[wvu1224]

My family and I currently live in Pittsburgh, Pa and are re-locating to Florida. We have job opportunities in both Gainesville and Tampa and truly are unsure of either area!!! We have a six year old daughter....Can someone from these area's please offer the pro's and con's of both area's....We have spent hours doing research, and truly are looking for input from someone living in both parts of Florida!!!!! Thanks to everyone in advance!!!!!

[Gatornation]

They are completely different. One is a true college town that is very small and the other is a big city with tons of sprawl.

If I was coming from Pittsburgh I'd imagine Gainesville would be a huge change compared to what you are used to.

[projectmaximus]

Tampa is probably somewhat similar to Pittsburgh. I mean, obviously they are very different cities, but you could find a similar lifestyle in Tampa (ie, big city amenities, some dense urban areas, etc). Gainesville is a quintessential major college town. It's not small, but almost everything is centered around the University of Florida. I've never been to State College, but I'd imagine it's very similar to that environment around Penn State. Gainesville's metro is a bit bigger (250K pop), as is UF (55K students), but you wont be able to get out of the shadow of the school there.

Oh, and I might also add that Gainesville is somewhat secluded, surrounded by very rural communities. Jax, Orlando and Tampa are the closest big cities, each being about 90-120 minutes away depending on traffic. Meanwhile, Tampa is part of a continuous chain of development along the Gulf coast. It's also a bit closer to Orlando.

Hope that gives you a basic picture of the two areas. Hard to be any more specific with the broadness of your question.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by projectmaximus

Tampa is probably somewhat similar to Pittsburgh. I mean, obviously they are very different cities, but you could find a similar lifestyle in Tampa (ie, big city amenities, some dense urban areas, etc). Gainesville is a quintessential major college town. It's not small, but almost everything is centered around the University of Florida. I've never been to State College, but I'd imagine it's very similar to that environment around Penn State. Gainesville's metro is a bit bigger (250K pop), as is UF (55K students), but you wont be able to get out of the shadow of the school there.

Oh, and I might also add that Gainesville is somewhat secluded, surrounded by very rural communities. Jax, Orlando and Tampa are the closest big cities, each being about 90-120 minutes away depending on traffic. Meanwhile, Tampa is part of a continuous chain of development along the Gulf coast. It's also a bit closer to Orlando.

Hope that gives you a basic picture of the two areas. Hard to be any more specific with the broadness of your question.

Yeah... good analysis. Also don't forget Santa Fe pushing that # up to about 70K students. Not that it is MUCH of a difference, but just emphasizes you are going to be dealing with the college student atmosphere.

[kahskye]

Having had a niece and nephew attend college in Gainsville, it is much more a college town. With a small child, I'd pick the Tampa area. Check out Riverview.

[NSX1990]

Wow, Tampa and Gainesville are night and day.

Gainesville is a town of about 150,000 that revolves around the University of Florida. Seriously, everything is about UF, which is great if you're young or really into sports. Otherwise, I'm not so sure. There are some nice family communities west of Interstate 75, but around the school and east of the school and not places to raise kids, in my opinion. The area around Gainesville is heavily rural and conservative, compared to the diverse, cosmopolitan coastal city of Tampa.

[wvu1224]

Thank you to all that responded!!! My husband and I are very thankful for all the help!!!!

[matalie]

I grew up in Gainesville, and my family has 7 generations of roots in the area. I loved growing up in Gainesville, and will always have an affection for the area. I moved around while in the service and brought my family back to Gainesville. My wife, who is form San Diego, had a hard time. It really is a nice town with beautiful trees and rolling hills. But it is small and w/o the university there would be nothing to do. We currently live in Tampa and bought 2 years ago. To get an affordable home, we moved to New Tampa and spend a lot of time in the car to get pretty much anywhere and the traffic is absolutely horrible. Two totally different places-and to NSX1990, Gainesville is not at all conservative. It is one of the most liberal cities you will find anywhere, almost to the point of being extreme.

[lagoon7]

If I had to pick one, I'd pick Gainesville, simply because I think it would be a much better place to raise kids.

[The Floridian]

Gainesville almost turned me into an Alcy. G'ville caused my divorce with my ex wife. By 6pm if I am not heavily medicated or at the Gym pumping iron, then I'm sobbing with grief. 45 years old, divorced, no kids, multi-millionaire. I'm just now moving away. Took long time cause I got family in G'ville.