Report Shows ‘Best Counties to Live in Florida’ : 5 In Tampa Bay

A new report released by Stacker says that 5 of the Best Counties to Live in Florida are right here in the Tampa Bay area. Whether you're looking to find somewhere new to plant your roots or relocating for work, moving is never simple.  You have to worry about new neighborhoods and if they're safe or not, the cost of living in those areas, and more. We're here to break it down for you.

Like most areas in Florida, Tampa Bay is getting hit hard with extreme population growth. Stacker recently released a report showing the 30 Best Counties to Live in Florida and while there are great options throughout the state, the Tampa Bay area counties dominate the list. Just last year, Polk County saw over 26,000 new residents move in.

There's many reasons why thousands of people are choosing the Tampa Bay area. Stacker says, "Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities."

Affordable housing? Are we talking about the same Tampa Bay? We'll let that one marinate. But, with championship-winning professional sports teams, bustling entertainment, and some of the best beaches in the world, it's easy to see Tampa has seen huge growth. And, none of the Tampa Bay counties made it onto the riskiest cities to own a home in Florida.

Out of the 30 best counties to live in Florida, 5 are in Tampa Bay. Coming in at #28 is Pasco County. Pasco County, Florida has a population of 569,211, a median household income of $63,187, and a median rent payment of $1,282.

Up next, Manatee County. Manatee County slides into #22 place with a population of 405, 069. The median rent jumps up to $1,418 and on average, residents make $71,385 per household. Holmes Beach, Whitfield, and West Bradenton are the top 3 cities to live in Manatee County.

Now, we’re cracking the top 10. Pinellas County claims the title for #10 with a population of 959,918. The average household rakes in $66,406 and pays, on average, $1,389 for rent. Crescent Lake, Euclid Heights, and North Shore were named the top 3 places within Pinellas County.

Sarasota County comes in a bit on the south side of the Tampa Bay region but ranks #6 overall. On average, renters pay $1,590 with an average household income of $77,213. Vamo, Siesta Key, and South Sarasota were named the top 3 places in Sarasota County.

Tampa’s very own, Hillsborough County, claims the #5 slot with a population of 1,468,560. On average, renters pay $1,413 and make $70,612. Uptown, Hyde Park and Harbour Island claim the top 3 places in Hillsborough County.

To read the full report, click here.

Looking to move out of Florida? If the answer is yes, some states will pay you to move there. I love it here in St. Petersburg, so I will not be moving anytime soon. I often hear people complaining about the cost of living and saying that Florida has become overcrowded. If you are one of those people and want to get paid to move, you have come to the right article.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average cost of living per year in the Sunshine State is $50, 689 per person. That comes out to about $4,224 per person each year. Do you agree with this assessment? Is it more or less for you each month/year? Feel free to email me Babs@wild941.com.

I'm a single woman with no kids, but my rent has increased. My car is paid off and I really need a new one, but have you seen the price of cars lately? People are paying anywhere from $600 a month for car notes for cars that are not even luxury. I think I will hold off until the prices go down. Everything around us has seemed to go up except our paychecks right? lol

If you were to move out of Florida, what state would you move to? I always said I would either move back to Michigan or move to Georgia with my mom. I have no intention of doing so, but If it came down to it those are the states I would move to. Sadly, those are not the states that will pay you to come there.

There Are however 6 states that will pay you to move there. If money is a motive for you, check out the list below. Will be sad to see you leave Florida, but hey, you have to do what you have to do.

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If you move to Topeka Kansas, you receive $15k! If you move there this fund can work for both remote and on-site jobs in Shawnee County.

West Virginia has a program called Ascend West Virginia, and they will provide you with $12K in payments, access to free outdoor recreation and free coworking space.

Alaska has a incentive program called Permanent Fund Dividend. Citizens can qualify for up to $16K for just living in the state. To receive the grant you just have to remain in the state for an entire calendar year! 

You can receive up to $10K if you move to Alabama and work from the Shoals. This is called the remote shoals program and you reap the benefits in Northwest Alabama.

If you move to Tulsa, Oklahoma you are eligible for $10K in grants. This is offered to remote workers or entrepreneurs. The program is called the Tulsa Remote Plan. 

If you move to the Rochester region, you could receive up to $19k in grants if you are a remote worker. They also have homebuyers incentives and more. The program is called Greater Roc Remote.