Getting to Know Tampa – Your Moving Guide

Are you looking to move to Tampa? Whether it’s the warm sunshine, decadent food, spirited culture scene, or inviting people- you will find that Tampa has advantages that appeal to everyone!

Moving can be a stressful experience, but this guide will provide information about living in Tampa so your transition is smooth. In addition to detailing what amenities and attractions the city offers, we’ll explore topics like neighborhood options, cost-of-living comparisons, and job possibilities to give you insight into what life could look like if you decided to call Tampa home.

Get to know Tampa Bay

One of Florida’s largest metro areas, the Tampa Bay region consists of nine counties stretching from Sarasota to Citrus. At its core rests three major cities: Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater– all within Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.

With the multiple entertainment and lifestyle options scattered across such a vast geographic territory, it’s no wonder why 3.1 million people call Tampa Bay home! And now it’s ranked the fourth-best place to retire by US News and World Report for 2022, surpassing former area favorites like Sarasota, so it’s getting even more interest!

For our look at moving to Tampa, we’ll focus on the City of Tampa and the suburbs inside Hillsborough County. The city limits run along the northern end of Greater Tampa Bay, from the peninsula between Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay, up along the Hillsborough River, and northeasterly towards the University of South Florida

Cost of living is just average

Florida can be a pretty pricey place to live, so Tampa is an attractive option if you want to be in a waterfront city. Because it’s not directly on the coastline, it’s a cheaper place to live, but you still have access to the expansive Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough River, and other creeks that are part of its watershed.

Looking at Sperling’s Best Places Index, Tampa’s overall cost of living aligns with the state average, 103.7 versus 103.3, respectively. Housing is slightly more here, mainly because it is a dense urban area. It’s cheaper for healthcare but slightly more for miscellaneous costs. All the other expenditures are pretty much in line with what you pay across Florida.

A family of four with one adult working and two children would need to bring in $70,370 a year after taxes to cover all the essential expenses.

People are moving here

While the entire metro has over 3 million residents, the city of Tampa has 387,050 residents as of 2021. That’s less than Miami but more than Orlando. From 2010 to 2020, just over 49,000 people were added to the city population. Tampa is growing at a rate of about 1.1% a year.

Tampa’s Economic Development Council, which assesses the entire metropolitan statistical area (MSA), expects an additional 9% of growth by 2040. Hillsborough County is forecasted to increase by 10.9% to 1.88 million residents.

A well-rounded job market

One of the advantages of Tampa is its diversified job market. First, it has stability, thanks to MacDill Air Force Base and the University of South Florida, one of the state’s largest public universities. Healthcare is another leading employer, and the BayCare health system is one of the largest employers in the area and operates several hospitals.

Besides these industries, Tampa has a significant financial and professional services sector. Around one of every four professional services businesses in Florida is in the Hillsborough County region. It has headquarters and branches for influential corporations like JP Morgan Chase, USAA, Citi, and MetLife. As an example, 8,000 people are employed by Citi, and the campus is the company’s second-largest office.

The tech industry continues growing, with projections that it will add 3,700 jobs by 2027. The number of IT-related businesses has already increased by 27% from 2018-2022. Forbes ranked Tampa as the top emerging tech hub because of its industry growth and second for the best places for young entrepreneurs.

Life sciences is another quickly expanding part of the Tampa job market. Hillsborough County has become the center for North American operations for Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Johnson and Johnson branches. The metro already had the Moffitt Cancer Center, LifeLink, and Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals.

Defense and security are a linchpin part of the Tampa economy. MacDill Air Force Base is a crucial military installation located in Tampa. Numerous mission partners and specialized intelligence firms are serving as defense contractors.

For more accolades, Tampa is also a leader in women-owned businesses and small business employment. The city has no less than eight accelerator programs or incubators that nurture its business-friendly environment.

Warm and tropical all year

Tampa is part of central Florida, so you can expect that classic warm Florida weather. The coastline does help moderate things a little bit. Still, those same sea breezes create afternoon thunderstorms during the summer, when temperatures can be 91F or higher. Expect torrential downpours and fierce lightning to appear from nowhere and be gone just as quickly. Winters are generally mild, with average highs around 74F.

Probably one of Tampa’s greatest risks is tropical storms and hurricanes. The Tampa Bay is actually a shallow waterway. If a tropical storm or hurricane makes landfall in the right way, it can push water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Bay. The additional trapped water pushed into the Bay could push a storm surge in for miles and cause significant damage. Tampa has had some close calls in recent years, but it has been many decades since the city has suffered a direct hit. Still, it’s something that officials discuss, and residents watch storm forecasts closely, especially for Gulf-side storms. And, even if the city avoids a direct hit, the rains and winds can still damage homes and businesses.

Be ready for traffic

The fastest and most convenient way to get around Tampa is with your own car. Unfortunately, this creates congestion downtown, along I-275, I-75, and I-4 junctions, and around the airport during rush hours.

However, there are places where you can ditch the car. Live in any of the downtown communities or around Channelside, and you can use the trolley system to move between attractions in Ybor City and the Convention Center. A pirate-themed water taxi will even transport you between the Channelside District, destinations along the Hillsborough River, and Davis Islands.

The Hillsborough area does have a metro transit system that primarily relies on a bus network. It runs express and limited express routes during prime traffic flow times.

Finally, some parts of town, particularly around downtown or the Bayshore communities, are more bike and pedestrian-finally. Some are served by a bike share program.

A top destination for healthcare

The region is well-served by numerous healthcare providers of every specialty and need. Find what you require, from urgent care centers to disease specialists.

Tampa General Hospital is well-ranked by the US News and World Report in five adult care specialties, including diabetes and rehabilitation. It’s also one of the busiest transplant centers nationwide, having performed over 10,000 transplants. The USF Morsani College of Medicine is affiliated with the hospital for training future medical professionals.

St. Joseph’s Hospital, run by BayCare, is another large-scale provider with a specialty children’s and women’s hospital.

The Moffitt Cancer Center is a top-rated institution for cancer treatment and research, and it’s the state’s only comprehensive cancer center.

With the growing biotech presence in the region, Tampa is also home to some incredible healthcare resources from pharmaceuticals like Pfizer and Bausch & Lomb, plus headquarters for Quest Diagnostics.

The school system is huge and high quality

Hillsborough County Public Schools is one of the state’s largest school systems and the seventh-largest in the nation. It provides public education for over 218,000 students across 303 schools: 203 elementary schools, 121 middle schools, and 65 high schools. Additional schools include four career careers, four technical colleges, and 54 charter schools.

With so much variation, each school has unique programs to meet diverse student needs and interests. The district runs on a School Choice, where families can select a school with a program that matches student interests.

Some notable achievements of Hillsborough Schools include the 2020 #1 Elementary Magnet school year, the Florida 2020 Teacher of the Year, and a recipient of the 2019 Presidential Award of Excellence in mathematics and science.

The size of its district enables it to offer an incredible array of unique programs. Students can take coursework and everything from aerospace to video game design. Expansive career and technical education programs provide 17 different career courses. Students can graduate having earned one of over 89 certifications, including cyber security and certified veterinary assistance. Additional academic accelerators are available through International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and Dual Enrollment classes.

An impressive selection of things to do

In a waterfront metro of this size and diversity, you can bet there’s an exceptional roster of activities to match. And you’d be right! Here are some highlights of attractions and activities you’ll have close at hand when you live in Tampa.

Dining

Fresh seafood? Check. Southern-style cuisine? Check. Latin flavors? Check again! Tampa’s dining scene has always been outstanding; it’s just outsiders are taking notice.

For those looking for a more upscale experience, the city boasts several high-end steakhouses and fine dining establishments like the world-famous Bern’s Steakhouse in Hyde Park or the flagship Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Many casual dining options, including traditional American cuisine, international flavors, and trendy gastropubs, are spread across Tampa from SoHo to the Armature Works development.

Shopping

Ready for some retail therapy? Shop til you drop at any of Tampa’s shopping malls or districts. One of the most popular destinations is the International Plaza and Bay Street, which features over 200 stores, including high-end luxury brands and popular department stores. For those looking for a more unique shopping experience, Hyde Park Village offers a charming outdoor shopping experience with boutique shops and specialty stores.

The Westshore Plaza features a mix of chain department stores and specialty retailers conveniently close to the airport and Dale Mabry Blvd. For bargain hunters, the Tampa Premium Outlets offer designer brands at discounted prices.

In addition to these popular shopping centers, Tampa has many local markets and boutiques offering handmade goods, artisanal foods, and locally sourced products.

Golf

The only problem you’ll have golfing in Tampa is picking your favorite course. The metro boasts over 100 public and private golf courses catering to all skill levels.

Many of the courses make use of the low-lying natural landscape and wetlands. Some of the most famous courses are the TPC Tampa Bay, designed by Bobby Weed and host of the PGA TOUR Champions event. Other notable courses include the nationally recognized Westchase Golf Club, the public Rocky Point Golf Course, and the Claw at USF.

These are just courses inside Hillsborough County–the world-class Innisbrook Resort is over in Palm Harbor in Pinellas County!

Sports

Professional and amateur teams representing Tampa in various leagues. The most winning sports team is the Tampa Bay Lightning, the professional ice hockey team, with three Stanley Cup victories in 2004, 2020, and 2021. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the city’s beloved NFL team. They won their second Super Bowl championship in February 2021. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Major League Baseball; they haven’t won a World Series but won the American League championship in 2020.

In addition to these professional teams, Tampa has minor league baseball in the metro and facilities for spring training used by the New York Yankees. The city hosts multiple annual sports events, including the powerboating Thunder by the Bay, the International Dragon Boat Festival, Gasparilla Distance Classic, and the Valspar Championship Golf Tournament.

Attractions

Where do we even start? Locals have so many choices for entertainment. Maybe start with the theme park Busch Gardens-Tampa Bay with its high-speed and dramatic roller coasters? Perhaps its sister water park Adventure Island, with its cooling water slides, sounds perfect right about now.

Slow down more with family-friendly attractions. The Florida Aquarium is a state-of-the-art aquarium featuring over 20,000 aquatic animals and interactive exhibits. Lowry Park Zoo has over 1,300 animals from around the world, interactive exhibits, and rides. And the Glazer Children’s Museum is a hands-on museum designed for growing minds.

Stretch your legs at the Tampa Riverwalk, a scenic pedestrian path along the Hillsborough River. The walk includes parks with outdoor entertainment facilities. One such park is Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, which features outdoor art exhibits, splash pads, and a concert pavilion.

And, if that walk wasn’t enough, there are over 176 parks, 700 miles of trails, and 61,000 acres of nature preserves in Hillsborough County. Tampa has no shortage of places to be outside, play sports, or get on the water.

Arts and culture

The Straz Performing Arts Center has long been Tampa’s leading forum for traveling Broadway shows, opera, and theater. But it’s not the only venue, as the restored Tampa Theatre also hosts Broadway shows, community events, and films.

The historic Cuban part of town, Ybor City, is known as the city’s nightlife center. College students hit up the many bars, but there are also art galleries, museums, restaurants, and traditional cigar shops.

And how can we talk about Tampa without mentioning its most famous festival, the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival? The pirate takeover and accompanying street and arts festival is an iconic January event heralded by the arrival of the fictional pirate Gaspar into Tampa Bay. The following parade is a lively, if not rowdy, event akin to Mardi Gras.

Demand is influencing the real estate market

Like many markets, Tampa has experienced ups in median sale prices and downs in available inventory. According to local experts, luxury home sales have declined the most in Tampa, down about 44% from 2021 to 2022. However, the build-to-rent market grew and jumped 42% due to rising mortgage rates and inventory stress.

As 2023 began, Tampa’s housing inventory remained low. Single-family home supply was down 26% year-over-year (YOY) in January 2023. The median sale price was $399,990, a 5.8% increase. The month’s supply of inventory was around 2.1 months. For townhomes and condos, supply was down 34.3% YOY, and the median sale price rose 14.3% to $279,990. It also had a 2.1-month supply.

However, Tampa and Hillsborough County are large markets with multiple neighborhoods to consider. You can try to live inside the Tampa city limits or one of the top surrounding suburbs.

Tampa moving resources

If you’re moving into the City of Tampa, the mayor’s office has a list of resources helpful for new residents.

Electricity is provided by TECO, also known as Tampa Electric.

Driver’s licenses, vehicle title transfers, and registration updates are handled by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle division. You have ten days to obtain Florida-based insurance and change your vehicle registration and 30 days to get a Florida driver’s license. Search to see which DMV center is closest to you.

Water utilities are managed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as “Swiftmud” or SWFMD. You can use Tampa’s portal to activate your utilities. If you have a lawn, be aware there are watering restrictions.

Anyone moving to Hillsborough County should check if they’ll live in a flood zone. This could impact your insurance rates and is just good to know should major storms be heading your way.

Get help moving to Tampa

Life in Tampa is robust thanks to an eclectic mix of attractions and activities for residents. The city’s warm climate and waterfront make it an ideal location for enjoying life outside, from water sports to golfing to exploring the many parks and nature preserves. The thriving arts and culture scene adds to the city’s entertainment roster, and the shopping opportunities are vast.

With so many housing options and a strong job market, Tampa is truly an attractive destination for those looking to relocate. Explore the city’s vast neighborhood and lifestyle options with a local real estate agent who has deep knowledge of each area’s advantages.