Does Odessa = Great Family Town? (Tampa, Wesley Chapel: homes, high school, crime)

[FL Bound]

Our family is looking to relocate to the Odessa (N. Tampa) area and we could really use some input from those of you who live in/near and know this area very well. Can you reply on the following categories for Odessa: 1. Quality of elementary and middle schools, 2. Safety / Crime, 3. Parks / Lakes, 4. Small town - close community feel, 5. Have a nice YMCA, Target, Publix, shopping, etc?, 6. Demographics - young families w/children?, 7. Distance to airport?

Thank you very much for your input, comments, and suggestions!

[Margel]

Hi. I can help you. My family and I moved to Odessa last July. I have found Odessa to be a very family-oriented, clean, and safe place to live. My youngest attends Longleaf Elementary School and we have been very satisfied with her education. She has made many friends and is even in the school play this year (she normally is very shy!) My middle daughter will be attending either JW Mitchell or Sunlake High School in the fall. Sunlake, in particular, is brand new, so it will be interesting to see what that will be like. Shopping is very close on either west or east 54. I live very close to the Suncoast so I hop on that to go to the beach or airport. The airport is a half hour away. The area is more rural which I like because it is not as congested as say Wesley Chapel (which is also nice too). I bought at the high end of the market, but now homes are much cheaper especially new construction. Good luck. I think you would like Odessa.