St. Petersburg (Tampa, Gulfport, Gandy: best cities, where to buy, public schools)

[OnTheMove81]

So...after looking through all the posts it seems like St. Petersburg is a pretty good place to live. My fiance and I are moving to Tampa and are trying to figure out where to buy our house. We are moving from Chicago, so we enjoy having stuff around us. However, we would like to start a family within the next couple of years, so would like a safe place that is family oriented as well. My fiance will be working right near the airport, so I guess the commute won't be too bad (compared to Chicago traffic). But I wanted to ask for opinions on whether St. Pete would be a good place to raise a family? We are looking to spend about $300k - $350k on a home.

[Angler]

Originally Posted by OnTheMove81

So...after looking through all the posts it seems like St. Petersburg is a pretty good place to live. My fiance and I are moving to Tampa and are trying to figure out where to buy our house. We are moving from Chicago, so we enjoy having stuff around us. However, we would like to start a family within the next couple of years, so would like a safe place that is family oriented as well. My fiance will be working right near the airport, so I guess the commute won't be too bad (compared to Chicago traffic). But I wanted to ask for opinions on whether St. Pete would be a good place to raise a family? We are looking to spend about $300k - $350k on a home.

St. Pete- most swaths of it, is a great place to raise a family IMO_ I am raising mine here. It was voted one of the best cities for kids a couple years back- lots to do, loads of summer programs as well. I can't commenton public schools (kids go to private), but St. Pete High and Lakewood High are well-regarded.

I live in west St. Pete and commute to north Tampa. The drive time to the airport is about 20 minutes. That's from west St. Pete- time is less from northeast and the Gandy area- both good places to look for a house.

Stay away from the south side between 1st Ave S to 54th Ave S, 4th St to 49th St. (save for Maximo Moorings area).

[floridabonds]

Hey Angler, do you have an idea of the commute time from west St. Pete to MacDill AFB? Also, are there any zip codes you can recommend for a housing search?

Thanks.

[Angler]

Originally Posted by floridabonds

Hey Angler, do you have an idea of the commute time from west St. Pete to MacDill AFB? Also, are there any zip codes you can recommend for a housing search?

Thanks.

Depends on where in west St. Pete, but I'd say around 30/40 minutes- give or take.

on zips- west side:

33710
33707 (melds into Gulfport and SOuth Pasadena- some not so great areas, some beautiful)


east:

33703
33701 (downtown)
33702
33716 (Feathersound- unincorporated county)