If you’re thinking of moving to Tampa, you are far from alone. Tampa and the surrounding Tampa Bay area are one of the fastest growing metros areas in the country. The city’s population has grown by 23% since 2010, according to World Population Review. The Tampa Bay area, which includes the cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Brandon, has more than 4.56 million people.
Most of the population gain has come from people moving to Tampa from other parts of the United States. That speaks to the excellent quality of life in Tampa and the many amenities and advantages of living on the west coast of Florida.
If you are trying to make up your mind about Tampa, here are 10 reasons to consider it for your new home city.
The Weather Is Beautiful
This is one of the reasons people move to Tampa. They visit one time, taking in the beaches or Busch Gardens, and they can’t believe the fantastic blue skies, ocean breezes and dazzling sunshine. Yes, it gets hot and humid in the summer. But the winter and spring months provide almost perfect weather with mild temperatures, gentle breezes and little rain.
The Beaches Are World Class
Some of the best beaches in the world are in the Tampa Bay metro area. Just a short drive away from the city of Tampa are Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-Grille beach, which routinely make “best beaches in the U.S.” lists. In about an hour, you can reach Siesta Key just south of Sarasota, which ranks among the best beaches in the world.
Historic Ybor City
Many cities have historic districts, but few are like the historic district of Ybor City in Tampa. Founded by Spanish businessman Vincente Martinez-Ybor, who came to Tampa after leaving Cuba and Key West, the area became one of the world leaders in cigar manufacturing. Now, it’s an entertainment district with restaurants, shops and bars with many of the original streets and buildings in place.
Great Neighborhoods
Tampa is filled with great neighborhoods that include many different styles. In or near the city center are older, charming neighborhoods such as Ybor City, Seminole Heights, Channelside, Palma Ceia, Davis Islands and Hyde Park. There also are beautiful suburbs, including Carrollwood, Westchase, River-view, Northdale and New Tampa.
A Growing Job Market
Tampa has a large and growing job market. Many companies have relocated parts of their operations to the area because of all the advantages of living in Tampa. Professionals, scientific and technical industries are now the No. 2 employer in the area. Healthcare and education also are growing industries. The Tampa Bay area as a whole is an emerging tech startup hub, leading to Tampa getting named one of the nation’s Top 20 Tech Towns at the end of 2019.
Excellent Colleges and Universities
The Tampa Bay area is home to a number of growing public schools and highly regarded private schools. The flagship school in the area is the University of South Florida in Tampa and the sister campus, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. The area is also home to the University of Tampa and Eckerd College.
Outdoor Activities
Tampa is home to many great parks. Two of the largest are Al Lopez Park and Lettuce Lake Park. There’s also a gorgeous Tampa Riverwalk that stretches for 2.4 miles along the Hillsborough River. Pedestrians have access to restaurants, bars, parks and public art installations. The area offers great places to hike, fish, canoe and, if you drive to neighboring Pinellas County, all the beach activities.
Family-Friendly Attractions
People come from across the country and even around the world to experience what people in Tampa have in their backyard every day. Family-friendly activities include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Lowry Park Zoo, The Florida Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Glazer Children’s Museum.
Plenty for Sports Fans
Tampa is home to both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL. Across Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Rays play in Major League Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rowdies play in the United Soccer League (which is headquartered in Tampa).
Inexpensive Living
Tampa is known for a housing market that offers good housing at a reasonable price. PayScale reports that the cost of living in Tampa is 5% lower than the national average, and that housing costs are 23% lower. Also, because it’s in Florida, there is no state income tax, meaning more cash is left in your wallet.
These are some of the reasons that Tampa is a great place to relocate. If you are thinking about moving to Tampa, be sure to check out your moving and storage options. Working with professionals like Good Greek Moving & Storage can make your move worry-free.
