Moving to Westshore, Tampa FL: Living in Westshore Guide

Westshore is Tampa’s biggest office district, and a growing number of people also call it home. It sits between Tampa International Airport and South Tampa, with two major malls, more than 200 restaurants and bars, and a skyline of office towers along Westshore Boulevard. The Westshore Alliance counts about 105,000 people working in the district and more than 15,000 living in it.

The people who move here usually want a short commute. Young professionals rent in the newer apartment buildings near the office towers. Frequent flyers like being minutes from the airport. Families and buyers look at the single-family streets of Beach Park, Westshore Palms and Carver City/Lincoln Gardens, where you can live close to the action on a quieter street. Westshore also sits on the bay, so hurricane season and flood zones are part of the conversation.

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

Where Is Westshore?

Westshore is on the west side of the city of Tampa in Hillsborough County, on the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Westshore Boulevard is the district’s main street. The district includes Tampa International Airport (TPA), which describes itself as “just five miles west of downtown Tampa.”

The main roads you will use:

Interstate 275 runs through the district and connects Westshore to downtown Tampa to the east and to St. Petersburg across Howard Frankland Bridge to the southwest. The airport’s I-275 access is exit 39.
State Road 60 becomes the Courtney Campbell Causeway just west of the airport entrance. The causeway runs about 9.9 miles across Old Tampa Bay to Clearwater.
The Veterans Expressway meets SR 60 right by the airport entrance and heads north toward the northwest suburbs.
Kennedy Boulevard, Dale Mabry Highway and Lois Avenue are the surface streets that tie Westshore to South Tampa and the rest of the city.

Being next to the airport is a real perk. According to the Westshore Alliance, TPA offers 93 nonstop destinations and about 315 daily departures on more than 20 airlines.

Westshore Population & Demographics

Westshore is a business district, not a city or a Census-defined place, so there is no official population count for it. The Westshore Alliance says the district has more than 15,000 residents. The closest Census geographies are the two ZIP codes that cover most of the district: 33607 (the airport, International Plaza, Rocky Point and the northern part of Westshore) and 33609 (the area south of Kennedy Boulevard, including Beach Park and Westshore Palms). Here is how those ZIP codes compare with the city of Tampa as a whole.

Measure	ZIP 33607	ZIP 33609	City of Tampa
Population	25,291	18,535	413,554 (July 2025 est.)
Median age	39.3	39.6	—
Median household income	$69,694	$115,844	$75,475
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25+)	37.2%	65.5%	45.7%
Median value of owner-occupied homes	$354,400	$605,600	$420,400
Mean travel time to work	22.7 min	20.8 min	24.8 min

Sources: Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year estimates) for the ZIP codes; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Vintage 2025 estimate and 2020–2024 ACS) for Tampa.

The two ZIP codes tell two different stories. 33607 mixes apartments, older bungalows and the airport area, while 33609 includes some of the most expensive streets in the city. Commute times in both are shorter than the Tampa average, which makes sense for a neighborhood built around jobs. Citywide, only about half of Tampa homes (50.3%) are owner-occupied, so renting is normal here.

Is Westshore Safe?

The Tampa Police Department covers Westshore. Citywide, crime has been falling: in its 2025 annual report, TPD reported a 21.3% drop in overall crime, with violent crime down 16.6% and auto burglaries (including guns stolen from vehicles) down 35.9%, according to FOX 13’s coverage. Those are citywide numbers, not Westshore-specific ones.

As in any busy commercial district, car break-ins are the thing to watch, so lock up and keep valuables out of sight, especially in hotel, mall and apartment garages. Before you sign a lease, check the specific address on the Tampa Police Department’s crime data page, and visit the block at night and on a weekend.

Cost of Living in Westshore

Westshore costs about what the rest of Tampa costs, with a wide spread. You can rent a one-bedroom near the office towers or buy a waterfront house in Beach Park for more than $1 million.

Home Prices

For the city overall, Redfin reports a median sale price of about $478,683 over the three months through August 2026, up 10.0% from a year earlier, with homes selling in a median of 46 days. The Census Bureau’s median value for owner-occupied homes in Tampa is $420,400 (2020–2024), compared with $359,000 for Florida.

Inside Westshore, prices depend on the street. Redfin reports a median sale price of about $1.0 million in Beach Park for the three months ending August 2026, down 11.5% from a year earlier, with 22 homes sold. The Westshore Alliance describes Beach Park prices as ranging from about $400,000 to over $2 million. Condos and townhomes in the district cost much less than the single-family homes, which is why many first-time buyers start there.

Rent

Most Westshore residents rent. Apartments.com reported these average rents in Westshore in September 2026, up 2.8% from a year earlier:

Studio: $1,865 a month
One bedroom: $2,010 a month
Two bedrooms: $2,575 a month
Three bedrooms: $3,437 a month

Those numbers reflect the newer managed buildings, which dominate listings. For comparison, the Census Bureau’s median gross rent across all Tampa rentals is $1,701 (2020–2024), and Florida’s is $1,669.

Best Neighborhoods in Westshore

Beach Park

Beach Park sits south of Kennedy Boulevard along the bay, and the Westshore Alliance calls it one of Tampa’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Expect large custom homes, older ranch houses waiting for a remodel, and waterfront lots with docks. It suits buyers who want South Tampa style with a very short drive to the airport and the office towers. Many homes here are close to the water, so check the flood zone and evacuation zone before you make an offer.

Westshore Palms

Westshore Palms is a small neighborhood bounded by I-275, Lois Avenue, Kennedy Boulevard and Westshore Boulevard. It has a mix of ranch-style houses and small townhome developments, and you can walk to restaurants, shops and offices. It works well for professionals and couples who want a house instead of an apartment without leaving the district. Redfin’s sales sample here is very small, so ask a local agent for recent comparable sales.

Carver City/Lincoln Gardens and North BonAir

The Westshore Alliance points to Carver City/Lincoln Gardens and North BonAir as the more affordable single-family options in the district. Carver City/Lincoln Gardens sits in the middle of Westshore and has the Loretta Ingraham Recreation Center, while North BonAir has traditional single-family homes near shopping and transit. Both suit buyers and renters who want a yard and a short commute at a lower price than Beach Park.

Weather & Climate

Tampa’s official weather station is at Tampa International Airport, right in Westshore, so these numbers describe the neighborhood well. Using NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals, Current Results reports an average annual high of 83°F and low of 66°F. January is the coolest month, with average highs around 71°F and lows around 52°F. July and August average highs of 91°F and lows of 77°F. The area gets about 49.5 inches of rain a year and averages 83 thunderstorm days.

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Westshore is on the bay, and Hillsborough County expanded its evacuation zones for the 2026 season based on updated NOAA storm surge data, moving some parcels into higher-risk zones. Look up your new address at HCFL.gov/HEAT before you sign anything.

Best months to move: late October through April, when it is cooler and drier. Summer moves are common, but plan an early start to beat the heat and the afternoon storms, and keep a little flexibility in your dates during hurricane season.

Things to Do in Westshore

International Plaza and Bay Street

International Plaza, at 2223 N. Westshore Blvd., opened in 2001 and has about 200 stores in 1.25 million square feet, anchored by Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Dillard’s and Dick’s House of Sport. The open-air Bay Street section is where people go for dinner and drinks after work.

WestShore Plaza

WestShore Plaza on Westshore Boulevard is the district’s older mall, and it is about to change. Third Lake Capital bought the 53-acre property in July 2026 and has filed plans for a mixed-use district with up to 1,765 homes, a 240-room hotel, retail and office space. No timetable has been set for demolition, and the plans call for redevelopment in phases, so check what is open before you go.

Cypress Point Park

Cypress Point Park, at 5620 W. Cypress St., is a city park with a calm white sand beach on Tampa Bay, a boardwalk, nature trails, a disc golf course, a sand volleyball court, picnic shelters and a self-service paddleboard rental station. It is a favorite lunch-break and sunset spot. Parking is metered at some times, and the park is open sunrise to sunset.

Ben T. Davis Beach and the Courtney Campbell Causeway

Ben T. Davis Beach, at 7740 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway, is a narrow city beach at the Tampa end of the causeway, with metered parking. The City of Tampa monitors water quality at its beaches through the Florida Healthy Beaches Program, so check current results before you swim.

Raymond James Stadium

Raymond James Stadium, at 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway, is a short drive north of the office district. It has been home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and USF Bulls football since 1998 and seats 69,218. Expect heavy traffic on Dale Mabry and around Westshore on game days.

Where to Eat in Westshore

Rusty Pelican

Rusty Pelican, at 2425 N. Rocky Point Dr., has been a Tampa landmark since 1978. It serves seafood and steaks on the water in the Rocky Point area, with weekend brunch and sunset views over the bay. It is a good pick for a “welcome to Tampa” dinner.

Ocean Prime

Ocean Prime sits at the entrance to International Plaza, at 2205 N. Westshore Blvd., on the corner of Westshore and Boy Scout Boulevard. It is a steak and seafood house with a partly enclosed outdoor terrace, and it is popular for business lunches during the week.

The Capital Grille

The Capital Grille, at 2223 N. West Shore Blvd. at International Plaza, is a steakhouse and wine bar open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. It is a dependable choice for client dinners or a celebration after closing day.

Jobs & Economy

Westshore is one of the largest business districts in Florida. According to the Westshore Alliance, the district has about 12.2 million square feet of office space, about 105,000 employees and more than 6,500 businesses and major employers. It also captures more than 40% of Tampa’s tech office leasing, and more than 25 development projects are planned or underway.

Employers a 2022 regional business guide listed in Westshore include Bloomin’ Brands (the parent company of Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s), PwC, New York Life, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, AECOM, Florida Blue, IBM, HCI, Progressive, LabCorp and State Farm. Tampa International Airport, the hotels around it and the two malls add thousands of hospitality and retail jobs. If you work in the district, living here can take your commute down to a few minutes.

Schools in Westshore

Westshore is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools, which describes itself as the nation’s 7th-largest school district. Thomas Jefferson High School, at 4401 W. Cypress St., sits in the Westshore business district. It was founded in 1939, moved to its current campus in 1973, and offers the AICE Diploma program plus College Preparatory Leadership Academies in business ownership and finance, maritime and marine exploration, law and criminal justice, and culinary arts and baking. Westshore Elementary School is also in the district.

School zones in Tampa do not follow neighborhood names, so look up your exact address with the district’s school zone locator before you sign a lease or contract. For college, Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry Campus, at 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd., serves more than 22,000 students and offers 59 programs, a short drive north of the district.

Westshore Quick Facts

City	Tampa
County	Hillsborough County
Main ZIP codes	33607, 33609
Area code	813
Residents (Westshore Alliance)	More than 15,000
Employees (Westshore Alliance)	About 105,000
Nearest airport	Tampa International Airport (TPA), in the district
Main roads	I-275, SR 60/Courtney Campbell Causeway, Veterans Expressway, Kennedy Blvd., Dale Mabry Hwy.
Public schools	Hillsborough County Public Schools
Hurricane season	June 1 – November 30

Moving to Westshore: Tips From Our Crew

Book the freight elevator and loading dock early. Most Westshore apartment and condo buildings require a reserved elevator time and a set move window. Ask the leasing office for the rules as soon as you have a date, and ask whether they need a certificate of insurance. We provide COIs for apartment, condo and office buildings free of charge.
Plan around rush hour and the airport. Westshore Boulevard, Kennedy Boulevard and the I-275 interchanges back up at commute times, and airport traffic adds to it. A truck that starts early or works mid-day moves faster than one sitting at the Kennedy and Westshore light at 5 p.m.
Check game-day and event schedules. A Buccaneers home game or a big event at Raymond James Stadium fills Dale Mabry and nearby streets. Avoid those days if you can.
Beat the heat and the storms. From June through September, afternoon thunderstorms are routine. We start early, protect furniture and floors from rain, and keep the loading area moving so nothing sits outside.
Know your evacuation zone before hurricane season. Look up your new address at HCFL.gov/HEAT. If a storm is coming close to your move date, call us early. We never charge a rescheduling fee.
Measure for high-rise living. Oversized sectionals, armoires and king box springs do not always fit in apartment elevators or tight hallways. Send us measurements or photos before move day and we will plan the best way in.
Downsizing into an apartment? Sort before you pack. Our junk removal and storage services help when a house’s worth of furniture will not fit into a two-bedroom.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Westshore

How much do movers cost in Westshore?

It depends on how much you are moving, the distance, how many flights of stairs or elevator trips there are, and if you need packing. A studio apartment move and a four-bedroom Beach Park house are very different jobs. The best way to get a real number is to call our Tampa team for a free quote. An owner calls you back within 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Is Westshore a good place to live?

It is a good fit if you want a short commute, easy airport access and plenty of shopping and restaurants nearby. It is busier than a typical suburb, with office traffic on weekdays and events at the malls and stadium. If you want quieter streets, look at the single-family neighborhoods south of Kennedy Boulevard.

Is Westshore in a flood or evacuation zone?

Some of it is. Westshore sits on Old Tampa Bay, and Hillsborough County expanded its evacuation zones for 2026. Look up the exact address at HCFL.gov/HEAT, ask your insurance agent about flood coverage, and check the property’s flood history before you buy or sign a lease.

Can you move me into a high-rise with elevator rules?

Yes. Apartment and condo moves are a big part of our Tampa work. Tell us your building’s move-in rules, elevator reservation and loading dock location, and we will send the certificate of insurance your building needs at no charge.

Do you handle long-distance moves to Westshore?

Yes. For long-distance moves we give you a binding estimate, so the price does not change after you book. You get your own dedicated truck, the same W-2 crew from pickup to delivery, and a guaranteed delivery date. Military families get 5% off.

Move to Westshore With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers is a family-owned company that has been moving families since 2015. Our Tampa office serves all of Hillsborough County, and our Westshore movers handle everything from studio apartments near the office towers to family homes in Beach Park. 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, and if anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day. Claims are resolved in 60 to 90 days.

We offer local moving, packing and unpacking, storage, office moves and military moves. Read what customers say in our 850+ Google reviews, then call our Tampa team at 813-544-0048 or visit our Westshore moving page. Florida Mover Reg. IM3566.

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Moving to Westshore, FL: Living in Westshore (Tampa) Guide