Moving to Lake Magdalene, FL: Living in Lake Magdalene Guide

Lake Magdalene is an established suburban community in north Tampa, named for the 206-acre freshwater lake at its center. It sits just outside Tampa city limits between Dale Mabry Highway and I-275, with at least 11 named lakes, mature neighborhoods and quick access to the University of South Florida, Carrollwood and downtown. Settled as a rural area with its own post office in 1888, it filled in with homes as Tampa grew north in the 1990s.

Lake Magdalene suits families who want a yard and good highway access, USF and hospital employees who want a short commute, and buyers who prefer established neighborhoods over brand-new subdivisions. It is older than most of Hillsborough County, with a median age just over 40, and most homes are owner-occupied. Prices sit between Tampa’s suburbs and its close-in neighborhoods, with a few high-end enclaves mixed in.

Planning a move to Lake Magdalene? Call our Tampa team at 813-544-0048 or get your price online.

Where Is Lake Magdalene?

Lake Magdalene is a census-designated place in northwestern Hillsborough County. It is bordered by Lutz to the north, the University area to the east, the City of Tampa to the south, Carrollwood to the southwest and Northdale to the west. I-275 forms its eastern edge and Dale Mabry Highway (State Road 597) forms its western edge. Although it is unincorporated, most addresses carry a Tampa mailing address.

Downtown Tampa: about 9.7 miles, roughly 13 minutes
Tampa International Airport (TPA): about 13.9 miles, roughly 23 minutes
Main roads: I-275, Dale Mabry Highway and Bearss Avenue

Drive times are for normal traffic. I-275 and Dale Mabry both back up at rush hour, so try your commute at the time you will actually be driving. Our Lake Magdalene movers plan truck timing around peak traffic on these corridors, so your crew spends its time moving furniture instead of sitting on I-275.

Lake Magdalene Population & Demographics

Lake Magdalene grew from almost 16,000 people in 1990 to 28,755 in 2000, then more slowly to 28,509 in 2010 and 30,742 at the 2020 Census. The American Community Survey puts the population at 32,083 for 2020–2024. More than one in five residents is 65 or older, and the median age is 40.8.

Measure	Lake Magdalene CDP	Florida	United States
Population (2020 Census)	30,742	—	—
Population (July 1, 2025 estimate)	—	23,462,518	341,784,857
Median age (ACS 2020–2024)	40.8	—	—
Residents 65 and older	20.3%	22.8%	18.9%
Median household income (2020–2024)	$75,594	$74,568	$80,734
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	40.2%	34.1%	35.7%
Owner-occupied housing rate	72.3%	67.6%	65.2%
Median home value	$371,800	$359,000	$332,700
Mean travel time to work	27.1 min	28.0 min	26.4 min

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2020 Census and 2020–2024 American Community Survey; state and national population from Vintage 2025 estimates); median age and 2020–2024 population from Census Reporter; historical counts from Wikipedia. The Census Bureau does not publish annual population estimates for CDPs like Lake Magdalene.

Other Census details: the per capita income is $50,477 and the poverty rate is 13.0%. Lake Magdalene has 1,745 veterans and 13,083 households, with 2.40 people per household. About 17.2% of residents were born outside the U.S. The CDP covers 10.20 square miles of land plus 1.41 square miles of water, with roughly 3,014 people per square mile.

Is Lake Magdalene Safe?

Lake Magdalene is unincorporated, so the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office handles law enforcement. We did not find a Lake Magdalene-specific crime report we could cite, so we are not quoting a rate here. Like any area of 30,000 people, conditions change from one neighborhood to the next, especially near busy commercial corridors.

Use the Sheriff’s Office Crime Search Map, linked from the HCSO website, to see reported incidents near a specific address. Many neighborhoods here also have active civic associations or HOAs that can tell you what is going on.

Cost of Living in Lake Magdalene

Home Prices

Redfin reports a median sale price of $466,191 in Lake Magdalene for the three months ending August 2026, up 1.3% from a year earlier. Homes took a median of 43 days to sell, up from 26 days the year before, and 86 homes sold in August, down from 106. That is close to Redfin’s Tampa median of about $479,000, and the slower pace gives buyers more room than they had in 2025.

The spread is wide. Redfin’s median in the Avila neighborhood, which it groups within Lake Magdalene, was about $2.4 million over the same period, while some condos in the area have recently sold for under $200,000. The Census Bureau’s median value of owner-occupied homes for the CDP is $371,800 (2020–2024), a bit above the Florida median of $359,000.

Rent

The Census Bureau puts Lake Magdalene’s median gross rent at $1,434 a month (2020–2024), below the Florida median of $1,669 and the Tampa median of $1,701. Current asking rents are higher than that long-term figure. For comparison, Apartments.com reported an average Tampa apartment rent of $1,651 in September 2026, with two-bedrooms averaging $1,986 and three-bedrooms $2,397.

Best Neighborhoods in Lake Magdalene

Around the Lake

The center of the CDP surrounds Lake Magdalene itself, a 206-acre lake. Some homes near the lake and the smaller lakes around it have water frontage or views. This area suits families and move-up buyers who want an established neighborhood in the middle of north Tampa, with I-275 and Dale Mabry both a few minutes away.

Avila

Avila is the high end of the area, with a Redfin median sale price of about $2.4 million for the three months ending August 2026. It is zoned for Gaither High School, according to the school’s Wikipedia entry. Avila suits buyers shopping for luxury homes. Moves in this price range often involve large houses, long driveways and high-value furniture and art, so plan extra time and padding.

East Side Near I-275 and USF

The eastern side, closer to I-275 and the University area, is the most convenient part of Lake Magdalene for getting to campus. Buyers on a budget should know that Redfin’s recent Lake Magdalene sales have included condos that sold for under $200,000. It is a practical fit for USF faculty and staff, hospital workers, graduate students and first-time buyers who want a quick trip to campus or downtown on I-275.

Weather & Climate

Lake Magdalene has Tampa’s warm, humid climate. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Tampa International Airport, reported by Current Results, show an average annual high of 83°F and low of 66°F. January highs average about 71°F with lows near 52°F. July and August highs average about 91°F with lows near 77°F. Tampa gets about 49.5 inches of rain a year and around 83 thunderstorm days, mostly in summer.

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 and peaks between mid-August and mid-October, according to the National Hurricane Center. Lake Magdalene is inland, but hurricanes still bring wind and heavy rain, and low spots near lakes can flood. Hillsborough County revised evacuation zones for 2026, and all manufactured and mobile homes are in Zone A regardless of location. Check your address with the county’s HEAT tool and sign up for HCFL Alert.

Best months to move: late October through April. In summer, schedule an early start to beat the heat and afternoon storms.

Things to Do in Lake Magdalene

Lettuce Lake Park

This county park on East Fletcher Avenue, a short drive east, sits on the Hillsborough River and is known for its hardwood swamp forest. It has a 1.25-mile paved trail, a 3,500-foot boardwalk, a visitors center and playgrounds added in 2024. Entry is $2 per vehicle, cash only. As of August 2026, sections of the boardwalk, the observation tower and the kayak launch were closed for repairs, so check the county’s page before you go.

Carrollwood Village Park

Just southwest in Carrollwood, this county park on West Village Drive was built on the site of a former wastewater treatment plant and now draws more than a million visitors a year. It has walking trails, a skate park, a dog park, a splash pad, playgrounds and fitness equipment, and it is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens, a 335-acre animal theme park that opened in 1959, is a short drive from Lake Magdalene. It is known for roller coasters like SheiKra, Cheetah Hunt and Iron Gwazi, plus its animal habitats. Its annual attendance consistently exceeds 4 million.

University of South Florida

USF’s Tampa campus is in the University area, just east of Lake Magdalene across I-275. With 49,875 students in 2025–2026, it brings college athletics, concerts, lectures and continuing education close to home. Moffitt Cancer Center is also on the USF Tampa campus.

The Lakes

With at least 11 named lakes inside the CDP, including 206-acre Lake Magdalene, water is part of daily life here. Some homes back up to one of the lakes. Access to each lake depends on its shoreline and any neighborhood rules, so ask before you launch a kayak.

Where to Eat in Lake Magdalene

Kobé Japanese Steakhouse

Kobé’s Tampa location at 14401 North Dale Mabry Highway serves teppanyaki-style hibachi dinners cooked at the table. It is a fun, easy family outing and a good spot for a first-weekend celebration.

Skipper’s Smokehouse

Skipper’s, on Skipper Road in north Tampa, has been open since 1980. It is a combination oyster bar, “Floribbean” seafood restaurant and live music venue, famous for its blackened grouper Reuben. It hosts free live music on Sunday afternoons.

Mr. Dunderbak’s Biergarten

Mr. Dunderbak’s has been serving German and American food and beer in north Tampa since 1974. It is in the Oak Ramble Shopping Center on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard near USF, a short drive east, and hosts team trivia on Monday nights.

Jobs & Economy

Lake Magdalene is a commuter community with strong access to several of Tampa’s biggest job centers. The University of South Florida and Moffitt Cancer Center are just east across I-275. Downtown Tampa is about 13 minutes south by car, and Tampa General Hospital, which reports about 15,000 team members and providers systemwide, is on Davis Islands near downtown.

The Census Bureau puts the average commute at 27.1 minutes. Dale Mabry Highway has shopping centers, restaurants and service businesses that provide local jobs, and I-275 connects residents to Westshore, downtown and the airport.

Schools in Lake Magdalene

Lake Magdalene is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools, the seventh-largest school district in the country, with more than 213,000 students as of 2021. Schools serving the area include Lake Magdalene Elementary, Miles Elementary, Buchanan Middle, Chamberlain High and Gaither High.

Gaither High School on North Dale Mabry Highway opened in 1984 and had 2,078 students in 2023–2024. It serves Northdale, Carrollwood Village, Lake Magdalene, Avila and parts of southern Lutz.
Chamberlain High School on North Boulevard at Busch Boulevard opened in 1956 and had 1,262 students in 2022–2023.

The district’s magnet programs, open to students countywide, include Walker Middle Magnet and Hillsborough High School. Assignments depend on your exact address, so check the district’s school locator. For college, the University of South Florida is right next door.

Lake Magdalene Quick Facts

County	Hillsborough
Type	Unincorporated census-designated place
ZIP codes	33612, 33613, 33618
Area codes	813 and the 656 overlay
Area	10.20 sq. mi. land, 1.41 sq. mi. water
Named lakes	At least 11, the largest being 206-acre Lake Magdalene
Main roads	I-275, Dale Mabry Hwy. (SR 597), Fletcher Ave., Bearss Ave.
Nearest airport	Tampa International (TPA), about 13.9 miles
Law enforcement	Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Moving to Lake Magdalene: Tips From Our Crew

Time your move around rush hour. Dale Mabry, Fletcher and I-275 get heavy at commute times. We aim to have the truck loaded and moving before the afternoon rush.
Watch for USF move-in and game days. Streets around campus and Fletcher Avenue get crowded when students arrive in August and when USF has big events. If you are moving near the east side, plan around those dates.
Tell us about lakefront access. Lakefront homes can have long driveways, slopes down to the water, docks or sheds. Let us know what is outside the house so we bring the right crew and equipment.
Check HOA and civic association rules. Some neighborhoods limit where trucks can park or what hours you can move. Get the rules in writing and send them to us.
Plan for summer storms. July and August highs average about 91°F, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. An early start keeps the crew fast and your belongings dry.
Downsizing? If you are leaving a house you have lived in for years, our packing and junk removal services make it easier to sort years of belongings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Lake Magdalene

Is Lake Magdalene part of Tampa?

Not officially. Lake Magdalene is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, bordered on the south by the City of Tampa. Most addresses use a Tampa mailing address with ZIP codes 33612, 33613 or 33618, but county government and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office provide services.

How much do homes cost in Lake Magdalene?

Redfin’s median sale price was about $466,000 for the three months ending August 2026, close to the Tampa median. Prices range widely, from condos under $200,000 to multimillion-dollar homes in Avila, where Redfin’s median was about $2.4 million. The Census Bureau’s median home value for the CDP is $371,800.

Is Lake Magdalene close to USF?

Yes. The University of South Florida’s Tampa campus is just east of the CDP across I-275, and Moffitt Cancer Center is on the USF campus. That makes Lake Magdalene a practical choice for university and hospital employees who want an established neighborhood close to work.

How much does it cost to hire movers in Lake Magdalene?

It depends on your home’s size, the distance, stairs, driveway access, packing and the date. A lakefront house with a long driveway and a two-bedroom condo are very different jobs. Call our Tampa office at 813-544-0048 for a free quote. An owner will call you back within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm.

Which high school serves Lake Magdalene?

Much of the area is served by Gaither High School on North Dale Mabry Highway, and parts are served by Chamberlain High School on North Boulevard. Assignments depend on your exact address, so use the Hillsborough County Public Schools locator before you choose a home.

Move to Lake Magdalene With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015, and our Tampa office serves all of Hillsborough County, including Lake Magdalene, Carrollwood and the USF area. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. With our Owner’s Promise, you talk to an owner, not a call center. If anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day, and claims are resolved in 60–90 days.

We handle local moves, long-distance moves with a binding estimate and your own dedicated truck, storage and piano and safe moving. Learn more about our Lake Magdalene movers, see our reviews, or call 813-544-0048 today.

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