Nice middle-class suburbs of Tampa? (Clearwater, Brandon: how much, homes, high school)

[nyguy4u]

Hello all,

My wife and I currently I live in upstate NY. I can't stress enough how much I hate NY. Hate the taxes, hate the weather, hate the people.. just hate everything about it. I am not into winter sports, and hate the cold. So, really.. this state offers nothing for me. I enjoy doing things outdoors, and nice sunny weather.. so Florida seems to be a good fit for me.

My job pretty much allows me to go anywhere I want, so job relocation isn't much of an issue for me. In speaking with people that I currently know that live in FL, they tell me that I should check out suburbs of Florida.

I've never been to Tampa, but I need a place to start when I fly down there to start looking for homes. Like any other area, I realize that some towns amongst the locals have "reputations".. and that is what I am looking to avoid. What are some nice middle-class suburbs of Tampa? I know it's a pretty general question, but at least it will give me a place to start. We are basically looking for a clean area of Florida, that has an excellent reputation, and excellent schools. I also don't mind traveling a half hr to get to downtown Tampa if need be.

Any information would be greatly appreciated

[NALEXAND]

I am from the Northeast and looked for the same things you are when I moved here so here are my recommendations:

1) Riverview-12 mi from Tampa- master planned communities, good schools, very clean and new for the most part

2) Fish Hawk Ranch - Lithia,FL- not far from Riverview, very nice area, great schools and ammenities

The New Tampa area of Tampa is not a suburb, but is nice as well.

Best of luck to you and hurry and escape all those nasty things you mentioned in your post

[Innertuber]

The half hour to downtown is the limiting factor. Unless you work downtown is that really a constraint?

At 8:00 am it might take 15-20 minutes to go 4 miles. At 10 am no problems, so looking at a location based upon time depends when you expect to be doing the "timing".

You probably want to start in South Tampa or Davis Island which will likely always meet the 1/2 hour to downtown.

[nyguy4u]

Thanks Nalexand. I will look into those areas

Innertuber.. working downtown would be a must in my line of work. Right now I travel an hour one way to work.. so while the 30 min doesn't have to be set in stone.. it would be convenient. If it meant extending it to an hour one way, to get a much nicer area - I'd consider it.

[algia]

From Tampa International Aiport, take Veterans hwy north and you will land exactly where you describe:
Cheval
Villarosa
Heritage Harbor
Stone Briar

ALL very nice and clean and with good schools.

33558 zip and remember to stay on the Hillsborough county side, the Pasco county is too far and has sink hole issues and overall looks dilapidated!

Originally Posted by nyguy4u

Hello all,

My wife and I currently I live in upstate NY. I can't stress enough how much I hate NY. Hate the taxes, hate the weather, hate the people.. just hate everything about it. I am not into winter sports, and hate the cold. So, really.. this state offers nothing for me. I enjoy doing things outdoors, and nice sunny weather.. so Florida seems to be a good fit for me.

My job pretty much allows me to go anywhere I want, so job relocation isn't much of an issue for me. In speaking with people that I currently know that live in FL, they tell me that I should check out suburbs of Florida.

I've never been to Tampa, but I need a place to start when I fly down there to start looking for homes. Like any other area, I realize that some towns amongst the locals have "reputations".. and that is what I am looking to avoid. What are some nice middle-class suburbs of Tampa? I know it's a pretty general question, but at least it will give me a place to start. We are basically looking for a clean area of Florida, that has an excellent reputation, and excellent schools. I also don't mind traveling a half hr to get to downtown Tampa if need be.

Any information would be greatly appreciated

[jdvalle]

Originally Posted by NALEXAND

The New Tampa area of Tampa is not a suburb, but is nice as well.

??????
In my opinion, New Tampa is the epitome of a Tampa suburb. Are you just saying that because part of it is technically within municipal limits?

I would call Riverview and Lithia exurbs, if anything.

[kyle19125]

If you look at a map of the Tampa Bay area you'll see the other half of the metro area isn't actually all Tampa, but St-Petersburg/Clearwater as well. Since you limited the search to Tampa proper, no one else mentioned other desirable suburbs like East Lake, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar or Safety Harbor. All three are within 45 minutes of Tampa (anything 30 minutes or less won't be a suburb, or a good area). The schools here are excellent and arguably the best in the metro area. It's a less congested area as well, with terrific parks and tons of activities for kids.

Palm Harbor, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
East Lake, Pinellas County, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oldsmar, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Safety Harbor, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
East Lake High School - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Palm Harbor University High School - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[NALEXAND]

Originally Posted by jdvalle

??????
In my opinion, New Tampa is the epitome of a Tampa suburb. Are you just saying that because part of it is technically within municipal limits?

I would call Riverview and Lithia exurbs, if anything.

yes

[Kevin from Tampa]

Nice, middle class suburbs in the Tampa Bay region-

1-Fishhawk Ranch
2-New Tampa/Wesley Chapel
3-Westchase
4-Carrollwood/Northdale
5-Brandon/Valrico
6-Tarpon Springs

Areas of Clearwater might also be considered suburbanish, especially the area between Oldsmar and Clearwater.

[Innertuber]

Unless you like sitting in traffic, if you work downtown you should start looking at Harbour Island, Davius Island and South Tampa. If prices chase you further away so be it. To drive from some of these mentioned places would be painful to me.