Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Tampa

Talk about overwhelm! The Tampa Bay area’s neighborhoods are some of the most coveted — not just in Florida but throughout the country. So to find the best Tampa neighborhoods, you’ll need our guide to help you narrow down which features you like best. Don’t worry; too many great choices is a problem you’re lucky to have when you’re exploring the best neighborhoods in Tampa.

So what’s on your Tampa Must-Have Checklist? Amazing beaches nearby? Check. Professional sports, dining, and shopping in the best Tampa neighborhoods? Check. Gorgeous sunshine and lush palm trees on every corner? Check, check. And the list goes on. There's something for everyone living in the best neighborhoods in Tampa, especially if you like the heat. Read on to find out our picks for where to live in Tampa — but first, a few details about the metro area.

Tampa's Real Estate Market and Population

The real estate market in the best Tampa neighborhoods has cooled quite a bit with the slowing influx of people looking for a slice of Florida paradise. Just 10,000 people came to the region in 2024, compared with more than 30,000 the year before — a remarkable slide given the gangbusters growth of the pandemic years. About 3.34 million people now call the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area home.

As for housing prices, the average value is $369,400, down 5.2 percent from 2024’s average. For renters, things are looking up in the best neighborhoods in Tampa, as the area follows the nationwide trend of falling prices, with an average one-bedroom apartment going for $1,725.

From the burbs to the bay, the best neighborhoods in Tampa can be found all over the metro area.

The downtown district is bustling 24/7, with residences, restaurants, and retail, making it one of the best places to live in Tampa.

1. Downtown Tampa

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,725
• Average home value: $444,500
• Great for: Arts lovers, foodies, professionals, retirees
• Commute to Downtown: You're here!

Once a ghost town after dark, Tampa’s urban core bustles 24/7 after a massive revitalization effort reoriented the focus toward the river to create one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa. The now-pristine Hillsborough River carries kayakers, paddle-boarders, and Pirate Water Taxis that ferry guests to restaurants, museums, and parks dotting the 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park occupies the heart of the city, with a grand green space that hosts festivals, concerts, and family-oriented recreation, all overlooking the river. Locals consistently rave that today’s Downtown is one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa.

Downtown Tampa condos and apartments are flourishing in what’s become one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa for young professionals. Families and empty nesters are plentiful, too — all part of a vibrant community that’s blossomed into one of the best Tampa neighborhoods in recent years. Among its livelier charms is Water Street, an upscale downtown enclave of high-end hotels, shopping, and residences within walking distance of Benchmark International Arena, the 20,500-seat home of the Tampa Bay Lightning and hundreds of concerts and events a year.

2. Channel District

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,700
• Average home value: $543,400
• Great for: Artsy types, foodies, professionals, families, retirees, festival-goers
• Commute to downtown: Less than 5 minutes

Just east of downtown, the Channel District, also known as Channelside, evolved from a gritty warehouse zone serving the Port of Tampa to a hip, densely populated neighborhood of converted lofts, luxury apartments, and high-rise condos. Sparkman Wharf, perched along Garrison Channel, is a go-to dining and cocktail hub, with local fave restaurants in kiosks serving takeaway that can be enjoyed in the open greenspace or at plentiful picnic-style tables.

Between downtown and the Channel District, Harbour Island reigns as the grand dame of downtown’s best Tampa neighborhoods. For decades, imposing mansions have lined the waterfront around the island, with upscale residences and townhouses filling in the midsection. Also home to a handful of hotels, restaurants, and shops, the island is consistently rated one of the best Tampa neighborhoods.

Bungalows and beautiful live oaks dripping with Spanish moss are the hallmarks of Historic Hyde Park, one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa.
(Source: Keller Williams South Tampa via Facebook)

3. Historic Hyde Park

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,745
• Average home value: $1.1M
• Great for: Families, professionals, retirees, fitness enthusiasts
• Commute to downtown: 10 minutes — but can be considerably longer if there’s a hockey game, a concert, or a convention downtown.

The centerpiece of Historic Hyde Park is Bayshore Boulevard Greenway, which curves gently along Hillsborough Bay for close to five miles from the Ballast Point Pier to Downtown Tampa. Its balustrade, wide sidewalk, and sliver of waterfront green space are notable as the world’s longest linear park. And behind the stately mansions and condo high rises that line the boulevard, upscale homes are tucked under moss-draped live oaks in one of the most affluent, overall best neighborhoods in Tampa.

About a half mile from the bay is Hyde Park Village, a walkable mix of boutiques and restaurants, where seasonal farmers markets and art fairs set up shop on weekends. Just a bit south, the entertainment district known as SoHo (for South Howard Avenue) attracts a younger weekend crowd — and with it, traffic and alcohol-fueled noise. But besides those shenanigans, neighborhood schools are consistently highly rated, and the median household income is $170,300. Longtime residents are confident that it’s the best place to live in Tampa. 

4. Port Tampa

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,275
• Average home value: $463,000
• Great for: Families, renovators, commuters, retirees, military
• Commute to downtown: 15 minutes

The Port Tampa community lies at the western edge of the Interbay Peninsula, once the end of the line for the Henry B. Plant Railroad. Today it’s one of Tampa’s best neighborhoods, with home values down about 4.0 percent in the past year — after explosive pandemic-era growth priced out a lot of potential newcomers. The area is, again, a viable option for young families wanting to make a home in one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa.

The area is an eclectic mix of older ranch-style homes, Florida-style bungalows, and new construction. You’ll find terrific recreation options, including Picnic Island Park. And commuters have easy access to Downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg via the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway. If loud noise is an issue for you, though, look elsewhere: Port Tampa is one of the best Tampa neighborhoods, but MacDill Air Force Base is right around the corner, and the planes are often low and loud.

MacDill Air Force Base

Although Tampa is not considered a traditional military town, MacDill Air Force Base is a significant presence in the region, thanks to heavy-hitting units like the Air Mobility Command, United States Central Command, and the Special Operations Command. Of course, you also have to factor in the far-reaching economic impact of the Department of Defense in the area. MacDill significantly affects the local and state economies as well as the real estate and job markets.

The base is home to more than 12,000 active-duty servicemembers and 7,000 civilians on a slice of premium real estate at the southwestern tip of the Interbay Peninsula. This is in addition to a strong military retiree community that thinks the best Tampa neighborhoods are rather good places to settle down. U.S. News and World Report agrees; it ranks Tampa at No. 18 on its list of Best U.S. Places to Retire in 2025-26.

Many of the estates in Davis Islands are waterfront, located on the open bay or along the canals that snake through the tropical haven.
(Source: Jennifer Zales, Tampa Bay Luxury Real Estate via Facebook)

5. Davis Islands

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,600
• Average home value: $1.4M
• Great for: Families, boaters, dog walkers, fitness lovers, foodies, retirees
• Commute to downtown: 10 minutes

These two man-made islands have long been known collectively as one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa for families. Dredged from the bay back in the 1920s, the islands hold just under 3,000 homes, many poised on the open bay or along the canals that snake through the neighborhood. A fun fact — and point of pride for locals: Davis Islands has zero traffic lights.

Cyclists and runners take advantage of the miles of paved path that lead to the Marjorie Park Yacht Basin, with lots of green space for picnics and frisbee games. At the end of the island, a dog park and beach host furry friends’ playtime at all hours. And back in the village “downtown,” a strip of mid-century-modern-esque shops and restaurants attracts islanders and Tampeños from the mainland. Despite the homey feel, though, island living in one of Tampa’s best neighborhoods is pricey, with the average home value in October 2025 at a cool $1.4 million.

6. Palma Ceia

• Average rent (all sizes): $2,000
• Average home value: $804,100
• Great for: Families, professionals, retirees, golfers, shoppers
• Commute to downtown: 10 minutes

Quaint and bustling at the same time, Palma Ceia is considered one of the nicest neighborhoods of Tampa because it has so much to offer. Residents love amenities like the abundance of green space, restaurants including local fave Counter Culture, and boutique shopping. Kids attend high-performing Hillsborough County public schools — the third-largest district in the state with more than 224,000 students — and a variety of private schools, including the nearby Tampa Prep for sixth through twelfth grades.

It's easy to see why a mix of young professionals and families have chosen to call Palma Ceia home. It’s also one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa for retirees, with a thriving dining scene, art galleries, lots of walking paths, and the posh Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club. The neighborhood has a charming vibe characterized by brick streets and quaint restored bungalows amid the more spacious estates. It’s also just a half-mile stroll to iconic Bayshore Boulevard and Hillsborough Bay.

Bungalows share the historic streets of Ybor City with shotgun houses built for cigar-factory workers at the turn of the 20th century.
(Source: I Bike Home Sales Real Estate via Facebook)

7. Ybor City

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,000
• Average home value: $269,700
• Great for: Artists, foodies, party people, professionals, parade goers
• Commute to downtown: 10 minutes

The historic district has gone through several transformations since cigar maker Vincente Martinez-Ybor founded the city back in the 1880s — but it’s always been one of the best Tampa neighborhoods. Once a thriving village populated by Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrants who worked in the cigar factories, Ybor suffered economic decline after automation took over their livelihoods. In the 1970s and ’80s, the mostly abandoned district became popular with young artists and musicians looking for cheap rent, and the first renaissance began with clubs, art galleries, restaurants, and vintage stores lining Seventh Avenue, the main thoroughfare through Ybor City.

By the 1990s, developers realized the historic district’s potential and built a bustling New Orleans-style entertainment strip of bars and nightclubs — and subsequent higher rents pushed out the earlier generation of artists. Today, yet another reinvention is underway with a new influx of creative types setting up shop in the historic Kress Building and elsewhere in the district — proving that no matter the decade, Ybor City always returns to life as one of the best areas in Tampa.

Today, on the quieter blocks removed from Seventh Avenue, many of the shotgun-style houses where cigar factory workers once lived have been renovated, and several apartment complexes are popular with young professionals and students. It’s a true party atmosphere around Seventh Avenue, with excellent dining at mainstays including The Columbia, a beloved 117-year-old local institution. But just a bit east of the bustling streets of Ybor, you’ll find a mix of urban pioneers renovating old Florida bungalows and, unfortunately, residents struggling with poverty and crime.

8. Tampa Heights

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,975
• Average home value: $446,000
• Great for: Families, artists, foodies, fixer-uppers
• Commute to downtown: 5 minutes

Tampa Heights features a mix of family-friendly enclaves and more eclectic development around Armature Works, once a warehouse for Tampa Electric Company streetcars and now home to an upscale food court, event and co-working space, and specialty boutiques. As for housing, this district, known as one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa, features historic Victorian gems near downtown — many beautifully renovated but still plenty in need of some TLC — and luxury apartment communities, including The Pearl.

Like a lot of the best Tampa neighborhoods, Tampa Heights has undergone significant rejuvenation. Today, the area is thriving with major developments, anchored by Downtown Tampa and the Tampa Riverwalk, a 2.6-mile pedestrian walkway along the Hillsborough River. The dining scene in the neighborhood and adjacent Seminole Heights offers dozens of innovative spots like Rooster & the Till, the Michelin-starred Rocca, and more.

Central Avenue in Seminole Heights is a quiet area with a family-friendly vibe and bungalow-lined streets.
(Source: Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association via Facebook)

9. Seminole Heights

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,725
• Average home value: $361,000
• Great for: Families, dog lovers, retirees, young professionals
• Commute to downtown: 10 minutes

Stately older bungalows line Seminole Heights’ Central Avenue, once a thriving thoroughfare of Black businesses and entertainment and the heart of the community. Today Craftsman-style bungalows line the quieter side streets with a mix of young professionals and families, and several loft-style apartment buildings have sprung up in the past decade to accommodate newcomers drawn to the still-artsy essence of the neighborhood. Businesses include Jug & Bottle Dept, a friendly local shop for craft beers (a neighborhood specialty), natural wines, and specialty snacks, and The Far Forest for vintage treats.

Seminole Heights is one of the best Tampa neighborhoods — and most diverse, with a mix of cultures and income levels, distinctive housing options, and other amenities. Local public schools are highly rated (Niche gives them an A), part of the Hillsborough County district. 

10. New Tampa

• Median rent (one-bedroom): $1,725
• Average home value: $479,000
• Great for: Families, suburbanites, commuters, professionals, golfers, retirees
• Commute to downtown: 30–50 minutes

As its name implies, New Tampa was established relatively recently, in 1988, when a development boom began in the Tampa Bay area. Situated just north of the University of South Florida, New Tampa is a 24-square-mile collection of planned communities with varying price points and amenities. Among the OG resort-style neighborhoods of the area: Tampa Palms and Hunter’s Green, long considered some of the best Tampa neighborhoods.

Traffic can be a problem in this region, particularly for downtown workers facing the daily commute, and dining and retail offerings are dominated by chains. But for families in search of suburban living with biking and walking trails, golf courses, tennis, and soccer fields, New Tampa is a good fit. Another plus: An abundance of parks and more rural destinations aren’t too far off, including the New Tampa Nature Park, Hillsborough River State Park and Flatwoods, a favorite for runners thanks to its seven-mile paved path.

Carrollwood is one of Tampa’s OG suburbs with homes built in the 1960s and ‘70s, tree-lined streets, and a homey family atmosphere.

11. Carrollwood

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,400
• Average home value: $404,200
• Great for: Families, professionals, suburbanites, retirees
• Commute to downtown: 25 minutes

A few blocks east of the traffic-clogged section of Dale Mabry Highway that cuts through Carrollwood, you’ll find one of Tampa’s original suburbs. Homes built in the 1960s and ’70s line tree-shaded streets that wind around lakes and orange groves, peacefully secluded from the hubbub of sprawl just minutes away.

On the west side of Dale Mabry, Carrollwood Village features later-era homes, apartments, and condo complexes. Planned communities are the norm in this area, but if you’re in the market for a multi-million-dollar waterfront estate, check out the stunners around Carrollwood’s White Trout Lake.

12. Brandon and Riverview

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,625
• Average home value: $372,000
• Great for: Rural living, suburbanites, local produce, families, commuters
• Commute to downtown: 30 minutes

Only 11 miles east of Downtown Tampa, Brandon has grown into a popular bedroom community in recent decades, with still-affordable homes and relatively easy access to downtown compared with other small cities near Tampa, FL.

Plenty of suburban conveniences include the Brandon Exchange, a mall with more than 140 stores and two dozen restaurants, plus the popular Topgolf and TGH Ice Plex, the official training facility for the Tampa Bay Lightning — and a great place for ice skating lessons or a birthday party.

If you’re seeking a more upscale community, The Sanctuary in Brandon features luxury homes from the high $500,000s to more than $1 million. But for a rural atmosphere, Riverview — just south of Brandon — is a good bet. Situated around the Alafia River, the area is home to the Bell Creek Nature Preserve, 600 acres with picnic areas and miles of walking trails, and the Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve, a 60-acre park with beautiful views of the river.

Plant City is a bit of a hike for downtown commuters, but one of the best places to live around Tampa if you like a small-town vibe — and lots of strawberries!
(Source: Lizz Harmon, Realtor via Facebook)

13. Plant City

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,375
• Average home value: $340,400
• Great for: Rural living, strawberry lovers, farmers, snowbirds
• Commute to downtown: 40 minutes

Known as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, Plant City is about 30 miles from Downtown Tampa — and supplies 75 percent of mid-winter strawberries around the U.S. from its 10,000 acres of local farmland. Every winter, visitors come from all over for the Strawberry Festival, a weeks-long February-into-March fair with rides, entertainment (in 2026, acts include The Oak Ridge Boys and Alabama), and, of course, lots of strawberries.

As the name implies, Plant City is a city in its own right (rather than a neighborhood). While it’s a bit of a hike for commuters, if you’re looking for a small-town vibe (with just under 40,000 residents), you may find it worth the drive. The Downtown Historic Residential District, designated in 1988, has 185 historic buildings, including the Bing Rooming House Museum, a National African-American Landmark.

Housing runs the gamut in Plant City, from modest Florida-style homes in subdivisions and older, established neighborhoods to lovely farms and estates a bit farther from the city center.  

14. Westchase

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,750
• Average home value: $552,000
• Great for: Families, professionals, suburbanites, golfers
• Commute to downtown: 30 minutes

Living in Westchase means living in a super-sized planned community that comprises almost 30 “villages” and subsets, plus an upscale country club and golf course. The central shopping, restaurant, and entertainment district, West Park Village, is designed in the style of Hyde Park Village, mixing fine dining with casual local watering holes and exclusive boutiques.

Miles of walking and biking trails wind through the neighborhoods of Westchase, with homes, apartments, and condos at multiple price points, from modest to luxury, making it one of the best areas of Tampa. Nearly 25,000 residents call the suburb home, and though families are the largest demographic, younger professionals are also drawn here for its active lifestyle and easy access to Tampa International Airport and Downtown Tampa.

Make your move flexible with a PODS portable moving container delivered right to your driveway. 

Ready To Move to Tampa?

Living in Tampa isn’t a hard sell for many wannabe Floridians. But rarely does a move go off without a few schedule changes, so using a flexible moving option like PODS for your move to the Tampa Bay area is a smart decision.

First, choose the right PODS container size for your move and have it delivered right to your driveway. Load at your own pace or hire local packing and loading assistance to help with the heavy lifting. When you’re ready, your container will be picked up and delivered to your new Tampa home, or you can keep it in a PODS Storage Center for as long as you need. One month’s storage is built into the cost of every move, so you can take your time without feeling rushed. Visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

Want to learn more about life in the Sunshine State? The PODS Blog is filled with helpful tips for moving to the best places Florida has to offer, from Sarasota to the Space Coast and everywhere in between.  

Shannon Jacobs is a Tampa-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to the PODS Blog. She has lived in Atlanta, the Berkshires, and Nashville, but always returns to the warmth of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Editor’s note: Average and median rent prices were obtained from RentCafe and Zumper; average home values were obtained from Zillow. For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100. Home values in the millions were rounded to the nearest $100,000.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}