Tampa’s neighborhoods range from 1920s bungalow streets to high-rise apartments on the water. Where you land depends on budget, commute and how much flood risk you can live with.
Home values and rents below come from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey by ZIP code or census tract, so they trail today’s market. Use them to compare areas, not to price a specific home.
Tampa neighborhoods at a glance
| Neighborhood | ZIP or tract | Median home value | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyde Park | 33606 | $845,600 | $2,100 |
| Seminole Heights | 33603 / 33604 | $391,000 / $311,900 | $1,518 / $1,412 |
| Davis Islands | Tract 54.01 | $1,032,600 | $1,714 |
| Channel District | Tract 53.01 | $741,700 | $2,552 |
| Ybor City | 33605 | $264,400 | $1,135 |
| Tampa Heights | 33603 | $391,000 | $1,518 |
| Palma Ceia | 33629 | $851,400 | $1,891 |
| Westchase | 33626 | $577,100 | $2,204 |
| New Tampa | 33647 | $472,500 | $1,904 |
| Carrollwood | 33618 | $415,800 | $1,574 |
| Harbour Island | Tract 51.02 | $687,800 | $2,757 |
| Brandon (suburb) | 33511 | $362,700 | $1,801 |
| City of Tampa | Citywide | $420,400 | $1,701 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates. ZIP codes and tracts do not match neighborhood lines exactly, and tract figures carry wide margins of error.
12 Tampa neighborhoods worth a look
Hyde Park
Tampa's oldest existing neighborhood per the City of Tampa. Shaded streets of restored 1920s and 1930s homes, Old Hyde Park Village for shopping and dining, and Bayshore Boulevard's 4.5-mile waterfront sidewalk and balustrade (rebuilt with WPA funds in 1934 to 1939). Hyde Park Historic District: National Register 1985, local district 1988, period of significance 1886 to 1933.
- Where
- Southwest of downtown across the Hillsborough River, next to Bayshore Boulevard. Swann Avenue, Howard Avenue and Platt Street are the main local streets.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied): $845,600 (ZIP 33606); median gross rent $2,100. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Buyers with a large budget who want an older home, shade trees and a walk to shops and Bayshore. Also young professionals who rent near the University of Tampa (ZIP 33606 has a median age of 28.1 and 56% renter households).
- Watch out for
- Among the highest prices in the city. ZIP 33606 includes Davis Islands and the University of Tampa, so the ZIP median mixes several markets. Exterior changes in the local historic district go through city historic review. County storm-surge evacuation Zone C at a sampled Hyde Park point (FEMA flood zone X there, but zones vary by lot).
Sources: censusreporter.org, tampa.gov, tclf.org, tampa.gov
Seminole Heights
Craftsman bungalows from the early 1900s, platted from 1911 by developer T. Roy Young and reached by trolley. Seminole Heights Historic District: National Register 1993, local district 1995. A restaurant and brewpub scene along Florida Avenue, plus Rogers Park Golf Course and Hillsborough High School. The Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association says it is the city's largest, with 500+ members.
- Where
- About 3 miles north of downtown, along Florida Avenue and I-275, with the Hillsborough River on the west side of Old Seminole Heights. Includes Old, South and Southeast Seminole Heights.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied): $311,900 (ZIP 33604) and $391,000 (ZIP 33603); median gross rent $1,412 (33604) and $1,518 (33603) (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- First-time buyers and young professionals who want an older house with character closer to downtown than the suburbs. Renters looking for lower rents than South Tampa.
- Watch out for
- Many homes are about a century old, so expect repair and upgrade costs. Historic district rules apply to exterior work. I-275 cuts through the area. Prices vary block by block, so the ZIP medians cover a wide range.
Sources: censusreporter.org, en.wikipedia.org, oldseminoleheights.org, tampa.gov
Davis Islands
Built in the 1920s by Tampa native D.P. Davis from two small natural islands (Little and Big Grassy Key) enlarged with dredged fill. Home to Tampa General Hospital, Peter O. Knight Airport, Davis Islands Yacht Club, Marjorie Park and the Municipal Yacht Basin, and the Roy Jenkins Aquatic Center. National Register listing (1989) for its Mediterranean Revival buildings.
- Where
- Man-made islands in Hillsborough Bay at the mouth of the Hillsborough River, just south of downtown, reached by bridge from the downtown and Hyde Park side. Davis Boulevard is the main road.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied), census tract: $1,032,600 (MOE +/- $220,613); median gross rent $1,714. Shares ZIP 33606 with Hyde Park (ZIP median $845,600). (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Buyers who want water views, boating and a short commute downtown, and medical staff who work at Tampa General.
- Watch out for
- FEMA flood zone AE (coastal floodplain, base flood elevation 11 ft) at a sampled central point, and Hillsborough County storm-surge evacuation Zone A, the first zone ordered out. Expect flood insurance costs and elevation rules for rebuilds. Highest median value on this list. Hospital and airport traffic share the bridge access.
Sources: censusreporter.org, tampa.gov, tampa.gov, hazards.fema.gov
Channel District / Water Street
High-rise apartments and condos, the Florida Aquarium, Benchmark International Arena (Tampa Bay Lightning), Sparkman Wharf (open since 2018), the Tampa Bay History Center and cruise terminals. Water Street Tampa is a 56-acre mixed-use development by Strategic Property Partners.
- Where
- Directly east of central downtown, between the Ybor Channel (east) and the Garrison Channel (south). Water Street Tampa sits on the downtown side next to the arena; the TECO Line Streetcar runs through the district to Ybor City.
- Housing
- Median gross rent, census tract: $2,552 (Tract 53.01, Channel District; median home value $741,700, MOE +/- $116,065). Water Street area (Tract 51.01): median rent $2,279. ZIP 33602 overall: median rent $2,270, median value $653,100. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Renters and young professionals who want to walk to work, games, concerts and restaurants without a yard to maintain. ZIP 33602 is 73% renter households with a median age of 33.8.
- Watch out for
- FEMA flood zone AE (base flood elevation 12 ft) at a sampled point and evacuation Zone A. Event nights and cruise days add traffic and parking pressure. Rents are among the highest in the city, and few households have children (11% in ZIP 33602).
Sources: censusreporter.org, en.wikipedia.org, stpetecatalyst.com, censusreporter.org
Ybor City
Founded around Vicente Martinez Ybor's cigar factories, with the industry running from 1886 into the 1930s and drawing Cuban, Spanish, Italian and other immigrant workers. Ybor City Historic District: National Register 1974, local district 1975, National Historic Landmark 1990. Ybor City Museum State Park and the Columbia Restaurant (opened 1905, billed as Florida's oldest restaurant) on 7th Avenue.
- Where
- Just northeast of downtown, east of I-275 and north of the Selmon Expressway. East 7th Avenue is the main commercial street; the TECO Line Streetcar links it to the Channel District and downtown.
- Housing
- Median gross rent: $1,135 (ZIP 33605); median home value $264,400. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Renters on a budget, people who like nightlife and history, and anyone who wants a streetcar ride to downtown.
- Watch out for
- 7th Avenue nightlife brings late-night noise and weekend crowds. ZIP 33605 also covers East Tampa and Palmetto Beach, so the ZIP medians are not Ybor-only. Historic district rules govern exterior changes. Housing stock is mostly rentals and condos, with few single-family homes in the center.
Sources: censusreporter.org, floridastateparks.org, tampa.gov, tampabaychamber.com
Tampa Heights
Developed in the 1880s as Tampa's first suburb. Armature Works, a 1910 streetcar barn now a food hall and event space, Water Works Park with its splash pad, dog park and Pirate Water Taxi dock, and the north end of the Tampa Riverwalk. Tampa Heights Historic District: National Register 1995, local district 2000.
- Where
- Directly north of downtown, from roughly Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard south to I-275, between North Boulevard and the Hillsborough River on the west and I-275 on the east (City of Tampa).
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied): $391,000 (ZIP 33603); median gross rent $1,518. Riverfront Tract 42 (near Armature Works): median value $618,800 (MOE +/- $111,810), median rent $2,463. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Young professionals who want a short walk or bike ride on the Riverwalk to downtown, and buyers willing to trade a smaller lot for location.
- Watch out for
- Prices split sharply between new riverfront buildings and older blocks inland. Active construction and city water and sewer projects along Florida Avenue. I-275 forms a hard edge on the east and south.
Sources: censusreporter.org, tampa.gov, en.wikipedia.org, tampa.gov
Palma Ceia (South Tampa)
Red brick streets and mature oaks, a residential area since the early 1920s per the City of Tampa. Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club dates to 1916. Grady Elementary sits in Palma Ceia West.
- Where
- South Tampa, west of Hyde Park and Bayshore, around MacDill Avenue and Bay to Bay Boulevard; Palma Ceia West runs to Dale Mabry Highway.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied): $851,400 (ZIP 33629); median gross rent $1,891 (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Families with a high budget who want a settled neighborhood close to downtown. ZIP 33629 is 80% owner-occupied and 35% of households have children, well above the city's 25%.
- Watch out for
- Highest ZIP-level median home value in this guide. Tear-downs and new builds are common, so older homes sell on lot value. Storm-surge evacuation Zone C at a sampled point (FEMA zone X there). Dale Mabry and MacDill carry heavy traffic at peak hours.
Sources: censusreporter.org, tampa.gov, tampa.gov, golfclubatlas.com
Westchase
A 10-square-mile master-planned community started in the early 1990s with nearly 30 neighborhoods (The Vineyards, The Greens, West Park Village and others), community pools, tennis courts, parks and access to the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. West Park Village is the neotraditional retail center.
- Where
- Northwest Hillsborough County, outside city limits, along the Veterans Expressway with Linebaugh Avenue and Sheldon Road as the main roads. Tampa International Airport sits a few miles southeast.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied): $577,100 (ZIP 33626); median gross rent $2,204 (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Families who want a planned suburb with pools, parks and newer homes, plus easy airport access.
- Watch out for
- Car-dependent, with a long commute downtown. Homeowner association rules and fees apply. Prices sit well above the city median of $420,400.
Sources: censusreporter.org, pods.com, censusreporter.org
New Tampa
Annexed by the city in 1988 and built out in the 1990s, when population grew from about 7,100 to 26,600. Gated and planned communities such as Tampa Palms, Hunter's Green and Cross Creek, Flatwoods Conservation Park, the New Tampa Regional Library and proximity to the University of South Florida.
- Where
- Far north Tampa between Lutz (west), Wesley Chapel (north), Morris Bridge Road (east) and USF (south). Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, I-75 and I-275 are the main roads.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied): $472,500 (ZIP 33647); median gross rent $1,904 (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Families who want newer homes inside city limits, and USF or Moffitt Cancer Center commuters. ZIP 33647 has the highest share of households with children in this guide (37%).
- Watch out for
- The longest commute to downtown of the city neighborhoods here. Bruce B. Downs Boulevard is the main artery and backs up at peak hours. Few walkable town centers.
Sources: censusreporter.org, en.wikipedia.org, tampa.gov
Carrollwood
Founded in 1959 by developer Matt Jetton beside spring-fed Lake Carroll and named U.S. Subdivision of the Year in 1961. Carrollwood Village followed around 1970. A special taxing district (since 1969) funds parks, a recreation center and a private lake beach.
- Where
- Unincorporated Hillsborough County north of the city, west of Dale Mabry Highway. Original Carrollwood sits on Lake Carroll; Carrollwood Village is to the northwest.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied): $415,800 (ZIP 33618); median gross rent $1,574. Carrollwood Village side (ZIP 33624): $386,100, rent $1,782. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Retirees and families who want an established suburb with mature trees and lakes at prices near the city median. ZIP 33618 has the oldest median age in this guide (42.3).
- Watch out for
- County services rather than City of Tampa. Dale Mabry Highway traffic. Homes from the 1960s and 1970s may need updates.
Sources: censusreporter.org, hcfl.gov, censusreporter.org
Harbour Island
Created in 1906 from dredge spoil when the Army Corps of Engineers cut the Port of Tampa shipping channel (first called Seddon Island). A phosphate shipping hub from 1908 to the late 1960s. Beneficial Corporation announced the mixed-use redevelopment in 1981, and a People Mover linked it to downtown from 1985 to 1999. Today it is condos, townhomes, marinas and restaurants.
- Where
- An island just south of downtown across the Garrison Channel, reached by bridge from Franklin Street and the Channel District side.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied), census tract: $687,800 (MOE +/- $74,141); median gross rent $2,757 (highest in this guide). 55% renter households. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Professionals and empty nesters who want a quiet, mostly residential island a few minutes' walk from downtown, with condo living and marina access.
- Watch out for
- FEMA flood zone AE (base flood elevation 12 ft) at a sampled point and evacuation Zone A. Condo association fees and insurance. Limited shopping on the island and a Walk Score of 49 per Walk Score.
Sources: censusreporter.org, tampamagazines.com, hazards.fema.gov, gisdextweb1.hillsboroughcounty.org
Brandon (suburb)
Settled in 1857 by John Brandon and platted in 1890. Grew into a large bedroom community after I-75 opened in 1986, reaching 114,626 residents in the 2020 census. Westfield Brandon mall and the SR 60 retail corridor.
- Where
- Unincorporated Hillsborough County about 11 miles east of downtown. I-75, State Road 60 (Brandon Boulevard) and the Selmon Expressway connect it to Tampa.
- Housing
- Median home value (owner-occupied): $362,700 (ZIP 33511); median gross rent $1,801 (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Best for
- Families and first-time buyers who want suburban space below city prices. ZIP 33511 has 33% of households with children.
- Watch out for
- Commute to downtown on I-75 and the Selmon Expressway. SR 60 is congested. County services, not city.
Sources: censusreporter.org, en.wikipedia.org
Common questions
What is the most walkable neighborhood in Tampa?
Courier City-Oscawana in South Tampa has the city's top Walk Score at 87, followed by North Hyde Park (79). Among the areas in this guide, the Channel District scores 78, Historic Ybor City 75 and Historic Hyde Park 74. Tampa as a whole scores 50.
Where do families live in Tampa?
Census data points to New Tampa (ZIP 33647), Palma Ceia/South Tampa (33629), Brandon (33511) and Westchase (33626). In each, 32% to 37% of households include children under 18, compared with 25% for the City of Tampa.
Which Tampa neighborhoods are in flood and evacuation Zone A?
Davis Islands, Harbour Island and the Channel District fall in Hillsborough County storm-surge evacuation Zone A, and sampled points in each sit in FEMA flood zone AE (base flood elevation 11 to 12 ft). Evacuation zones and flood zones differ, so check both for any address on the county evacuation lookup and the FEMA flood map.
Which Tampa neighborhoods are historic districts?
The City of Tampa has four local historic districts: Ybor City (1975, also a National Historic Landmark since 1990), Hyde Park (1988), Seminole Heights (1995) and Tampa Heights (2000). Davis Islands has a National Register listing for its Mediterranean Revival buildings (1989).