MOVING TO TAMPA: SHOULD YOU MOVE TO TAMPA?
It’s no secret that Tampa, Florida is an absolute paradise. The beauty of the city is one of a kind, even for the state of Florida which is full of gorgeous and unbeatable waterfront views. Tampa is located in West Central Florida and sits on the Tampa Bay, which is along the Gulf Coast. The city, sometimes known as Cigar City, is home to a population of 400,000, making it the third largest city in Florida after Jacksonville and Miami. Are you considering moving to Tampa? We’ve compiled a list of pros and cons to help you figure out if a move to Tampa is right for you.
13 REASONS FOR MOVING TO TAMPA
STUNNING BEACHES
The location of Tampa is hard to beat! Tampa Bay is home to dozens of gorgeous beaches with pristine white sand and clear turquoise waters. You can literally live where people vacation.
GOOD WEATHER
The weather in Tampa is incredible year round. With lots of sunshine and incredibly mild winters, Tampa is the perfect escape. The summers are hot, averaging 90 degree highs, while the winters see lows of 50s.
TAXES
Florida is an income tax free state. One of the most appealing reasons for a move to Florida is the income tax break. As one of the 9 U.S states with this tax benefit, moving to Tampa can be a great financial choice.
CHEAPER THAN OTHER CITIES IN FLORIDA
The cost of living in Tampa is on par with the national average, but still cheaper when you compare to other cities in Florida like Miami. In fact, housing costs in Tampa are 50% cheaper than in Florida. The housing market remains largely affordable for today’s standards, with the 2022 median housing price coming in at $394,095. The average rent in Tampa for a 1 bedroom apartment is $1914, which is around $300 less than in Miami.
YOUNG & VIBRANT CITY
Unlike many of Florida’s other retirement-focused cities, Tampa is full of young people. The average age of a Tampa resident is 34.7, which is quite an anomaly for Florida. The city is growing and the population data shows. In the past decade, Tampa has amassed over 70,000 new residents.
JOBS
Historically, Tampa was known for its cigar manufacturing plants. However, times have changed and so has the job market. There are plenty of fruitful industries in Tampa including construction, service, tourism, health care, education and finance. One of the top employment industries in Tampa is the maritime industry. Tampa is home to the largest port in Florida.
NIGHTLIFE
Downtown Tampa and Ybor City offer plenty of options when it comes to dancing, drinking and cool ways to enjoy your evenings. From bar crawls, to local beer breweries to live music to pirate themed parties, you will find an option that suits you. Thanks to Florida’s diverse age groups, there are events for the young and the old.
MOVING TO TAMPA: A BIG TRAVEL HUB
Tampa has its own international airport which is great for those who need to travel for work, or simply love to travel. The Tampa International Airport is a convenient feature of life in Tampa.
HISTORIC PAST
Tampa is a historic city with its roots in Cigar manufacturing. You can visit many of the old factories and see how the city flourished under this trade. Ybor City has an old historic center where you can see that heritage firsthand. The architecture of the city reflects the Italian and Cuban roots of Tampa. Another interesting historic tradition of Tampa is the Pirate festival which has been taking place since 1904. Every year, hundreds of people get together dressed as Pirates and hold a massive parade.
KID FRIENDLY
Tampa is a great place to raise kids. There are plenty of good schools in the area, as well as recreational activities for kids to enjoy. From studying the wildlife, to visiting the Aquarium to enjoying the many parks in the city, there is no shortage of things to do. You can take your kids for a bike ride, a hike, a kayak trip and more. You can visit Busch Gardens, or the Tampa Zoo. Orlando is also not too far away for a quick trip to Disney.
DELICIOUS FOOD
There is lots of food to try in Tampa! Tarpon Springs (Tampa) is home to the highest population of Greek Americans in the US. Tampa is also home to many Italians, Cubans and Spaniards. The city is super diverse, which means that you can try some excellent dishes from all over the world. Tampa is famous for its Cuban Sandwiches, seafood and BBQ.
ART & CULTURE
The city of Tampa is full of interesting art museums and galleries like the Tampa Museum of Art and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. You can also see some plays on stage at the historic Tampa Theatre.
SPORTS FANDOM
Living in Tampa can be super exciting for sports lovers. With many major teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Rays, you will always have a team to root for! Tampa is also where a lot of major teams like the Yankees train during the spring season.
CONS OF LIFE IN TAMPA: REASONS FOR NOT MOVING TO TAMPA
HURRICANE SEASON
One of the top reasons that people may not want to move to Tampa is due to the tropical storm season. This can be a risk to anyone purchasing seaside property. However, Tampa has not been directly hit by any hurricane since 1921.
TRAFFIC & CAR CULTURE
Tampa does not have excellent public transportation, which means that you will most likely have to drive. This can be an issue for those who don’t like car culture. However, the commute time in Tampa is only around 26.2 minutes, which is slightly below the national average.
READY TO MOVE TO TAMPA?
Florida has been an incredibly popular choice for relocation as of late. With over 800 people moving to Florida daily, be sure to consult us for your move. USA Preferred Movers is a professional Tampa Moving company. Our Florida Movers will do our part to make your move as stress-free as possible. Contact us for a free quote.