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Friday, January 06, 2023

Best Places To Live In the Tampa Bay Region

Tampa, Florida

Best Places To Live In the Tampa Bay Region

Florida’s Tampa Bay region is a fantastic place to live! Situated on the central West Coast, residents benefit from a laid-back waterfront lifestyle combined with the amenities of a large metropolitan area. Everything you could want–other than snow and ice–is within a day’s drive.

Don’t believe us? Want waterfront living? Pick Gulf, Bay, island, river, or lake. Retail? Over nine malls and premium outlets, for starters. Professional sports? Tampa has three football, baseball, and hockey. Cuisine? It’s a top-ranked food city with a world-famous steakhouse and authentic Cuban fare.

All this and more come without breaking the bank. The Tampa Bay region has some of Florida’s most affordable housing costs!

Learn more about the Tampa Bay region and some of its top places to live.

The Tampa Bay Region

Tampa Bay Region skyline view

It’s easy to get confused when someone says they’re from Tampa Bay–and then you find out they live an hour from downtown. It’s a massive area with many definitions.

Tampa Bay proper includes Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. It’s the heart of the metro with the three key cities: Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. Tampa sits at the northern end of Tampa Bay. St. Petersburg is at the end of the Pinellas peninsula, while Clearwater is central to Pinellas County’s coast.

However, the US Census includes Pasco and Hernando counties north of Hillsborough. These areas connect to the metro through the Veterans and Suncoast Parkways and I-75. At the very northern end is Citrus County, considered part of the Tampa Bay Area and the Florida Nature Coast.

The coalition of Tampa Bay Area governments also includes the counties to the south: Manatee, which borders the southern end of Tampa Bay, and Sarasota. Polk County to the east is also included, as it has some city suburbs and I-4, the east-west artery connecting Tampa to Orlando.

For the purposes of presenting a few top places to live in the Tampa Bay Area, we’ve excluded the City of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, and Sarasota, which you can learn more about in their respective best neighborhood profiles. We’re also excluding Citrus, Polk, and Manatee Counties.

No matter where you live in Tampa Bay, this region is one of the best places to call home. You gain beautiful beaches, endless entertainment options, and an affordable lifestyle. For the best of Tampa Bay living, try these communities.

Citrus Park

North of Tampa in Hillsborough County, the Citrus Park community is known for its top-rated schools, easy access to Tampa International Airport, and the upscale Citrus Park Mall. The suburb started as, you guessed it, a citrus growing area, but it’s developed into a residential community.

Citrus Park isn’t an incorporated area, so you won’t find a traditional downtown with a Main Street and stores. But don’t worry about feeling isolated. The Citrus Park Town Center is a significant destination for the entire region, with numerous stores, outlets, entertainment, and dining choices.

People also like how Citrus Park is zoned for some of the top-ranked schools in Hillsborough County.

Being further away from downtown, the lots here tend to be larger. Some have significant acreage, meaning many parks are in the area. You may have heard of Big Cat Rescue, featured on the Netflix show The Tiger King. That’s here, as is the Zaksee Florida Bird Sanctuary.

The median list price in January 2023 was $435,000, with 108 homes for sale. Citrus Park had nine distinct neighborhoods: Carrollwood Meadows, Logan Gate, and Bellamy Road.

Clearwater

Beautiful sunrise in Clearwater Beach FL

TripAdvisor recently ranked Clearwater Beach as the No. 1 beach in the US and the third best beach in the world (yes, WORLD!). But it’s not all about beaches here: Clearwater has five parks, including Sand Key on the Clearwater Bay and Mocassin Lake Nature Park, with its classic Florida views.

The city sits in the center of Pinellas County and is the closest gulffront beach for Tampa residents. Tampa International Airport is only 40 minutes away by car. Its accessibility makes it a popular vacation and spring break destination.

Clearwater hosts interesting attractions like The Pier 60, home to the Sugar Sand Festival, and The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, former home to Winter from the movie Dolphin Tale.

The median list price in January 2023 was $365,000, with 1,140 homes for sale. Prices were up 9% year over year. Clearwater had 18 neighborhoods, with popular choices being Sand Key, Island Estates, and Clearwater Beach.

Dunedin

Skyline view of Dunedin Florida

With its charming downtown area, Dunedin is perfect for those looking for an artsy vibe. It’s a special place in Pinellas County that retains the charm of its Scottish founders, including annual events celebrating the culture and heritage of Scotland.

But there’s more to this city than just an old-world vibe: gorgeous beaches on the Gulf Coast are accessible via a short drive down Edgewater Drive (US 19). Honeymoon Island State Park awaits over Causeway Blvd. Use it as a launching point for the top-rated Caladesi Island State Park and its unspoiled beaches.

Hammock Park near downtown has waterfront views, thanks to Cedar Creek. The town has plenty of other pocket parks to take the dog on a walk or play with kids.

Other attractions include the Dunedin Historic Museum, Dunedin Golf Club, and Dunedin Brewery.

The median list price in January 2023 was $459,000, with 272 homes for sale. Prices were up 15% year over year.

Land O’Lakes

Land O'lakes aerial view

If you’re picturing a community dotted with lakes, you’d be right! Located in Pasco County, Land O’Lakes is a suburban community that’s great for those seeking affordability and access to nature trails and boating activities.

A highlight of the area is Conner Preserve, an expanse of untouched beauty spanning 2,980 acres. The preserve functions as a link in the wildlife pathway between Starkey Wilderness Preserve and Cypress Creek Preserve. Locals get access to hiking and sports recreation between all the parks.

There are also ranches in Land O’Lakes, as it’s still home to some of the area’s original settlers who relied on agriculture. However, the area mixes the old and new as developers take advantage of the former ranch and agricultural lands to support the expanding Tampa metro.

The median list price in January 2023 was $440,000, with 678 homes for sale. Top neighborhoods included Dupree Lakes and Lake Padgett.

Oldsmar

Oldsmar is a great option for Tampa Bay area residents looking for a prime location without being in a downtown location. Oldsmar sits on the border of Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, where the Lake Tarpon Canal meets Mobbly and Old Tampa Bay.

The town started with an automobile pioneer buying thousands of acres to develop as a real estate venture. When it didn’t expand as he anticipated, he sold the tracts of land.

Oldsmar kept developing throughout the years, growing with the metro area. With Tampa Bay at its eastern border and the Tampa International Airport just 20 minutes away, Oldsmar offers an affordable escape from Tampa to a more laid-back environment.

Today the town has numerous parks for outdoor recreation and an Empower Adventure Park with ziplines. The Tampa Bay Downs horse racing track is also nearby.

The median list price in January 2023 was $425,000, with 91 homes for sale. Options include some historic old Florida-style bungalows, which add to the area’s charm.

Palm Harbor

Life in Palm Harbor is about relaxation. Just north of St. Petersburg, this is where people go to play and kick back. But don’t worry; it offers a variety of charming neighborhoods if you don’t want to commute.

One of Palm Harbor’s claims to fame is its Innisbrook Resort Golf & Club. The championship course hosts the PGA Valspar Championship each March and has been a top 100 course listed in Golf Digest. But the resort is more than Golf. Members have championship tennis, multiple pools, dining, fitness, social activities, and more. The resort is one of the Tampa Bay area’s most popular attractions.

Historic Florida Avenue and Tampa Road are lined with locally-owned boutiques and restaurants. The region’s festivals and events draw people from all over Tampa Bay, including the Music at the Palm Harbor Citrus Festival and the Taste of Palm Harbor.

The median list price in January 2023 was $442,400, with 367 homes for sale in Palm Harbor. Prices were up 18% year over year. There are many waterfront properties available in this Tampa suburb.

Safety Harbor

Another bayside suburb in Pinellas, Safety Harbor, faces Old Tampa Bay and Philippe Creek. Its relaxed, small-town vibe makes it a perfect place for those looking to downsize or retire. At the same time, the downtown area offers plenty of activities and dining options.

The town is known for its historic sites and healing waters. The historic Safety Harbor Resort & Spa is located on the bay. It has been providing patients with therapeutic treatments since 1925. There are also quite a few parks, like Tampa Bay’s Philippe Park, where you can relax in the shade of oaks, get a view of Tampa Bay, or catch a glimpse of one of the area’s many dolphins.

The median list price in January 2023 was $527,500, with 73 homes for sale. The town is minutes from Oldsmar, Tampa International Airport, St. Petersburg International Airport, and downtown Tampa, making it a convenient place to live.

Seminole

Guitar hotel in Seminole Florida

Seminole blends residential suburb living with outdoor experiences. This city in Pinellas is inland, so you won’t find a bay or beachfront here. Still, it’s minutes from water access whenever you do want a day on the beach.

The town of Seminole has its own YMCA, several parks, and an 18-hole championship golf course. Lake Seminole Park has a two-mile trail, fishing piers, and a public boat ramp. It’s probably the best-known city park, but Boca Ciega Millennium Park has a more rustic feel with moss-draped oaks and its observation tower.

Residents have access to the 45-mile Pinellas Trail, perfect for that long bike ride or connecting to other nearby communities.

Locals have plenty of other expected things to do, from dive bars to movie theaters.

The median list price in January 2023 was $419,000, with 226 homes for sale.

Wesley Chapel

This Tampa suburb is an excellent community for those seeking a suburban lifestyle. It sits along the Tampa Bypass Canal and features plenty of trails, parks, and lakes. In Wesley Chapel, you have easy access to Tampa down. I-75 while living near some of Florida’s most scenic wilderness preserves.

Cypress Creek Preserve has six miles of hiking and biking trails with views of 4,200 acres of wetlands and pine flatwood forest. You can also explore nearby Bruce B. Downs Wilderness Park or the Lower Hillsborough River Wildlife Preserve.

Another perk is the Wesley Chapel Town Center, where shopping, dining, entertainment, and living options are in one place. Its convenience to I-75 draws people from the surrounding suburbs to the lively outdoor mall atmosphere. More choices abound at The Shops at Wiregrass, another retail center that residents visit for shopping, restaurants, movies, and more.

The median list price in January 2023 was $387,000, with 1,357 homes for sale. You can find a nice balance of properties, from condos and townhomes to family homes and larger lots.

Living in Tampa Bay

With Tampa Bay’s many community options, there’s something to please any buyer. Whether you’re looking for an active lifestyle near Tampa Bay or a more laid-back atmosphere in one of Tampa’s suburbs, the Tampa Bay area will have the right town for you to call home. Plus, all the amenities of living near a major metro mean you’re a day trip from International Airports, sports arenas, a cruise port, and much more.

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