Published April 27, 2022
Moving to Tampa Bay
If you’re considering moving to Tampa Bay, and in the process of researching the area, you are in the right place.
This page has been put together to help you become more familiar with the Tampa Bay area and to give you a good idea of what the area offers year-round residents in terms of employment, lifestyle, amenities and healthcare.
1. Top-Rated Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach, St Pete Beach, and the state park beaches of Caladesi Island and Fort DeSoto Park are among the prominent beaches in Tampa Bay, which stretches along Florida's gulf coast from Clearwater to St Petersburg. In 2018 and 2016, TripAdvisor named Clearwater Beach as the best beach in the United States. Even on the warmest Florida summer days, the powder-like sand on this beach remains cold to the touch.
2. Tampa Bay is a Year-Round Outdoor Playground
Tampa Bay is the ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts, with 246 sunny days each year and an average temperature of 73 degrees all year. Stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking through the natural Florida mangroves to witness native wild birds and plentiful sea life is a terrific way or kayaking through the natural Florida mangroves to witness native wild birds and plentiful sea life is a terrific way to get a great exercise while being in the water. Walking, running, bicycling, rollerblading, and exercising your pets are all popular activities.
3. Tampa Bay Offers Affordable Real Estate
For both young families and retirees, the Tampa Bay real estate market offers very attractive dwelling pricing. In early April 2022, the median home price in Tampa Bay is $387,130, and the median monthly rent in Tampa Bay is $2,038. Housing costs will certainly be more if you like to live downtown, on a golf course, or along a waterway.
4. Tampa Bay Has a Strong Job & Employment Market
With an unemployment rate of only 3.7% (far below the national average), Tampa Bay's employment and job market has been exceptionally strong. The military, healthcare, education, and numerous professional services are among the leading industries in Tampa Bay. Local school districts, MacDill Airforce Base, HCA West Florida Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, Publix Supermarkets, Bloomin Brands, and local county governments are among Tampa Bay's top employers, which are located in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
5. Tampa Bay Offers Great Local Cuisine & Dining Options
Casual diners, open-air sidewalk cafes, and sophisticated five-star restaurants are just a few of the dining options available to Tampa Bay residents. There are also a slew of new hip craft breweries and beer gardens to visit. Many are pet-friendly and offer live entertainment on a daily basis. Downtown Tampa, South Tampa, Ybor City, Downtown St Pete, St Pete Beach, and Clearwater Beach are just a few of the trendiest spots to visit.
6. Tampa Bay Has Top-Rated Hospitals & Healthcare
Tampa Bay residents have access to quality hospitals and medical services. Tampa General Hospital (TGH), St Joseph's Hospital, and Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater are among the best hospitals in Tampa Bay. US News & World Report recently named Tampa General Hospital the #2 Best Hospital in Florida for 2017.
7. Tampa Bay is a Great Area to Retire In
Many of the reasons presented on this website are only a few of the many compelling reasons to choose Tampa Bay as your retirement destination. Tampa Bay was named the #6 Best Place to Retire in the United States by US News & World Report in 2021. Many critical factors were examined in this study, which looked at the 150 largest metropolitan regions in the United States, including housing affordability, local resident contentment, local tax rates, and access to great healthcare.
8. Tampa Bay Offers Endless Events and Festivals
Residents of the Tampa Bay area may enjoy a busy year-round scene of outdoor events, festivals, and concerts. The popular Gasparilla boat procession, The Sugar Sand Festival, Havana Nights, The St Petersburg Grand Prix, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Margarita Fest, Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ, and the Off Shore Power Boat Races, to mention a few, all take place each year.
9. Tampa Bay is Home to Theme Parks and Museums
Tampa Bay is home to a number of family-friendly theme parks and museums. Busch Gardens, Adventure Island Water Park, The Florida Aquarium, Big Cat Rescue, and Dinosaur World are also popular theme parks. MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry), The Tampa Museum of Art, The Glazer Children's Museum, and The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts are among the greatest educational museums in the Tampa Bay area.
10. Tampa Bay Has an Expanding Millennial Population
According to a study by Time Magazine, Tampa was just rated the #21 Top City in the United States where Millennials are relocating (2017). People born between 1981 and 1996 are known as millennials (ages 22 to 37 in 2018). The strong employment and job market, an expanding scene of technology startups and incubators such as Tampa Bay Wave, and the growing local craft beer market, which includes popular brewers such as Cigar City, Coppertail, and Angry Chair Brewing, are all reasons why Tampa Bay is seeing an increase in its Millennial population.
