Moving to Valrico, FL: Living in Valrico Guide (2026)

Valrico sits just east of Brandon along State Road 60, and it feels a step removed from the busier suburbs closer to Tampa. The name comes from the 1880s, when the settlement once called Long Pond was renamed “Valrico,” meaning “rich valley” in Spanish. After a hard 1895 freeze and the 1929 crash, the town bounced back in the 1950s once State Road 60 linked it to Tampa, and it has been growing ever since.

Today Valrico is a community of golf-course neighborhoods, family subdivisions and a few older streets around the original town. It suits families who want more space, empty nesters looking for a quieter pace, and anyone who likes being close to springs, state parks and trails. Most homes here are owner-occupied.

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

Where Is Valrico?

Valrico is in east-central Hillsborough County. It is about 14 miles east of Tampa via State Road 60, about 10 miles southwest of Plant City and about 26 miles west of Bartow. Brandon borders it to the west, the Bloomingdale area lies to the southwest and FishHawk is to the south. Valrico is unincorporated, so Hillsborough County handles local services.

State Road 60 is the main road, running west through Brandon and into Tampa as Adamo Drive.
I-75 is reached through Brandon for trips north and south.
The Selmon Expressway (toll) and I-4 are both within a short drive for commutes to downtown Tampa and east toward Lakeland.
Bell Shoals Road and Bloomingdale Avenue are the busy north-south and east-west routes through the southern neighborhoods.

The nearest major airport is Tampa International Airport (TPA). If you are comparing towns, see our pages for Riverview and Brandon too.

A little history: Before the Civil War the area was known as Long Pond. The new name, Valrico, came from William G. Tousey, a Tufts College philosophy professor who bought property here in the 1880s. A major freeze in 1895 halted early development, and the 1929 stock market crash closed nearly every business in town. The comeback started in the mid-1950s, when State Road 60 gave Valrico a direct route to Tampa.

Valrico Population & Demographics

Valrico counted 37,895 residents in the 2020 Census, and the 2020–2024 American Community Survey estimate was about 40,239. It skews a little older than its neighbors, with a median age of 44.5, and 18.6% of residents are 65 or older. Incomes are high for Florida: median household income for 2020–2024 was $104,839, and 79.0% of homes are owner-occupied.

Other Census figures fill in the picture: 38.2% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, 16.0% of residents were born outside the U.S., and the poverty rate is 9.9%. With 2.78 people per household, it is a community of families and couples more than singles.

Measure	Valrico	Florida
Population (2020 Census)	37,895	—
Population (ACS 2020–2024 estimate)	40,239	—
Median age (ACS 2020–2024)	44.5	—
Age 65 and over (2020–2024)	18.6%	22.8%
Median household income (2020–2024)	$104,839	$74,568
Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+ (2020–2024)	38.2%	34.1%
Owner-occupied housing rate (2020–2024)	79.0%	—
Persons per household (2020–2024)	2.78	—
Mean travel time to work (2020–2024)	31.5 minutes	—
Land area (2020)	13.81 sq. mi.	—

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Valrico CDP and Florida (2020 Census; 2020–2024 ACS 5-year) and Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year).

Is Valrico Safe?

Valrico is patrolled by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. We did not find a Valrico-specific crime report we could cite, so we won’t put a number on it here.

To look up reported incidents near a specific address, use the Sheriff’s Office Crime Search Map. It is also worth driving the neighborhood in the evening and asking the HOA or a neighbor what day-to-day life is like.

Cost of Living in Valrico

Valrico homes cost more than those in Brandon or Riverview, reflecting larger lots, golf communities and higher incomes. Rents, on the other hand, are close to Brandon’s.

Home Prices

Redfin reports that over the three months ending June 2026, Valrico homes sold for a median price of about $455,000, up 7.0% from a year earlier. Homes sold in a median of 31 days, and sales volume was up 19.3%. The Census Bureau’s median value of owner-occupied homes for 2020–2024 was $393,700, compared with $359,000 for Florida.

Rent

Valrico has fewer apartments than its neighbors. Apartments.com’s August 2026 data showed average rents of $1,422 for a one-bedroom, $1,804 for a two-bedroom and $1,967 for a three-bedroom, up 0.9% from a year earlier. The Census Bureau’s median gross rent for 2020–2024 was $1,937, above the state median of $1,669, since many renters here lease houses.

Best Neighborhoods in Valrico

River Hills

River Hills is built around River Hills Country Club, a private club whose 18-hole, par-72 course was designed by Joe Lee and opened in 1989. It sits next to FishHawk, and the club describes itself as about 30 minutes from downtown Tampa. It suits golfers, tennis players and families who want a club community with mature landscaping.

The course plays 7,007 yards from the back tees and has 67 bunkers, so the golfers in the family will stay busy.

Original Valrico (Main Street and State Road 60)

The historic heart of Valrico is around Main Street near State Road 60, where you will find older homes, local businesses like Fat Willie’s Fish Camp and quick access to SR 60 for the commute west. It fits buyers who want an established street and a bit of small-town feel without an HOA-heavy subdivision. Inspect older homes carefully for roof and plumbing age.

Bloomingdale and Bell Shoals Road

The southwest side of Valrico runs along Bloomingdale Avenue and Bell Shoals Road, home to Bloomingdale High School and a long run of family subdivisions such as Diamond Hill, which Redfin tracks as its own market. Families like the schools, parks and shopping along Bell Shoals. Expect HOAs and school-hour traffic.

If you are house hunting here, drive Bell Shoals Road at 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a weekday before you make an offer. How long it takes you to reach State Road 60 or the Selmon will tell you a lot about your daily routine.

Weather & Climate in Valrico

Valrico has the same subtropical climate as Tampa. Based on NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Tampa, Current Results reports an average annual high of 83°F and low of 66°F, with mid-January highs around 71°F and July and August highs around 91°F. Rain averages 49.5 inches a year, most of it from summer afternoon storms.

A few more climate numbers from the same NOAA-based data: the area averages about 108 days a year with measurable rain and about 83 thunderstorm days, sunshine about 66% of daylight hours, and average humidity around 74%. In practice, that means clear mornings and a good chance of a storm by mid-afternoon from June through September.

Valrico is well inland, but hurricanes still bring wind and heavy rain. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and Hillsborough County updated its evacuation zones for 2026, including new Zone E areas that were previously unzoned. Check your address at HCFL.gov/HEAT and sign up for HCFL Alert.

Best months to move: October through April. If you move in summer, start early in the day.

Things to Do in Valrico

Lithia Springs Conservation Park

Just south of Valrico in Lithia, this 160-acre park has a natural spring that flows at 72 degrees all year into the Alafia River. There is a swimming area, hiking through cypress swamp and hardwood hammock, and 45 campsites. Entry is $2 per vehicle plus $2 per swimmer.

The swimming area is capped at 200 swimmers per four-hour time slot and often hits capacity on summer weekends. Campsites start at $24 a night, with discounts for seniors, and the park is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in spring and summer and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in fall and winter.

Alafia River State Park

Also in Lithia, this reclaimed phosphate mine has some of the most dramatic elevation changes in Florida, with 20 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding, mountain bike trails and paddling on the South Prong of the Alafia River. Entry is $5 per vehicle, and the park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset every day.

The park also has a full-service bike shop, picnic pavilions, a playground and a full-facility campground. Some bike trails were closed for repair as of August 2026, so check the park’s notices before you load up the bikes.

Edward Medard Conservation Park

Northeast of Valrico toward Plant City, Medard has a 700-acre reservoir for fishing and paddling, a 3-mile trail system, disc golf, a boardwalk and a campground with 43 sites. The boat ramp was closed for reservoir maintenance when we checked, but paddlers could still launch.

Canoe and kayak rentals run $25 for up to four hours, and park entry is $2 per vehicle.

Balm Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve

South of Valrico, this 5,723-acre county preserve protects rare scrub habitat. The south entrance has 25 miles of mountain bike trails, and the west entrance on Balm Boyette Road in Lithia is for hiking. The county recommends bringing water and downloading a trail map.

Brandon Exchange

For shopping, the Brandon Exchange mall is a short drive west off I-75 and State Road 60, with Dillard’s, JCPenney, Macy’s and Dick’s House of Sport.

Where to Eat in Valrico

Fat Willie’s Fish Camp (Main Street)

Fat Willie’s, at 1912 Main Street, is a casual, fish-camp-style seafood spot in the original part of Valrico. It is open Thursday through Sunday, so plan your fried-shrimp night accordingly.

Three Bulls Tavern & Brewery (Bell Shoals Road)

Three Bulls, at 4330 Bell Shoals Road, brews its own beer and serves casual tavern food. It is a good spot to meet new neighbors on a Friday night.

The Brunchery (Lynx Paw Trail)

The Brunchery, at 4389 Lynx Paw Trail, has been serving classic breakfast and lunch for more than 35 years and is open seven days a week. It is exactly what you want on the morning after a long moving day.

Jobs & Economy in Valrico

Valrico is mostly residential. Residents drive an average of 31.5 minutes to work (2020–2024), heading west to Brandon and Tampa or east toward Plant City and Lakeland. Nearby employers and job centers include:

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, a 479-bed hospital in neighboring Brandon.
Hillsborough County Public Schools, with many elementary and middle schools in and around Valrico.
Retail and services along State Road 60, Bell Shoals Road and Bloomingdale Avenue.
Tampa employers, including Tampa General Hospital (about 15,000 team members systemwide), Port Tampa Bay and MacDill Air Force Base.

The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council’s target industries include healthcare, logistics, financial and professional services, IT and manufacturing.

Schools in Valrico

Valrico’s public schools are part of Hillsborough County Public Schools, which describes itself as the nation’s 7th largest district. Wikipedia lists elementary schools including Valrico, Nelson, Alafia, Brooker, Buckhorn, Cimino and Lithia Springs, and middle schools including Barrington, Burns, Mulrennan and Randall. Bloomingdale High School is at 1700 E. Bloomingdale Avenue in Valrico.

Private options named on Wikipedia include Bell Shoals Baptist Academy, Foundation Christian Academy, Grace Christian School and Trinity Christian Academy. For college, Hillsborough College’s Brandon Campus serves approximately 15,000 students. As always, confirm the zoned schools for a specific address with the district before you buy.

Valrico Quick Facts

County	Hillsborough County (unincorporated)
Land area	13.81 square miles (2020 Census)
ZIP codes	33594–33596
Area codes	813 and 656 (10-digit dialing)
Distance to Tampa	About 14 miles via State Road 60
Nearest major airport	Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Main roads	State Road 60, Bell Shoals Rd, Bloomingdale Ave; I-75 via Brandon
Name meaning	“Rich valley” (Spanish)
Public high school	Bloomingdale High School

Moving to Valrico: Tips From Our Crew

State Road 60 is the bottleneck. Most Valrico moves to or from Tampa run through Brandon on SR 60 or the Selmon. We schedule around the morning and evening rush so your crew isn’t paid to sit in traffic.
Golf-community homes often have long driveways and gates. In River Hills and other gated or golf communities, get gate access codes and any guard-house instructions to us before move day, and ask about truck size limits.
Protect the pool cage and landscaping. If your home has a screened pool enclosure or lanai, tell us. We pad door frames and plan the path for patio furniture so nothing tears a screen on the way out.
Read the HOA rules. Subdivisions along Bell Shoals and Bloomingdale often limit moving hours, truck parking and portable storage containers. A quick email to the HOA saves a violation letter.
Summer heat is real. With July and August highs around 91°F, we load early. Keep medications, electronics and anything heat-sensitive in your air-conditioned car.
Downsizing? Clear it out first. Many Valrico moves are families trading a big house for something smaller. Our junk removal service can haul off what you don’t want so you pay to move only what you keep.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Valrico

How much does it cost to hire movers in Valrico?

It depends on the size of the home, the distance, stairs, long driveways, packing and the date. A move from Brandon to Valrico is a very different job from a move in from another state. Call 813-544-0048 for a free quote, 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 Valrico movers work.

Is Valrico the same as Brandon?

No, though they are next door to each other. Valrico is its own unincorporated community east of Brandon, with its own ZIP codes (33594–33596). Both are governed by Hillsborough County, and both use 813 and 656 phone numbers.

Is Valrico expensive?

Home prices are higher than in Brandon or Riverview. Redfin’s median sale price was about $455,000 for the three months ending June 2026, and the Census median home value is $393,700. Incomes are also higher, with a median household income of $104,839. Rents are closer to the rest of the area.

How far is Valrico from Tampa?

Valrico is about 14 miles east of Tampa via State Road 60. The average commute for Valrico residents is 31.5 minutes, but it depends heavily on traffic through Brandon and whether you use the Selmon Expressway.

Can you move a piano or gun safe to Valrico?

Yes. Our heavy item, safe and piano moving crews bring the right equipment for heavy, awkward pieces, including moves into homes with steps or long walks from the driveway.

Move to Valrico With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015, and our Owner’s Promise is simple. 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. Every crew member is a background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employee, never a subcontractor.

Our Tampa office covers all of Hillsborough County, including Valrico, for local moves, long-distance moves, packing and storage (FL Mover Reg. IM3566). Learn more about our Valrico movers, check our reviews, or call 813-544-0048.

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