The bustling metro area of Tampa, Florida, features a number of highly rated neighborhoods for active families, seniors, and everyone in between. The city and surrounding areas offer something for everybody, but choosing the perfect location can be tricky.
Whether you’re searching for a spot within walking distance of your favorite restaurants or a cozy hideaway to serve as your refuge from the world, there’s a corner of the city that can meet your needs. Join us for a guide to the best neighborhoods in Tampa!
Why should you live in Tampa?
Ready to learn more about everything Tampa has to offer? Here’s a little more information about this vibrant city:
When was Tampa founded?
Although this part of Florida has been inhabited for thousands of years, the formal city of Tampa began as a military center in the 1800s. The US purchased the state from the Spanish in 1821 and founded Fort Brook in modern-day Tampa a few years later.
What is Tampa known for?
Once considered the Cigar Capital of the World, Tampa is now better known for its thriving arts scene, eclectic culinary offerings, and cultural Cuban-American fusion. It’s the place to savor specialty craft beers, admire manatees, and relive the days of pirates at the annual Gasparilla Invasion. You can also watch the local NFL team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, play live at the famous Raymond James Stadium.
Whether you want to hit the beach, enjoy a day at Busch Gardens, or savor the flavor of the local foodie scene, Tampa is the place to be!
What’s the population of Tampa?
Data from 2023 suggests that over 403,000 people call the city of Tampa home. However, the entire metropolitan area includes more than 3 million Floridians. As the largest city in the Tampa Bay region, it offers exciting cultural, artistic, and educational opportunities.
15 of the best neighborhoods in Tampa to live
Ready to find your new home base on Florida’s west coast? Here are 15 of the best neighborhoods in Tampa:
1. Downtown Tampa
Folks looking for a front-row seat to Tampa’s premier entertainment options will want to check out homes downtown. Here, towering buildings sculpt the iconic skyline and offer unparalleled views of this city. This neighborhood is a hub for arts and culture, including plentiful museums, galleries, and historic centers.
Downtown Tampa is highly walkable, but it also caters to those with mobility needs. The free TECO Line Streetcar is a fun and engaging way to travel around the city, while the Cross Bay Ferry and extensive bus system offer practical public transportation for the daily commute.
2. Channel District
Just east of downtown is the bustling Channel District, best known as the home of Florida’s largest seaport. Here, modern luxury cruise ships and historic maritime docks meet. You can learn about sea life at the Florida Aquarium, catch live music at Sparkman Wharf, or admire the vessels – big and small – anchored in the harbor.
As expected in a densely populated urban area, the majority of the Channel District’s real estate market consists of rental opportunities. However, the public schools are highly rated, and you’re never more than a few minutes away from exciting entertainment. Formal and informal educational opportunities are around every corner.
3. Hyde Park
Tampa’s vibrant Hyde Park neighborhood is one of the best places to live, work, and explore in Central Florida. The eclectic urban area, marked by cozy bungalows and streets lined with live oaks, offers family-friendly activities, trendy boutiques, and world-class restaurants. You can stroll the waterfront, shop at the monthly farmer’s market, or explore the area’s history at the Henry B. Plant Museum.
Average property values in Hyde Park soared in late 2023 but have since leveled out. You’ll find a mix of historic cottages, waterfront estates, and condos, all catering to a varied local demographic.
4. Davis Islands
Folks looking to live the high life and take in the best of Tampa’s natural scenery with a quick commute to all the greatest attractions won’t want to pass up an opportunity to live in the Davis Islands neighborhood. A canal separates this tiny archipelago from Downtown Tampa and Harbour Island so residents can escape the hustle and bustle of city life without missing out on its world-class amenities.
Schools, parks, and beaches in the area regularly receive high rankings. As of 2023, the median home price hovered around the $2 million mark, but you can expect unparalleled views and exclusivity in your own island paradise.
5. Ybor City
Ybor City is a historic Tampa neighborhood with deep roots in Cuban, Spanish, and Italian influences. It’s one of Florida’s three National Historic Landmark Districts. Its cobblestone streets, vintage streetlights, and eclectic architecture transport locals and visitors to a bygone era while maintaining a vibrant, modern cultural scene.
This neighborhood was once the epicenter of cigar production in the US. Today, many of those factories have been revitalized and repurposed as community centers, housing restaurants, shops, and art galleries.
While home prices have increased in recent years, the average price per square foot has dropped, suggesting you can get a better value for your money in this lively historic neighborhood.
6. Palma Ceia
Palma Ceia is a highly sought-after neighborhood in South Tampa, seamlessly blending family values, mom-and-pop shops, and an unbeatable cultural scene. Here, brick-lined streets lead to Spanish- and Mediterranean-style homes. Despite its close proximity to major thoroughfares, the architecture and shady lanes will make you feel like you’re in a world of your own. It’s also one of the safest neighborhoods in Tampa, boasting about 75% fewer crimes than the rest of the city.
Palma Ceia’s exclusivity and excellent schools draw up-and-coming families to the area. The real estate market is fairly competitive, so be prepared to make an offer if you find a property you love!
7. Port Tampa
Before the Channel District became home to the city’s major port, Port Tampa was the area’s main hub for maritime traffic. This is where pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and heavyweight boxer Tommy Gomez grew up. In recent years, the historical district has undergone extensive revitalization efforts, leading to an influx of new residents.
Located on the Interbay Peninsulaadjacent to MacDill Air Force Base, Port Tampa is now a hotspot for young professionals who want easy access to big-city amenities without being right in the middle of everything. This neighborhood is quiet and safe, with plenty of parks and green spaces where you can enjoy the great outdoors. It’s also close to other desirable locales like Ballast Point.
8. Seminole Heights
Just five miles north of Downtown Tampa is a popular neighborhood called Seminole Heights. This area is marked by cozy 20th-century bungalows, trendy craft breweries, and an eclectic arts scene. Families, nature enthusiasts, and animal lovers will enjoy close proximity to ZooTampa, Lowry Park, and Busch Gardens.
By late 2024, home prices in Seminole Heights had dropped more than 21% from the previous year. However, the small size of this desirable Tampa neighborhood means that great real estate opportunities are less common than in other parts of the city. When you find the perfect historic cottage in your price range, you’ll want to act fast.
9. Tampa Heights
Often revered as the city’s first suburb, Tampa Heights is a neighborhood full of history and character. In its early years, trolley and railway lines connected the borough to Downtown and Ybor City, making it a popular residential option for cigar rollers and industrialists. Today, the area serves as a refuge for a diverse community hoping to maintain its historic charm.
Property rates here have soared in recent years, jumping more than 65% between 2023 and 2024. High-ranking public schools, plentiful green spaces, and easy access to other desirable destinations make this one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa.
10. Carrollwood
Folks looking for a more suburban feel should consider homes in Tampa’s Carrollwood neighborhood. Most residents here own their property, suggesting it’s a great place to put down roots and get comfortable.
Spots like the North Tampa Market, Vista Gardens, and Carrollwood Cultural Center serve as valuable community meeting spaces, while more exclusive destinations, such as Carrollwood Country Club, lend an air of exclusivity. Winding, tree-lined streets, posh boutiques, and diverse restaurants offer a little something for everyone.
While housing prices have steadily increased over time, they haven’t grown exponentially like those in other comparable Tampa neighborhoods.
11. New Tampa
New Tampa is among the largest neighborhoods in the city, boasting 24 square miles of real estate. Thanks to numerous residential developments, the population size has ballooned since the year 2000, accounting for over half of the city’s growth. Locals enjoy walking their dogs along the quiet streets and exploring green spaces like the New Tampa Nature Park, Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve, and Flatwoods Conservation Park on foot and bike.
You’ll find a wealth of single-family homes here, as well as golf courses, restaurants, and shopping opportunities.
12. Wesley Chapel
Although Wesley Chapel is more of a suburb of Tampa than a neighborhood, it’s arguably one of the best places to live in the area. It’s hailed as a family-friendly locale with the highest median income in the greater Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Residents enjoy sprawling parks, numerous golf courses, and a wealth of restaurants, as well as surprisingly low crime rates and exceptional schools.
The real estate market in Wesley Chapel is relatively competitive, but home prices haven’t risen at disproportionate rates as we’ve seen in other in-demand communities. If you don’t mind a commute to Downtown Tampa, this might be the perfect neighborhood for you.
13. Brandon & Riverview
Brandon and Riverview are adjacent neighborhoods on the east side of the Tampa metro area. They’re incredibly popular among young families and working professionals thanks to their proximity to the city center, a wide array of amenities, and highly rated public schools. There’s a wealth of shopping opportunities, restaurants, and recreational activities for residents to enjoy.
While you’ll find plenty of housing in both areas, Bradon features a balanced mix of rentals and privately owned homes, while residents in Riverview are more likely to be homeowners.
14. Plant City
A bit further east from Brandon is the suburb of Plant City. It’s best known as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, but there’s more to this Tampa neighborhood than fresh produce. In addition to farmer’s markets, restaurants, and annual events like the Florida Strawberry Festival, the area also offers tons of parks and nature preserves to help residents enjoy the great outdoors. You’ll also be in close proximity to other types of parks, like Busch Gardens and the Dinosaur World Theme Park.
Following the pandemic-era housing boom, real estate prices have leveled out over the last couple of years. You can find rental properties and homes for sale in just about any budget here.
15. Westchase
Nestled between Carrollwood and Old Tampa Bay, the Westchase neighborhood is one of the best places to call home in the metro area. Here, suburban housing developments give way to popular bars, restaurants, and shops. There’s a palpable sense of community in Westchase that’s hard to miss.
The majority of residences here are privately owned, but the area offers a healthy blend of single-family homes, townhouses, and condos. Naturally, the housing market has fluctuated in recent years. However, these figures appear to be stabilizing.
Moving to the Tampa area? Let Red Rover be your guide!
If you’re considering a move to the Tampa Bay area, you’ll have plenty of highly desirable neighborhoods to choose from! From the exclusivity of Davis Islands to the tight-knit community of Seminole Heights, there’s an area of town that’s bound to meet your needs and make you feel right at home.
No matter which Tampa neighborhood you choose, the local experts at Red Rover can make your transition a smooth one! We offer professional moving services, as well as short- and long-term storage solutions to simplify the relocation process. Contact us today to get started!