Tampa is one of the fastest-growing cities in America and we’re going to breakdown all the neighborhoods in our Ultimate Guide To the Best Tampa Neighborhoods.

Studies say that over 150 people are moving to Tampa every single day and how can you blame them!? Almost every neighborhood of Tampa is on the up from downtown to the suburbs and everywhere in between. Moving to a new city is stressful enough, and I want to help break down the region with our honest guide to the best Tampa neighborhoods.

Before we get into the pros and cons, I think it’s important to give a brief background.  After all, talking about neighborhoods is subjective; there are things I might like about an area that you might hate or vice versa.

That’s why it’s important to quickly explain who I am.  Maybe it’ll help you relate to some things I say and who knows, it might show you that some of my “cons” are actually your “pros.”

I am a 29-year-old male who just got engaged to a wonderful fiancee. While I lived it up in college and the years immediately following, I’m now well on my way to “adulting.” We bought a house a year ago and while there are no kids in the picture yet, they’re probably not too far out.

We live in a quieter part of town, we’re at Home Depot at least once a weekend, and our Friday nights consist of Scrabble battles while sipping on local chocolate stouts.  Don’t get me wrong, we still make it out to downtown every now and then, but by midnight I’m already 2 slices of pizza deep with an Uber on the way.

The neighborhoods I find to be too rowdy now (but enjoyed 5 years ago) might be exactly what you’re looking for.  And the areas I find just a little too suburbia might be right up your alley!

So take everything I say with a grain of salt and just know that the best Tampa neighborhood is out there for everyone.  And of course, the perfect Tampa neighborhood apparel to go along with your new abode.

Alright, we have 21 neighborhoods to review, let’s get into it!

Ballast Point

Ballast Point is a quaint little neighborhood at the southern end of Bayshore Boulevard.  It’s mostly houses with a few tall condos along the water. The heart and soul of the neighborhood is the park right on the water with amazing views looking back at the city. It’s not the most expensive neighborhood in Tampa but it’s definitely not the cheapest.  Ballast Point is perfect for a family who enjoys the outdoors and being near the water.  And if you find yourself calling Ballast Point home, make sure to rock your awesome Ballast Point neighborhood shirt around town!

Residential Makeup: Families, young adults

Cost To Live (Out of 4): $$$

Pros: 

• Right on gorgeous Tampa Bay, with several places to enjoy it.
• It’s a hop, skip, and a jump to cross the Gandy Bridge to go check out St. Pete.
• Can easily hop on Bayshore Sidewalk for one of the best workout views possibly in the entire state.

Cons:

• It’s pretty far South in South Tampa, making it far to get to other places unless your destination is off the Selmon Expressway.
• It’s right next to Macdill Airforce Base which means noisy planes at all times of the day.
• Being anywhere near the bay means your neighborhood is prone to flooding.

Things To Do

• Ballast Point Park and Pier
• Bayshore Sidewalk
• Tampa Yacht Club

Similar Neighborhoods

• Hyde Park
• Davis Island
• South Tampa

Brandon

We’re 2 neighborhoods into our ultimate guide of Tampa neighborhoods and we already have an outlier.  Brandon isn’t exactly a Tampa neighborhood. It’s more of its own town at this point but it’s a big area, attracting a lot of people, so we’re including it!

People who live in Brandon love it because city life isn’t for them.  Everything has an artificial feel with strip malls, chain restaurants, and traffic.   With that being said, it is a popular place for downtown workers and military families because the Selmon Expressway makes it a breeze to get into downtown, minus the plethora of tolls. It’s also, a great area for people starting a family as they can stretch their budget and get more space for their dollar.

Residential Makeup: Families, couples starting a family

Cost To Live (Out of 4): $$

Pros: 

• While Brandon has been built up over the years, to the east are tons of state parks, biking trails, and even some natural springs.
• Every store you could ever need is never too far away.
• Very centrally located off several highways to get you going in every direction.

Cons:

• With the constant growth of shops, houses, apartments, etc. Brandon has a lot of traffic.  It can be tough to get around Brandon anytime remotely near rush hour.
• While there is an expressway that gets you downtown in 15 minutes, there isn’t much of a city vibe.  There are A LOT of 6-10 lane streets with strip malls lining each side of the road.
• Butting up next to the rural areas of Florida, you can come across some interesting characters in Brandon.

Things To Do

• Dave & Busters
• Top Golf
• Lots of State Parks

Similar Neighborhoods

• Citrus Park
• New Tampa
• Northdale

Tampa Neighborhood T-shirts!

Check out our selection of neighborhood apparel and take pride in where you call home!

See All Shirts!

Carrollwood

Carrollwood isn’t the most expensive suburb in Tampa, but it’s up there. While others are expensive because of location and house size, Carrollwood is expensive due to being older.  It’s like old money suburbia if that makes sense. A great place for families to live with some great schools in the area, but this neighborhood doesn’t quite lend itself to most young adults starting a family, financially.

Residential Makeup: Families

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• While it is the suburbs, it doesn’t have the stereotypical suburbia feel.
• Non-cookie-cutter houses, cool neighborhood streets, huge oak trees, cool shops, give the neighborhood a slightly more youthful vibe.
• Carrollwood is centrally located between 2 major highways in Tampa and a major road (Dale Mabry), with tons of restaurants and stores nearby.

Cons:

• While Dale Mabry has everything you’ll need, it also comes with a lot of traffic. As does the 2 highways on each side.
• With major roads running through the neighborhood as well, it’s hard to get a sense of when you’re in Carrollwood and when you’re not.
• It is one of the more expensive suburbs of Tampa, just not quite high enough to get to 3 dollar signs, but very close.

Things To Do

• Lots of golf courses
• Big Cat Rescue
• Busch Gardens is nearby

Similar Neighborhoods

• Westchase
• Tampa Palms
• Citrus Park

Citrus Park

While Citrus Park can feel more just like part of your commute, it is a nice place for families and couples starting a family. What it lacks in culture and a strong community center, it makes up for in cheap prices and being a great safe neighborhood.  If you’re looking for the fun part of town to go to on a Friday night, Citrus Park is not your answer. But it’s never too far of an Uber ride back to at the end of the night.

Residential Makeup: Families, couples starting a family

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• One of the more affordable areas for families in Tampa and it’s sandwiched in between 2 very nice areas of town: Carrollwood and Westchase.
• There’s a mall and movie theater in town to make impromptu date nights super easy. Plus, a Red Robin, I mean come on! How often do you find a Red Robin for those unlimited buttery golden brown steak fries?
• The highway running through the area makes it super slick to get anywhere pretty fast.

Cons:

• Most parts of Citrus Park have a pretty heavy suburbia feel to them.
• There’s a mall, a highway, and a few major roads running through which leads to some rough traffic at times.

Things To Do

• Several golf courses
• Take the backroads to go check out Tarpon Springs, a cool Greek town.
• Travel! One of the most convenient neighborhoods to get to and from the airport.

Similar Neighborhoods

• Carrollwood
• Brandon
• New Tampa

Davis Islands

Davis Islands is all around one of the best neighborhoods in Tampa.  It has a good balance of houses, condos, and apartments with a central main street bringing the entire island together.  You can see downtown from anywhere on the island but you’re far enough away to feel cozy in your own neighborhood. Being surrounded by water, you’re never in short supply of amazing views. And of course, you can rep your Davis Island pride with our awesome Davis Island neighborhood t-shirt!

Residential Makeup: Families, young adults

Cost To Live: $$$

Pros: 

• Davis Islands is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Tampa.  Not only is it….an island, but it’s surrounded by Tampa Bay water and has a strong neighborhood center and feel.
• Right next to downtown Tampa, but far enough away to not feel like you’re living in the hustle and bustle of a city center.
• An awesome main street with the perfect amount of shops and restaurants to make you almost never have to leave the island.

Cons:

• Living on an island with one way on and off is always a little bit of a risk.
• Flooding is almost inevitable with any hard rain, not to mention the risk to your property if a hurricane is heading your way.
• Several times a year there are road and bridge closures due to events, parades, and races.

Things To Do

• Davis Island Yacht Club and Dog Park Beach
• Main Street
• Great neighborhood to bike and exercise in

Similar Neighborhoods

• Harbour Island
• Hyde Park
• Ballast Point

Downtown

Downtown was never a dangerous or rundown city, it was just a working town for decades…people came in at 8 AM and by 5:30 it was a ghost town.  Around 2015 everything changed. Residential highrises popped up, the river walk was in full swing, businesses were opening up. People started coming downtown to not only play on the weekends but also to live.  Downtown has undergone a rapid transformation and it’s really cool to see. It is full of great restaurants, things to do, and successful like-minded young adults enjoying a downtown, that while somewhat expensive, is significantly cheaper than other city centers around the country.

Residential Makeup: Young adults

Cost To Live: $$$

Pros: 

• Downtown Tampa is SUPER up and coming which means there are lots of new things, plus, it’s one of the few neighborhoods in the Tampa area with some funkiness and culture.
• Just like any downtown, there are tons of awesome restaurants, things to do, and great green spaces.
• Even though downtown is relatively small, there are still different parts and pockets of downtown that can appeal to different people.

Cons:

• At the moment, there is a bunch of construction going on, and not just a couple buildings, try like half of downtown.  It’s going to be a mess for the next 5 years or so, but after that, it will be a really, really spectacular area.
•  The city is getting turned around but in certain parts, it can still be pretty desolate with restaurants and shops not staying open into the evenings or not opening up on the weekends at all.
• Downtown has become an increasingly popular destination for people to come hang out on the weekends, adding to congestion and traffic.

Things To Do

• Sparkman Wark
• Amalie Arena
• Armature Works

Similar Neighborhoods

• Hyde Park
• SOHO
• Tampa Heights

Tampa Neighborhood T-shirts!

Check out our selection of neighborhood apparel and take pride in where you call home!

See All Shirts!

Harbour Island

While technically Harbour Island is a section of downtown Tampa, I consider it to be its own neighborhood, so I’m going with it! Harbour Island is home to well-off families and young adults with some extra money in the bank account.  It’s somewhat of a status symbol to say you live on Harbour Island, with some of the inconveniences heavily outweighing the pros. With awkward drives to get on the island, small lot sizes, and expensive costs, you must highly value downtown living to justify living on Harbour Island.

Residential Makeup: Families, young adults

Cost To Live: $$$$

Pros: 

• Perfect if you want to be close to the downtown hustle and bustle but want a quieter place to call home.
• While it is expensive, it has a great mix of apartments, condos, townhomes, houses, and mansions to accommodate different budgets.
• Unlike other areas around downtown, Harbour Island is higher up and doesn’t have to worry much about flooding.
• We have a pretty sweet Harbour Island neighborhood shirt to show off your pride.

Cons:

• While there are 2 bridges to get on and off the island, there’s no easy way to get through downtown to the neighborhood.
• Almost every building, townhome, and house are built very close to one another.  You better hope you like your neighbor!
• Being one of the ritzier areas in Tampa, you’d think it’d come with a better view.  To view to the east is of the not-so-scenic Port of Tampa.

Things To Do

• Jackson’s Bistro for the best brunch in town
• Sparkman Warf
• Sail Pavilion Waterfront Bar

Similar Neighborhoods

• Davis Island
• Hyde Park
• South Tampa

Hyde Park

If you’re looking for a neighborhood with some charm, look no further. Problem is, you better have a nice bank account to back it up. It’s perfectly situated as a neighborhood right off downtown and butting up against Tampa Bay.  For the young adults, the neighborhood is surprisingly affordable with several old historic apartments (meaning no central A/C, no dishwasher, no laundry, etc.) to choose from. Even if it’s a tad out of the price range, go for a drive through the neighborhood and take in all the beauty of Hyde Park.  You might even see some locals rocking our Hyde Park neighborhood apparel.

Residential Makeup: Families, young adults

Cost To Live: $$$$

Pros: 

• Hands down Hyde Park has some of the nicest, most gorgeous historic houses and estates in all of Tampa.
• Hyde Park is made up of old money.  The houses are all unique from one another and the streets are shaded with giant oak trees and lined with bumpy, historic brick roads.
• There is a shopping center called Hyde Park village in the center of the neighborhood acting as a nice neighborhood center with dozens of great restaurants and shops

Cons:

• Hyde Park is one of the most expensive parts of Tampa.  If you see a young family living there under 40, they either hit the lottery or inherited the family house.
• While the central shopping center acts as a neighborhood hub, in recent years it has become a spot for all Tampanians to check out, making it very busy all the time.
• It’s one of the areas of Tampa most prone to flooding.  If it rains hard, you better know a couple alternate routes to get home.

Things To Do

• Hyde Park Village
• Cinebistro
• Bayshore Sidewalk

Similar Neighborhoods

• Harbour Island
• Westchase
• Palma Ceia

New Tampa

New Tampa is exactly how it sounds: one of the newest parts of Tampa.  Lots of new home construction has made it a popular area in recent years. The historic charm isn’t for everyone and if that’s you, New Tampa might be just what you’re looking for.  It’s close to the University of South Florida, but you won’t get too many college kids venturing up into New Tampa. A great place to raise a family in a community and be close to several parks and outdoor activities.

Residential Makeup: Families, young adults, elderly

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• Similar to Brandon, one side of New Tampa butts up to a more rural area of town.  You’re close to several awesome state parks and biking trails.
• It’s one of the more affordable places to start and raise a family.  There are great schools in the area and you can stretch the dollar further in new Tampa than other neighborhoods of Tampa.
• Centrally located between 2 main highways, with a 3rd not too far away (I-4) to can get you to Orlando in a breeze.  (Well, as much of a breeze as I-4 can be.)

Cons:

• You’re close to the university.  Not close enough to have to worry about rowdy college kids in your neighborhood, but you’ll see the effects in traffic.
• Most parts have a strong suburbia feel to them. It’s a lot of chain restaurants, strip malls, and large intersections.
• While there are highways cutting through the area, this is one of the furthest neighborhoods from downtown.  If you plan on frequenting the new upcoming downtown, you might want to pick a neighborhood closer in.

Things To Do

• Flatwoods Park
• Tampa Premium Outlet Mall
• Several State Parks

Similar Neighborhoods

• Tampa Palms
• Westchase
• Brandon

NOHO

Is NOHO technically a neighborhood of Tampa? The verdict is still out.  But many locals have started referencing it recently so we’re including it in our list.  It stands for North Howard and it’s the area between Hyde Park and I-275. It’s a unique mix of residential houses and old commercial warehouses.  The neighborhood has a way to go before it’s one of the more desirable areas of Tampa, but it could prove to be a great investment. NOHO is about 10 years behind Seminole Heights and 5 years behind Tampa Heights in terms of revitalization. Show off your NOHO pride with a NOHO neighborhood shirt!

Residential Makeup: Young adults

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• It’s an up and coming area of Tampa. NOHO offers a way for people with smaller budgets to be close to downtown and surrounding areas.
• You’re surrounded on all sides by very nice areas.  You’ve heard the expression you never want to buy the nicest house on the block? Well NOHO is definitely not the nicest area in the downtown block, and it could be a great investment.
• Conveniently located along the highway with its own exit so while you get to be close to downtown, you can avoid driving through it to get to and from your neighborhood.

Cons:

• There are several up and coming neighborhoods in Tampa, but NOHO probably has the farthest to go.
• I wouldn’t say that it’s “sketchy” or unsafe, but it has a lot of work to do in the beauty and curb appeal department.
• There is a solid section of NOHO that is old warehouses. Some are still being used, some are abandoned, but there seems to be no real renovation or repurposing of them that has started yet. Hopefully soon!

Things To Do

• Julianne B Lane Riverfront Park
• Henry Plant Museum
• Riverwalk West

Similar Neighborhoods

• West Tampa
• Tampa Heights
• Ybor City

Northdale

Northdale is very similar to Carrollwood, especially seeing that the two neighborhoods are right next to each other. At times it’s hard to tell if you’re in one or the other.  The only real difference being that Northdale is further north making it closer to the edge of more rural parts of town. To the northwest, you’ll find some rare wide-open space in Tampa with a couple of state parks and outdoor activities.  A great place for families and there are a couple cool spots and breweries opening up, but don’t expect a happening nightlife or cool eclectic culture.

Residential Makeup: Families

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• It’s closer to more rural parts of Tampa, getting you closer to some state parks, workout trails, and other outdoor activities.
• It’s located right in between the Veterans highway and I-275, so while it is one of the farther neighborhoods from downtown, it makes it easy to drive in.
• The neighborhoods inside Northdale tend to have a little character.  There isn’t much new construction which means you won’t find many cookie-cutter homes.

Cons:

• While Northdale is generally a nice neighborhood, being that it is a tad older, there are some areas that are starting to look a tad rundown.
• There’s no real defined neighborhood center. There are several big roads cutting through the neighborhood so at times it just feels like you’re more in a “part of Tampa” as opposed to a defined neighborhood.
• There’s no real culture to Northdale.  It’s a lot of chain restaurants, big shopping plazas, and traffic.

Things To Do

• Upper Tampa Bay Trail
• Rocky Creek Trail Nature Preserve
• Surrounded by great golf courses

Similar Neighborhoods

• Carrollwood
• Rocky Point
• Brandon

Palma Ceia

Palma Ceia is next to parts of town that lend themselves to young adults, but the sheer cost of renting and buying in Palma Ceia will keep most young adults out.  Similar to Hyde Park, Palma Ceia is where the old money is in Tampa. It’s a gorgeous neighborhood and while most of us would love to live in it one day, that time might be a couple years (or promotions) away! But that doesn’t mean you can’t grab some Palma Ceia apparel right now.

Residential Makeup: Families

Cost To Live: $$$$

Pros: 

• It’s a gorgeous neighborhood with great character.  Huge oak trees, brick streets, and houses that will make your draw drop.  If you can’t afford to live here, at least take a drive through.
• It’s centrally located between I-275, Gandy, and Bayshore Blvd making it a breeze to get anywhere pretty fast.
• There’s a great stretch of restaurants off MacDill Boulevard, plus, Bayshore sidewalk is a few blocks away making for a great place to walk, bike, and get outside.

Cons:

• There seems to be a level of exclusivity to Palma Ceia.  WIth the prices how they are, you better have a healthy bank account or a family house gifted to you.
• While the neighborhood streets are charming, there’s no real defined neighborhood center or main street.
• Dale Mabry Hwy basically cuts right through the middle of the neighborhood, making it tough to bike or walk from one side to another.

Things To Do

• Bayshore Sidewalk
• Hyde Park Village
• Raymond James Stadium

Similar Neighborhoods

• Hyde Park
• Harbour Island
• Ballast Point

Seminole Heights

Simply put, Seminole Heights is the original hipster part of Tampa.  Every city has one, and now you can associate exactly what this part of town is like.  It’s a perfect neighborhood for a young adult or even a family who likes living close to shops and restaurants without having to deal with the glamour, prices, and traffic that comes with downtown.  As the neighborhood gets fixed up, it’s becoming a cool, eclectic, and funky neighborhood that more and more people are starting to call home.

Residential Makeup: Young adults, families

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• It’s been an up and coming part of town for a long time now, which means there are already a bunch of awesome homes, restaurants, things to do, etc.  You won’t have to wait for it to become cool.
• Enough businesses have started to come in along Florida Ave. and Nebraska Ave. that it’s starting to have a main street feel in parts.
• You have the Hillsborough River running around the perimeter of the neighborhood, giving the area a boating community feel in certain parts.
• Residents have extra pride of their community because of their Seminole Heights neighborhood shirts.

Cons:

• Gentrification has been going on for close to 10 years now, but there are still some areas of the neighborhood that are a little sketchy.
• Compared to other up and coming areas of Tampa, prices are higher here. House flippers have been busy for years now coming in and hiking up prices.
• There are other areas of Tampa that are on the rise as well, so some of the attention has been taken away from Seminole Heights in recent years, which might be exactly what hipsters want?

Things To Do

• Hillsborough River
• Brewery hopping
• Countless funky restaurants and bars

Similar Neighborhoods

• Tampa Heights
• West Tampa
• Ybor City

SOHO

SOHO, which stands for South Howard, is the happenin’ area of town.  Howard Ave is lined with a strip of bars and restaurants that can tempt your casual night into a full-blown rage fest. While it’s full of watering holes, it’s not necessarily the college area of Tampa, it’s more of the post-grad area of town attracting a lot of 21-25 year-olds, and sometimes they never leave.  But if you want to be where all the fun is, while living in a cool, charismatic neighborhood, then SOHO is your place. If SOHO is your home, or you just love the area, check out our SOHO neighborhood shirts!

Residential Makeup: Young adults

Cost To Live: $$$

Pros: 

• Bars, restaurants, pubs, speakeasies, nightclubs.  If you like going out, having drinks with friends, staying out late, then this is your part of town.
• Not only are there tons of places to pack on calories, but you’re also right next to Bayshore Sidewalk to burn them off the next day.
• The neighborhood and houses are a little ritzy, but there are a lot of old, historic apartments that young adults can rent for relatively cheap.

Cons:

• This part of town attracts a lot of people from all over Tampa on the weekends, which means a lot of traffic and busy establishments.
• Tampa was voted one of the most vain cities in the US a couple years ago, and I have a feeling this is the area of town that contributed to this prestigious award.
• People have caught on that this is the hot part of town over the years.  Rent seems to increase a significant amount almost every year for apartment dwellers.

Things To Do

• Great nightlife in Tampa
• Bayshore sidewalk
• Countless great restaurants and bars

Similar Neighborhoods

• Downtown
• Hyde Park
• Ybor City

South Tampa

South Tampa is a little bit of an outlier.  It’s more of a region/part of Tampa as opposed to a neighborhood.  In fact, a couple neighborhoods on this list are in South Tampa, but many people refer to it as their home so we’re going to talk about it! It’s a great area for people of all stages of life with tons of things to do, places to shop, restaurants, and bars. The different neighborhoods of South Tampa vary a lot between price, location, perks, and things to do, so do your research and find out what area is for you! And don’t forget your South Tampa neighborhood shirt to wear around town.

Residential Makeup: Families, young adults, elderly

Cost To Live: $$$

Pros: 

• There are many different neighborhoods inside South Tampa, so there’s guaranteed to be a place for everyone.
• In general, South Tampa is known as one of the nicer parts of Tampa. It’s somewhat of a status symbol to say you live in South Tampa.
• If you work in St. Pete or love to get over to the beaches, this neighborhood is as close as you can get to St. Pete while still living in Tampa.

Cons:

• While it’s made up of several smaller neighborhoods, it’s hard to differentiate when you’re in one or another.  It’s kinda just one big grid system with sporadic traffic thrown in.
• There are parts of South Tampa that are really far south.  If you’re anywhere close to Macdill Airforce base, it will take you a while to get anywhere.
• Most of South Tampa is nice, but there are still pockets of areas that need a lot of work, particularly in the southwest area near the port.

Things To Do

• Picnic Island Park
• Ballast Point Park
• A short drive across Gandy Bridge to St. Petersburg

Similar Neighborhoods

• Ballast Point
• Palma Ceia
• Westshore

Tampa Heights

Tampa Heights is perfect for the young adult a few years out of college that is looking for a little step back from downtown.  There’s still a lot to do, eat, and drink in Tampa Heights, but it’s more laid back while still being close enough to downtown to enjoy it on the weekends.  There’s a lot of new places coming into the area and some cool pretty cool Tampa Heights neighborhood t-shirts. If you’re thinking about buying, Tampa Heights might just be the up and coming area to potentially double your investment as the neighborhood grows!

Residential Makeup: Young adults

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• This is probably the hottest up and coming area in Tampa right now. Houses are being fixed up, abandoned stores are being repurposed, and a new culture is being injected into the neighborhood.
• This is the perfect area if you want to be closer to downtown, while still living in more of a neighborhood feel.  Plus, if you buy, it’s an investment that could pay off tenfold.
• The south end of Tampa Heights connects to the Tampa Riverwalk, making for a great way to walk, bike, or scooter into downtown.

Cons:

• The neighborhood is getting turned around fast, but there are still several areas with rundown houses, dimly lit streets, and old stores wasting away.
• While the neighborhood is a few years behind other neighborhood’s revitalization efforts, the real estate boom has made this area just as expensive as some other areas that are already fixed up.
• Tampa Heights is sandwiched between areas to the East and West that aren’t the nicest areas of town, and don’t seem to have much revitalization going on.

Things To Do

• Armature Works
• Hillsborough River
• Great brewery hopping

Similar Neighborhoods

• Ybor City
• Seminole Heights
• West Tampa

Tampa Palms

Technically a neighborhood of New Tampa (another neighborhood on this list), Tampa Palms has grown quickly the last few years becoming somewhat of its own neighborhood.  Anchored with Bruce B Downs running down the middle of it, you’ll find quaint neighborhoods off each side of the road. The nearby schools and golf courses make this a popular neighborhood for both mothers, fathers, and kids. Let everyone know the area you call home with our Tampa Palms neighborhood apparel.

Residential Makeup: Families, college kids

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• As you can see on the map, there are several parks and green spaces all around the area.  You’re never too far away from a great outdoor adventure.
• There is a great mix of houses, apartments, and condos making it affordable for almost anyone.
• If you can put up with a little traffic, it’s actually a convenient neighborhood to commute from in order to take advantage of affordable prices.

Cons:

• Tampa Palms is about as close to the university, USF, as you can get.  You might have a few college kids living in your apartment complex, but the real rowdy ones don’t live this far away from campus.
• A major road, Bruce B Downs, is the road you’ll be taking to get anywhere. Unfortunately, traffic is synonymous with Bruce B Downs.
• Like a lot of suburbs in Tampa, you’re not going to find much character.  It’s a lot of cookie-cutter houses and strip malls.

Things To Do

• Lettuce Lake Park
• Flatwoods Park
• Busch Gardens

Similar Neighborhoods

• New Tampa
• Westchase
• Carrollwood

Temple Terrace

Temple Terrace is also right next to the local university, USF.  Besides college kids here and there, you won’t find many other young adults.  If anyone is moving to Tampa right after college, they probably aren’t moving to this neighborhood.  But it is a great area for families and couples starting a family, with the low prices to take advantage of.  There are several parts of Temple Terrace that are set back off the main roads giving it a genuine neighborhood feel as opposed to the busy university side of the neighborhood.

Residential Makeup: Families, college kids

Cost To Live: $

Pros: 

• Temple Terrace is one of the more affordable areas to live in Tampa and it’s generally a pretty quaint neighborhood.
• They have been investing money into “downtown Temple Terrace” the last few years with an image of a main street starting to form.
• There area handful of chain restaurants, but there’s a growing amount of cool, hole-in-the-wall places bringing some funkiness to the area!

Cons:

• Technically the University of South Florida is not in Temple Terrace, but it is right next door. Certain parts of Temple Terrace will have lots of college kids in apartment complexes and neighborhoods.
• While you do have Tampa Palms to the north, the other 3 sides of the neighborhood are surrounded by neighborhoods that could use some work, to say the least.
• The nearby university will bring in a lot of unwanted traffic making both the morning and evening rush hours a mess.

Things To Do

• Hillsborough River
• Busch Gardens
• Lettuce Lake Park

Similar Neighborhoods

• Carrollwood
• Northdale
• Town ‘N’ Country

West Tampa

West Tampa is one of Tampa’s older neighborhoods, and unfortunately, it shows in several parts.  But with “mid-town” Tampa slated to develop near West Tampa in a few years, it could be the perfect area to invest. Currently, prices are fairly low, attracting both families, first time home buyers, and stylish young adults because of our West Tampa neighborhood shirts.  If you want a neighborhood that is close to all the fun, but can be your quiet sanctuary on the weekdays, West Tampa might just be for you!

Residential Makeup: Families, young adults

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• There are lots of things to do nearby with 2 malls to the west and downtown and the Hillsborough River to the east.
• While technically you’re not in South Tampa and the nicer parts of town, you’re right next to them while getting to take advantage of lower prices.
• There are plans in the future to develop a “mid-town” on the edge of West Tampa which could bring in several new restaurants, shops, and bars.

Cons:

• There’s a fine line between historic and run down and West Tampa falls exactly on that line.  Different parts of the neighborhood will be on different sides of that line.
• The neighborhood is a big grid system that’s entangled in some of the biggest roads in Tampa, leading to a lot of traffic.
• Despite parts of the neighborhood needing some work, there isn’t a whole lot of revitalization going on minus the occasional flipped house.

Things To Do

• International Mall
• Raymond James Stadium
• Al Lopez Park

Similar Neighborhoods

• Tampa Heights
• Seminole Heights
• Ybor City

Westchase

Westchase is one of the premier neighborhoods in Tampa. It’s for the family with a comfortable bank account.  It’s a good drive away from downtown and some other fun parts of Tampa so this is for the family who is content living, having fun, and relaxing in their awesome community set back from other areas.  It’s not all white picket fences and HOA fees, there’s a good amount of restaurants coming into Westchase as the neighborhood is really starting to make a name for itself.

Residential Makeup: Families

Cost To Live: $$$

Pros: 

• Westchase is the most polished and finely groomed suburb in Tampa.  Manicured medians, plush landscaping, & immaculate parks, Westchase has their act together.
• It’s right next to a rural part of town which means you don’t have to drive far to take advantage of countless parks, golf courses, and gun ranges.
• Even though it’s very suburban, they do have a little main street forming with some cool restaurants and pubs.

Cons:

• Driving through Westchase, it’s the kind of neighborhood that screams expensive HOA fees.
• It’s in an awkward corner of Tampa, making it a pain to get to anywhere else in Tampa.
• Neighborhoods that are this well-manicured and put together can often have a feeling of artificialness and that definitely applies to Westchase.

Things To Do

• Tampa Bay Downs
• Several great golf courses
• Upper Tampa Bay Park

Similar Neighborhoods

• Carrollwood
• New Tampa
• South Tampa

Ybor City

Ybor City has been making a name for itself in recent years.  While it’s always been a popular part of town after 10 PM, it’s now becoming a neighborhood that people want to live in too.  With 7th Avenue nearby, you’ll never have a boring Friday night. Ybor City differs from other nightlife hubs (SOHO and downtown) because it feels a little more authentic and real.  It’s an amazing cross of grunge, young adults, old adults, LGBTQ, and anything else you can think of. And it can be yours not only on weekday nights but all days of the week if you choose to call Ybor Home!

Residential Makeup: Young adults

Cost To Live: $$

Pros: 

• Ybor City is another happening area of town.  7th Ave is the main drag and it’s lined with dozens of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.
• In the past, Ybor City has been known as a dicey part of town but over the last few years, it’s been cleaned up a lot making it a desirable place to live once again.
• It’s almost like it’s 2 different neighborhoods: by day it’s a quaint, historic main street attracting both locals and tourists.  By night it transforms into one of Tampa’s nightlife hubs.
• You can effortlessly take pride in your neighborhood with our Ybor City neighborhood shirts.

Cons:

• Besides the normal nightlife, there are several events, parades, and festivals that go on throughout the year often times shutting down roads and making traffic a mess.
• While Ybor City is getting safer and nicer by the day, there are still some parts that have some issues with crime.
• There’s not a whole lot to do in Ybor City besides eating and drinking.  If you want to get outside for a run, bike ride, etc. you’ll have to venture over to downtown.

Things To Do

• Tons of local breweries, pubs, and restaurants
• Take the trolley into downtown, for free!
• Play hide and seek in Ikea and indulge in Sweetish Meatballs afterward.

Similar Neighborhoods

• Seminole Heights
• Tampa Heights
• Downtown

Tampa Neighborhood T-shirts!

Check out our selection of neighborhood apparel and take pride in where you call home!

See All Shirts!

 

Well, that’s it folks! That’s our ultimate list of the best neighborhoods in Tampa.

As you can see there are all sorts of neighborhoods, accommodating to all sorts of people, in all different stages of their life.  We hope you found our ultimate guide useful and remember it is completely subjective. Things I might count as a pro might be a con to you and that’s totally alright.

We love interaction! Let us know in the comments which Tampa neighborhoods are your favorite and why! Also, If you have any questions, post them and we’ll get back to you.