center, while Tampa is a great option if you value being in a larger city with a broader range of people.
Cost of Living
While Tampa is a bigger city, it isn’t an expensive place to live. Its cost of living is roughly the same as the national average. Housing costs are lower than the national average, as are utilities. You will pay about the same for transportation as the national average but more for groceries and food.
By comparison, the cost of living in St. Petersburg is 2% lower than the national average. Like Tampa, housing and utilities are less expensive than the national average, while food and groceries cost more. Transportation costs are roughly the same in St. Petersburg as the national average.
The median sale price for a home in Tampa in March 2024 was $423,750, and the average rent is $1,923 per month. In St. Petersburg, housing is slightly more expensive when renting but slightly less expensive when purchasing a home. Rent will run you an average of $2,007 monthly, and the median sale price for homes in March 2024 was $395,000.
Both Tampa and St. Petersburg are affordable places to live. This factor is a wash, as buying a house, renting an apartment, and purchasing other goods and services will likely be the same in both cities. An experienced Tampa Realtor can also help you find more affordable suburbs to make your money go even further.
The Economy
Tampa and St. Petersburg both have relatively strong economies. According to U.S. census data, 65.1% of all residents of Tampa aged 16 or older are employed in the civilian workforce. 64.1% of all residents of St. Petersburg of the same age are employed in the civilian workforce. The median household income in Tampa is $66,802, compared to $70,333 in St. Petersburg. However, Tampa has approximately twice the number of employers than St. Pete—12,425 in Tampa to 6,208 in St. Petersburg.
Tampa has a more diverse job market as well. The primary jobs in St. Petersburg are in the retail, professional services, and healthcare sectors. In Tampa, you can find jobs at the Tampa International Airport, Port Tampa Bay, or in the tourism, maritime, healthcare, finance, technology, construction, and insurance industries.
When it comes to jobs, Tampa has the edge. There are many more employers in Tampa than in St. Petersburg, and a wider range of jobs is available in Tampa. That said, you can find a higher-paying job in St. Pete if you have experience in one of its business sectors.
Things to Do
As a larger city, Tampa has a lot to do. It has multiple professional sports teams, including the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey team and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football teams. It has many unique neighborhoods with distinct personalities, like Ybor City for clubs and bars and Hyde Park for quaint, tree-lined streets. Tampa also has an incredible food scene, with cuisine from Cuba, the Middle East, Vietnam, the Caribbean, and Russia easy to find. The Michelin Guide has even bestowed several Michelin stars on Tampa restaurants.
Despite being a city, it’s easy to get outside and enjoy nature in Tampa. Within the city or a short drive, you can boat, fish, golf, or walk along the Tampa Riverwalk. You can also go to the beach or Busch Gardens if you’re a thrill-seeker.
Despite having a slightly older population, St. Petersburg also has a good nightlife, much of which is concentrated in its walkable downtown neighborhood. Its walkability is another bonus of living in St. Petersburg. Walking or biking throughout the city is easy using sidewalks or the Pinellas trail.
St. Petersburg also has a strong arts and culture scene, including the Dalí Museum, the James Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Chihuly Collection. Its food scene pales in comparison to Tampa’s, however, with far fewer diverse food choices. As with Tampa, there is easy access to fishing, boating, golfing, and other forms of outdoor recreation in St. Petersburg, plus the Tampa Bay Rays for baseball fans.
Both Tampa and St. Petersburg have a lot to offer when it comes to things to do. Being a bigger city, Tampa probably has more options - especially for professional sports and restaurants.
Beaches
Many people choose to live in Florida because they love the beach and ocean. Tampa and St. Petersburg are both fairly close to some world-class beaches. However, because St. Petersburg is much closer to the Gulf of Mexico, it is the better choice if your top priority is living close to the beach.
St. Petersburg is located just 10 to 15 minutes away from amazing beaches like St. Pete Beach (often voted as one of the best beaches in the country), Upham Beach Park, and Treasure Island Beach. These beaches have white sands and shallow blue waters with gentle waves. It is also close to Fort De Soto Park, a county park with swim centers, miles of beaches, fishing, trails, and a historic fort.
Tampa isn’t far away from these same beaches, but you will typically have to cross a bridge to get to any of them. Depending on the time of day, crossing a bridge could take anhour instead of 20 minutes - and then you will still have to drive through St. Petersburg to the beach of your choice. There are bay beaches within Tampa, but if you want to be on the ocean, you will have to drive a bit further.
If you want to be within a short drive of a beach, St. Petersburg may win the day. While Tampa is close to many beaches, traffic can make the drive more challenging.
Want to Buy a Home in Hillsborough County? Give Us a Call
Tampa and St. Petersburg are “sister” cities on either side of Tampa Bay. While they have a lot in common, Tampa is a bigger, more diverse city with more job opportunities. Given its proximity to St. Petersburg, living in the Tampa region might be your best bet - so that you live where you work and take a quick drive to nearby beaches and art museums around St. Pete.
Eaton Realty works with buyers to help them find the home of their dreams. We don’t simply find listings - we do a deep dive into each property to help our clients find a good investment and the right property. Zillow and Redfin can’t read inspection reports or disclosures, but our agents can. We will work collaboratively with you to understand your needs and wants and protect your interests throughout the process.
Our Tampa Realtors might have a certain fondness for Tampa, but we understand that each buyer is unique. We will work with you to find the right home in the right neighborhood for you. If you are looking to buy, sell, or rent a house in or around Tampa, we can help. If you find that your home ends up not being the right fit for you, we can always help you rent out your home to make extra monthly income through our Tampa property management services. Learn more about any of our real estate services by filling out our online contact form, or call us at 813-672-8022 to talk to a member of our real estate team.
