One Of Florida’s Best Family-Friendly Cities Is In The Tampa Bay Area
Being a born and raised Floridian, I really took it for granted how fun it was growing up so close to the beach and having to many things to do. But while beach access is great for visiting families, those who are looking to call Florida “home” want to know more about quality of life in the Sunshine State. Curious to know where are the best family-friendly cities in Florida? A recent study was done and turns out one of the best family-friendly neighborhoods is right in the Tampa Bay area.
Squarefoothomes.com conducted a study to find the best family-friendly cities in Florida for an ultimate Sunshine State living guide. They evaluated various factors and collected data from multiple reputable sources like the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. News & World Report, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and more. Factors were categorized into five main categories: Livability and affordability, Education and healthcare, Recreation and leisure, Family convenience, and Economic stability and employment. Here’s what they found.
Before we get into the best family-friendly cities in Florida, let’s talk about the ones to avoid. According to squarefoothomes.com, “Spring Hill, Palm Coast, Port Charlotte, Lehigh Acres, and Poinciana are the least family-friendly cities in Florida.”
Ranking The Best Family-Friendly Cities In Florida
To our surprise, the top contender for best family-friendly cities is North Miami Beach. When we think of Miami, we automatically think of spring break, partying, clubs, and crime. But this study says NMB leads the pack in education, healthcare, and economic stability. However, it is one of the least affordable cities in Florida.
Now let’s talk about the Tampa Bay area. A few cities made the top 10 list with the highest ranking coming in at #5. This study says that Palm Harbor is one of the most family-friendly cities in Florida, and the best in the Tampa Bay area. And as speaking as someone who grew up in Palm Harbor, I can confirm it was a great area to grow up in.
As a kid, I spent my childhood rollerblading around Downtown Palm Harbor and on the Pinellas Trail. I would watch sunsets at Ozona beach and played volleyball at Sunderman Park or softball a Putnam Park. I grew up in a safe neighborhood right by Palm Harbor University High School. We were pretty central to other things to do like going to Clearwater Beach, driving over to Tampa for Lightning and Buccaneers games, or heading to St. Pete. Palm Harbor ranked 9th in affordability, 13th in economic stability and employment, and 26th in education.
Like I mentioned, other Tampa Bay cities cracked the top 10 as well. Wesley Chapel ranked right below Palm Harbor, and Pinellas Park was ranked 7th. Squarefoothomes.com says “Wesley Chapel District Park is a hub for family activities with its sports fields, playgrounds, and trails. The town also hosts numerous events and festivals that bring the community together.”
But the #1 most affordable family-friendly city in the Tampa Bay area is Riverview. Families have migrated to the Tampa city because of it’s affordability and central location to easy access to entertainment, restaurants, parks, and trails.
If you’re interested in checking out the full rankings, click here. Squarefoothomes.com also dives into the best cities for education and healthcare, most fun and relaxing spots, most convenient cities, and areas with the best job markets.
Realistic Advice For Moving To Tampa
Pack Some Patience
This is slightly a joke but also kind of serious because it really does take an hour to get anywhere in Tampa. If you plan on moving to Tampa be sure to bring some patience. Trust us, you’ll need it for driving on 275 or across the Howard Frankland during rush-hour (or any time of day really).
Get Your Insurance FAST
One of the biggest cons of moving to Florida/Tampa is the insurance rates. You have 10 days to title and register your car, boats, mobile home, etc. You’ll have 30 days to obtain a Florida driver license. If you don’t, you could see a hefty $500 fine. It’s also worth noting the cost of car insurance is 30% higher than the national average.
Also since Florida is constantly threatened by major hurricanes, expect to pay A LOT for home/flood insurance.
Learn Our Driving Habits
It’s something that even locals are guilty of doing. If you want to fit right in with the rest of Tampa, be sure to never use your blinker and let other drivers know your next move. Also, instead of making a u-turn, it’s Florida policy to cut over 3 lanes of traffic to correct your mistake. (For legal reasons, this is a joke).
If you go anything under the speed limit in the left lane, be prepared to be met with a lot of middle fingers from Tampa locals.
Don't Brag About Your Hometown
Seriously, you made the move. Now you’re a Floridian. We don’t care “how you did it in New York”. If you liked it so much, you could’ve stayed. Related note: Once you make the transfer to Tampa, leave behind your old team sports gear. You’re a Bucs/Rays/Lightning fan now.
Sunscreen, Bug Spray, and Allergy Medication Are Your New Best Friends
One thing you may not have realized in Florida is the bugs are INTENSE. Mosquitoes, fire ants, and palmetto bugs are extremely common. You also might want to get used to wearing sunscreen daily and have some allergy medication on hand. We have plants that bloom year-round which causes a lot of issues for people with bad allergies. Plus the ocean breeze can move pollen for miles.
Learn To Wait Out The Rain
If you’ve visited on vacation you probably experienced this. It’s a beautiful sunny day until around 4pm when we get our daily showers. If you’re at an amusement park like Busch Gardens, don’t worry about gathering your things and leaving (unless otherwise stated by the park). Majority of the time, you can wait out the storm in 30-60 minutes.
Do A Trial Run
Before making the move to Tampa, maybe consider doing a trial run during our “worst” months. It’s the hottest in July/August, hurricanes really pick up in September, traffic is TERRIBLE during spring break. If you plan a 2-3 week visit during any of these months, you’ll get a real taste of what it’s like living in Tampa.
