Orlando or Tampa???

[Obamanation]

Traffic in Orlando is heinous. Their transportation infrastructure is a joke. The City of Tampa has 50% more population that Orlando proper, and the Tampa metro area has 30% more people that Orlando metro, yet we have way WAY less traffic. Less crime also, and more nightlife. Orlando has more shopping, is more cosmopolitian and is slightly cleaner than Tampa.

[Mugatu]

I grew up in Orlando, but lived in Tampa for 4 years when I attended USF, and I prefered Tampa. Orlando was nice in the 70's to early 90's, but has turned into an overcrowded, overpriced, high-crime nightmare. Tampa has more of a REAL city feel too it, it's got 3 major sports teams, (well 2 1/2 since the Devil Rays barely qualify ), it's not as touristy as Orlando, and the housing in slightly more affordable. It is an older city and not as "clean" as Orlando, but I see that as a good thing, as it has a more of a history and not just there because of the Mouse. And I disagree with Orlando having a better job market. Orlando is one of the lowest paying areas in the country due to all the call-center and service industry jobs. Tampa offers more professional opportunities for the most part.

Originally Posted by Prichard

Just saw today on the news that a new poll showed that Tampa and Miami were a couple of the top cities for angry road-rage. Orlando didn't even make the running with these cities.

But honestly, all of these "angry city / road-rage" polls are quite dumb. I just thought that it was funny about Tampa being one of the top road-rage cities in the nation, and Orlando wasn't. More likely I'd say both cities are tied, but the poll didn't say that.

That is odd, since Orlando was picked as the "Most Angry City" in the country a few months ago. lol

[Obamanation]

Tampa is consistently rated among the best job markets in the nation. Three fortune 1000 companies are headquartered here. Also, USF is becoming a nationally-ranked school whereas I see UCF doing nothing of that sort.

[DeLaSalle]

Originally Posted by Obamanation

Tampa is consistently rated among the best job markets in the nation. Three fortune 1000 companies are headquartered here. Also, USF is becoming a nationally-ranked school whereas I see UCF doing nothing of that sort.

Good info...

[shestrixie547]

I am in the same boat! I was looking in orlando for a long time and i couldnt find anything under $1000 a month. Me and my bf were looking in the maitland and altemont springs area and wernt that happy because every thing is so expensive and not that nice. Check it out before you make a decision. We figured that it would be like 22,000 in bills a year thats rent, car pmts,utilities ect. i have made my decision with tampa just because its by the beach and it seems like it is cheaper than orlando. Good Luck!!!!!~~~

[knightgoose]

I have lived and have experienced the nightlife in both cities and for the people posting that the nightlife in Tampa is better...well I don't know what you have to back that up. I'll give my summary comparing both cities from my experience of residing in Orlando and Tampa.
-I've been to Channelside...if your 40 years old it might be fun
-SOHO/Hyde park is nice but there really is on 2 good hot spots to go to
-Ybor is getting very dangerous

Orlando
-You actually have life downtown with about 20,000 residents downtown where as in Tampa you hear crickets when downtown after 7pm...there is wall street in downtown Orlando with many bars, Church Street with more upscale/clubs, and many other bars, pizza joints, restaurants off Orange Avenue making it very fun for the single young crowd(There are rougly around 30 bars in all downtown Orlando)
-The girls are more attractive in Orlando
-You also have Metro West which has a few good nightlife options and the "touristy" part of town if you want to interact w/ some tourist
-Then you have the UCF part of town(East Orlando) where you have their college bars and a few nice spots by Waterford Lakes area
-Most people that bash Orlando's nightlife haven't gone east of Universal Studios where Orlando locals actually go out
-The beaches argument..it takes just as long to get to a beach from Brandon to Clearwater than it does from East Orlando to Cocoa Beach
-Also if you ever check out the forbes.com rankings as best cities for singles Orlando is always ranked higher than Tampa

-The only thing that I believe that Tampa has a upper hand is professional sports franchises. Tampa is a nice city and I like it also but as far as a single person looking for the best atmosphere I would pick Orlando.

-So in my opinion if you are in your 20s to early 30s and single Orlando is the place
-If you are married w/ kids ...maybe Tampa is the place

[jck74]

Agreed with everything Knightgoose said. I've lived in both places and the one determining factor on why I would move to Orlando over Tampa is because it has a much cleaner look and feel. Tampa is dirty. Visit both places and determine for yourself.

[Alphaman]

I agree, people that say no nightlife in Orlando or nothing to do must sit at home and never go out. For a city it`s size there is a variety of things to do here.

And I like tampa too for different reasons.

[JSnFla]

flip a coin. neither is ideal. tampa would be cheaper. orlando has way more exlusive gated communities for the wealthy. tampa is blue collar and rugged with very lil traditional employment options. tampa has more natives, people who grew up here. orlando is almost all transplants. either flip a coin or come up with another location.