Moving to Tampa, FL: 2026 Living in Tampa Guide

Tampa is the working heart of Tampa Bay. It is the city of Ybor City cigar history, the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk, the Riverwalk, three major-league teams and one of Florida’s busiest ports. It is also a city of very different neighborhoods: 1920s bungalows in Seminole Heights, brick streets and old homes in Hyde Park, and newer master-planned communities up in New Tampa near the University of South Florida.

That range is why Tampa suits so many kinds of people. Young professionals like the downtown and Channelside apartments. Families look north to New Tampa or south to the established streets of South Tampa. Retirees and military families come for the weather, MacDill Air Force Base and easy access to the Gulf beaches across the bay. Our Tampa office serves all of Hillsborough County, so we move people in and out of this city every week.

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

Where Is Tampa?

Tampa sits on the west coast of Florida at the top of Hillsborough Bay, the northeast arm of Tampa Bay. It is the county seat of Hillsborough County. The city covers 114.02 square miles of land (2020 Census), and the Hillsborough River runs right through downtown before emptying into the bay.

Getting around, you will spend a lot of time on a few big roads:

I-275 runs north-south through the middle of the city and crosses the Howard Frankland Bridge to St. Petersburg.
I-4 starts at I-275 near downtown and heads east toward Plant City, Lakeland and Orlando.
I-75 runs along the city’s eastern side, past New Tampa, Brandon and down toward Riverview and Apollo Beach.
The Lee Roy Selmon Expressway (a toll road) connects South Tampa and downtown with Brandon to the east.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) is on the city’s west side, near Westshore. For suburbs just outside the city, see our guides and pages for Brandon (about 11 miles east of downtown) and Riverview (about 12 miles southeast).

Tampa Population & Demographics

Tampa counted 384,959 residents in the 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau estimates the city had grown to 413,554 by July 2025. It is a relatively young city: the median age is 35.8 (2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimate), and Florida as a whole is older. It is also well educated, with 45.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the state rate of 34.1%.

Measure	Tampa	Florida
Population (2020 Census)	384,959	—
Population estimate (July 1, 2025)	413,554	23,462,518
Median age (ACS 2024 1-year)	35.8	—
Median household income (2020–2024)	$75,475	$74,568
Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+ (2020–2024)	45.7%	34.1%
Owner-occupied housing rate (2020–2024)	50.3%	—
Persons per household (2020–2024)	2.31	—
Foreign-born residents (2020–2024)	19.4%	—
Mean travel time to work (2020–2024)	24.8 minutes	—

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2020 Census, 2025 estimates, 2020–2024 ACS 5-year) and Census Reporter (median age).

One number worth noticing: only about half of Tampa homes are owner-occupied. That tells you how much of the city rents, and it is why we do so many apartment and condo moves here.

Is Tampa Safe?

Crime in Tampa has been falling. In its 2025 annual report, the Tampa Police Department reported a 21.3% overall drop in crime in 2025, with violent crime down 16.6% and homicides down 52.8% from the year before, according to FOX 13’s coverage of the report. As in any city, conditions vary from block to block.

Before you sign a lease or make an offer, look at the specific street. The Tampa Police Department publishes a calls-for-service map and other tools on its crime data page. Visit the area at night and on a weekend, too. It is the easiest research you will ever do.

Cost of Living in Tampa

Tampa costs more than most of Florida for housing, and it has gotten more expensive over the last several years. Incomes are roughly in line with the state, so housing is the big variable in any budget.

Home Prices

According to Redfin, the median sale price of a home in Tampa was about $479,000 over the three months through August 2026, up 10.0% from a year earlier. Homes sold in a median of 46 days. The Census Bureau’s longer-term measure, the median value of owner-occupied homes, was $420,400 for 2020–2024, compared with $359,000 for Florida as a whole.

Prices swing a lot by neighborhood. A waterfront home in South Tampa and a townhome in East Tampa are different markets, so treat the citywide median as a starting point only.

Rent

Apartments.com’s September 2026 data put the average rent in Tampa at $1,605 for a studio, $1,651 for a one-bedroom, $1,986 for a two-bedroom and $2,397 for a three-bedroom. That was down 0.7% from the year before, and Apartments.com described Tampa rents as roughly equal to the national average of $1,665. The Census Bureau’s median gross rent for 2020–2024 was $1,701 in Tampa, compared with $1,669 statewide.

Best Neighborhoods in Tampa

Hyde Park and South Tampa

Hyde Park is one of Tampa’s oldest neighborhoods. It grew up in the 1880s after Henry B. Plant bridged the Hillsborough River, and it still has many historic homes and bungalows. Hyde Park Village has shops and restaurants, SoHo (South Howard Avenue) has the nightlife, and Bayshore Boulevard is a few blocks away. It suits people who want to walk to dinner and live close to downtown and the University of Tampa, and who are ready to pay South Tampa prices. Check your flood zone carefully near the bay.

Seminole Heights

Seminole Heights, north of downtown between Florida Avenue and I-275, was founded in 1911 and is known for its craftsman-style bungalows. The area has seen a wave of new restaurants, brewpubs and independent shops alongside businesses that have been there for decades. It fits buyers who like older homes with character, don’t mind some renovation work and want a neighborhood feel close to the city center.

New Tampa

New Tampa is the 24-square-mile area in the northeast part of the city that Tampa annexed in 1988. It includes planned communities such as Tampa Palms and Pebble Creek, sits along I-75 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, and borders the University of South Florida. Families like the newer homes, community pools and parks such as Flatwoods and New Tampa Nature Park. Expect HOA rules, which matter on moving day (more on that below).

Weather & Climate in Tampa

Tampa is warm most of the year. Using NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals, Current Results reports an average annual high of 83°F and low of 66°F. In mid-January, highs average around 71°F and lows around 52°F. In July and August, highs average around 91°F with lows near 77°F. The city averages 49.5 inches of rain a year and about 83 thunderstorm days.

Winters are mild, while spring and fall are warm and dry. Summers are hot and rainy, with afternoon storms that pop up fast. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and Hillsborough County expanded its evacuation zones for 2026, moving some parcels into new zones. Look up your new address at HCFL.gov/HEAT and sign up for HCFL Alert.

Best months to move: late October through April are the most comfortable. If you have to move in summer, book the earliest start time you can.

Things to Do in Tampa

Tampa Riverwalk

The Riverwalk runs 2.6 miles along the Hillsborough River through downtown, linking parks, museums, restaurants and hotels. It is the easiest way to learn downtown on foot, and it is free.

Bayshore Boulevard

Bayshore Boulevard follows Hillsborough Bay for 4.5 miles, and its 10-foot-wide sidewalk is one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the country. Locals run, bike and walk it at sunrise before the heat sets in.

Ybor City

Vicente Martinez Ybor founded Ybor City in 1885, and its factories rolled their first cigars in 1886. By 1900 more than 10,000 immigrants had moved to the neighborhood. Today it is a National Historic Landmark district with restaurants, clubs, cigar shops and brick streets.

The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is at 701 Channelside Drive in the Channelside district. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and has coral reef, wetlands and tide pool habitats, plus extras like penguin encounters and wild dolphin cruises.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

ZooTampa is at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue, north of downtown near Seminole Heights. It has Africa and Australia areas, the Florida Waters exhibit and a Manatee Critical Care Center, which makes it a good first-weekend outing for families still unpacking.

Where to Eat in Tampa

Columbia Restaurant (Ybor City)

The Columbia has been at 2117 E. 7th Avenue in Ybor City since 1905 and calls itself Florida’s oldest restaurant. It fills an entire city block with 15 dining rooms and is now run by the fourth generation of the family. Order the original Cuban sandwich and stay for the flamenco show.

Bern’s Steak House (South Howard)

Bern’s has been at 1208 S. Howard Avenue since 1956. The steaks are dry-aged in-house, the wine collection runs to more than 500,000 bottles, and dessert is served upstairs in the Harry Waugh Dessert Room. It is the place people take family when they visit.

Ulele (Tampa Heights)

Ulele sits at 1810 N. Highland Avenue on the Hillsborough River, next to Ulele Spring and Water Works Park. The menu leans on Florida seafood and produce, much of it cooked on a 10-foot barbacoa grill. Walk the Riverwalk after dinner.

Jobs & Economy in Tampa

Tampa’s economy is broad. The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council targets information technology, defense and security, corporate headquarters, distribution and logistics, financial and professional services, life sciences and healthcare, and manufacturing.

Healthcare: Tampa General Hospital has about 15,000 team members and providers systemwide, and BayCare and HCA Florida also run large hospitals in the county.
Military: MacDill Air Force Base in South Tampa is home to U.S. Central Command and is the parent installation for more than 15,000 active uniformed military personnel. If you are coming here on orders, see our military moving page.
Port and logistics: Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port by tonnage.
Education: The University of South Florida and Hillsborough County Public Schools are major employers in their own right.

The average one-way commute in Tampa is 24.8 minutes (2020–2024), shorter than in the fast-growing suburbs east and south of the city.

Schools in Tampa

Public schools in Tampa are run by Hillsborough County Public Schools, which describes itself as the nation’s 7th largest school district. The district uses school boundaries plus a range of magnet and choice programs, so check the zoned school for a specific address before you buy or sign a lease.

For higher education, the University of South Florida was founded in 1956 and has nearly 50,000 students; it recently became a member of the Association of American Universities. The University of Tampa is next to downtown, near Hyde Park, and Hillsborough College (formerly Hillsborough Community College) has several campuses around the county.

Tampa Quick Facts

County	Hillsborough County (county seat)
Land area	114.02 square miles (2020 Census)
ZIP codes	Many; for example, 33606 covers Hyde Park
Area codes	813 and 656 (656 overlay added in 2022; 10-digit dialing)
Nearest major airport	Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Main highways	I-275, I-4, I-75, Selmon Expressway
Public schools	Hillsborough County Public Schools
Pro sports	Buccaneers (NFL), Lightning (NHL), Rays (MLB)
Best-known event	Gasparilla, a mock pirate invasion held since 1904

Moving to Tampa: Tips From Our Crew

Book the elevator and loading dock early. Downtown, Channelside and Westshore high-rises typically require you to reserve a freight elevator and a loading window. Get the building’s move-in rules and certificate of insurance requirements to us at least a week ahead so the truck isn’t sitting at the curb.
Start early in summer. With July and August highs around 91°F and afternoon thunderstorms, our Tampa crews prefer to load in the morning. An 8 a.m. start usually beats both the heat and the storm cells.
Know your evacuation zone before you close. Hillsborough County changed a lot of evacuation zones for 2026. If you are moving between June and November, have a plan for a storm delay and keep important papers with you, not on the truck.
Plan around the bridges and I-275. If you are moving between Tampa and Pinellas County, the Howard Frankland and the I-275 corridor through downtown can add serious time at rush hour. Midday loads and weekend moves often go smoother.
Check HOA rules in New Tampa and other planned communities. Many HOAs limit moving hours, where a truck can park and whether a portable storage container can sit in the driveway. Ask your HOA or property manager in writing.
Old South Tampa and Seminole Heights streets are narrow. Brick streets, big oaks and cars parked on both sides can keep a full-size truck from reaching the door. Tell us about the street when you call so we can plan the right truck.
Watch the event calendar. Gasparilla, Lightning and Bucs games, and big downtown events can close streets. Check before you pick a date if you live near downtown, Ybor or Raymond James Stadium.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Tampa

How much does it cost to hire movers in Tampa?

It depends on how much you are moving, how far, stairs or elevators, packing and the date. A one-bedroom apartment across town and a four-bedroom house going out of state are very different jobs. The fastest way to a real number is a free quote. Call 813-544-0048 and an owner will call you back within 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. You can also read more about how our Tampa movers work.

Is Tampa expensive to live in?

Housing is the biggest factor. Redfin’s median sale price was about $479,000 for the three months through August 2026, and the Census median home value ($420,400) is above the Florida figure ($359,000). Rents are closer to the national average, with Apartments.com showing a one-bedroom at about $1,651 in September 2026.

When is the best time of year to move to Tampa?

Late October through April is the most comfortable time, with cooler, drier weather. Summer moves are very common, but plan for heat and afternoon storms and book an early start. June 1 through November 30 is hurricane season, so build a little flexibility into your dates.

Do I need flood insurance in Tampa?

That depends on the property, its flood zone and your lender. Many Tampa neighborhoods sit close to the bay or the river. Check your evacuation zone at HCFL.gov/HEAT, ask your insurance agent about flood coverage, and look at the property’s flood history before you buy.

Can A & M move me to Tampa from out of state?

Yes. We handle local moves across Hillsborough County and long-distance moves in and out of Florida, with the same W-2 crews and an owner as your point of contact. We also offer storage if your closing dates don’t line up.

Move to Tampa With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015. Owners Matthew Treharn and Amber Hallaman stand behind every job with the 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. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors.

Our Tampa office covers all of Hillsborough County for local moves, packing and unpacking, apartment and condo moves, office moves and more (FL Mover Reg. IM3566). See what neighbors say on our reviews page, learn more about our Tampa movers, or call 813-544-0048.

Get My Price

Moving to Tampa, FL: Living in Tampa Guide