What are good/ bad things about TB area ?? (Miami, Tampa: crime, student loans)

[DallasDude26]

I am thinking about going to school in either Tampa or Ft Lauderdale..... i have read many terrible things about South Florida such as crime, rude people, and "no middle class" ..... I hope that Tampa is not the same way, so tell me all the things you love and hate about living in the Tampa Bay area..... thanks (:

[tampagator89]

Well, for starters this area doesn't have quite the crime that South Florida does (though there is still a fair amount of it in certain areas). As always, it helps to come here for a week or so to visit and see how you like the region. As far as friendliness of people goes, it varies from person to person just the same as it does in Miami or New York for that matter.

Good things:
1) Weather and beaches are generally great (very sunny here, but I love the thunderstorms in the summer too!)
2) Lots of local sports teams if you're into that
3) Lots of outdoor stuff to do here...golfing, fishing, parks, water sports, beach stuff, etc. Lots of great places to jog (Bayshore, for example, is a long walkway right on the bay that goes from downtown Tampa down into South Tampa).
4) Pretty laid back vibe here overall.

Bad things:
1) Zero public transport, and the area is very spread out. You'll be driving everywhere and paying for gas a lot, and roads can get clogged. I am used to it so I don't mind, but not everyone is. If you're coming from Dallas it's probably similar to how things work there, except here there is no rail.
2) Harder to meet young people here IMO, though if you're in school here you'll meet people on campus just fine.
3) Weak middle class here as well. There are a good share of nice/moderate areas, but also lots of downtrodden ones. I think there is a misconception out there to some that Florida is some sort of tropical paradise. It can be, but there are a lot of poorer areas here especially since the recession. Areas that I knew used to be nice are now ghettos with abandoned buildings. Though, let me restate, you'll see your fair share of nicer areas as well.
4) The nightlife here is sub-par, if you care about that.

[tinytrump]

culture... Tampa - 0 S Florida 150
activities... Tampa concerts and sports--- Miami,,, pick whatever you want!
economy.. Tampa cheaper - Miami you make the money... better jobs
home life... tampa more for your buck... Miami smaller place, you are never home, and you know your neighbors, they bring you coffee.
education.. colleges in both
envirorment.. tampa more natural.. Miami cleaner and newer in most areas,,, hurricanes clean up nicely.
Religion-- Tampa... social clubs/ cold-- Miami-- sence of community and reaching out to the world.

what else? people in Miami prettier, well dressed manicured, and friendlier,,, by a long shot. Tampa peopl work in flip flops in an office yuck

[cbressler1976]

I live in Pembroke Pines, FL (between FTL and Miami)... We are moving to Tampa Bay to get away from South Florida.. We are originally from Orlando... (Orlando is worse then South Florida in our opinion!) South Florida is beautiful, but crowded... and it is very hard to get a job here if you aren't Hispanic.. I know this from experience... but if you are going to college here, you would probably like it better because it is a party type area.. If I were going to college, I would choose South Florida, but for family life, I would choose some other place... I can't comment on Tampa Bay because we are now moving there and I don't know what it is like..

((I have visited Tampa Bay and I found the people there friendlier...))

[wlkcde]

Originally Posted by tinytrump

culture... Tampa - 0 S Florida 150
activities... Tampa concerts and sports--- Miami,,, pick whatever you want!
economy.. Tampa cheaper - Miami you make the money... better jobs
home life... tampa more for your buck... Miami smaller place, you are never home, and you know your neighbors, they bring you coffee.
education.. colleges in both
envirorment.. tampa more natural.. Miami cleaner and newer in most areas,,, hurricanes clean up nicely.
Religion-- Tampa... social clubs/ cold-- Miami-- sence of community and reaching out to the world.

what else? people in Miami prettier, well dressed manicured, and friendlier,,, by a long shot. Tampa peopl work in flip flops in an office yuck

Considering the Miami metro population relative to Tampa's, I think it would be safe to say that there are more high paying jobs in Tampa than in Miami.

[Tampaite]

Originally Posted by DallasDude26

I am thinking about going to school in either Tampa or Ft Lauderdale..... i have read many terrible things about South Florida such as crime, rude people, and "no middle class" ..... I hope that Tampa is not the same way, so tell me all the things you love and hate about living in the Tampa Bay area..... thanks (:

Do you have a scholarship? or are you taking a student loans?

Those things matter than if you hear terrible things about a city...

[nycgirl1616]

Originally Posted by DallasDude26

I am thinking about going to school in either Tampa or Ft Lauderdale..... i have read many terrible things about South Florida such as crime, rude people, and "no middle class" ..... I hope that Tampa is not the same way, so tell me all the things you love and hate about living in the Tampa Bay area..... thanks (:

Dude,

If I were in your shoes I would choose Tampa for school, the main reason being cost of living. Miami is expensive and unless your parents are funding an endless bank account, all that wonderful nightlife in Miami is going to be out of your budget anyway. Even if you would rather go to s Florida, make the sacrifice for now and then go there once your done with school and land a job.

[jambo101]

Good things?
The weather and the beaches.....

Bad things?.......Its paradise there are no bad things.

[tinytrump]

Bad things- peoples attitudes to anyone who is NOT like them. NO- higher pay in Miami, across the board-but- now days all jobs paying less, I used to make $12 at HD part time here only $8 max and that's the same everywhere. Receptionist in Miami made 16 hr,, here $12 at most, however you get more Bang for your Buck in Tampbay, and better for small kids here, agree with that.