Relocating: Tampa or St. Petersburg? Opinions please

[bentlebee]

St. Pete is great but did you think about the taxes and home owners insurance. It will be much higher than Pasco County. From Wesley Chapel it's only 25 min. to the airport if people drive normal and don't cause any stupid accidents that are not necessary
Wesley Chapel has a lot of kids and good schools. We drive a lot to the beach in the summer, but living closer to St. Pete could be better right now with the gas prices....

[SeaToSea]

High on what metric? I ask that my wife & I are thinking of relocating from Seattle and trying to decide where exactly to settle in the Tampa metro area.

Taxes for us on a house valued at 375k is $4700. How does that compare?

Where are the best schools - Tampa or St. Pete? My wife is Asian, so it's a top priority for our kids.

[PG77]

Originally Posted by why not

St. Petersburg Old NE or Harbour Island Tampa

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Hi everyone,

We are relocating to Tamba Bay area and are undecided about whether to live in St. Petersburg Old NE neighborhood or Harbour Island. We have young children and would like a nice family neighborhood. The reason we are having trouble deciding is that we are still both looking for jobs. It seems like there is more work in Tampa, so Harbour Island seems sensible in that it would have a shorter commute if we were to get work in Tampa. Does anyone have experience of commuting from Tampa (or possibly North Tampa) to and from St. Petersburg on a daily basis? What's the commute time and traffic like? How's the job market in St. Petersburg? Can anyone tell us pros / cons about the two areas?

Your help is hugely appreciated!
Thanks!

Since you indicated that you were still both looking for jobs, I think my first priority would be finding those jobs first and then decide on a place to live. I didnt have a whole lot of success for jobs in Tampa except for the title insurance industry which went somewhat down the tubes with the housing problems there. But, if you both have specific professions then hopefully you will be successful. Good luck!

[Angler]

Originally Posted by SeaToSea

High on what metric? I ask that my wife & I are thinking of relocating from Seattle and trying to decide where exactly to settle in the Tampa metro area.

Taxes for us on a house valued at 375k is $4700. How does that compare?

Where are the best schools - Tampa or St. Pete? My wife is Asian, so it's a top priority for our kids.

Both have good private and a couple good public schools. St. Pete has a larger Asian population- mainly Laotian, Cambodian, and Vietnamese. St. Pete's good schools are closer to its downtown.

[kathyhubbard]

Originally Posted by why not

St. Petersburg Old NE or Harbour Island Tampa

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone,

We are relocating to Tamba Bay area and are undecided about whether to live in St. Petersburg Old NE neighborhood or Harbour Island. We have young children and would like a nice family neighborhood. The reason we are having trouble deciding is that we are still both looking for jobs. It seems like there is more work in Tampa, so Harbour Island seems sensible in that it would have a shorter commute if we were to get work in Tampa. Does anyone have experience of commuting from Tampa (or possibly North Tampa) to and from St. Petersburg on a daily basis? What's the commute time and traffic like? How's the job market in St. Petersburg? Can anyone tell us pros / cons about the two areas?

Your help is hugely appreciated!
Thanks!

Hello, Old NE is my vote, I used to live in that area it is great and hop on 275 and your in tampa no time:Moderator cut: realtor ad

[Kwanger]

Originally Posted by dzine32

I may be moving to Palm Harbor from Buffalo......so glad to hear positive remarks! St. Pete's sounds great! The job market here is horrible so I am very pessimistic about life.....a change is good. Social sites like "meetup" prove that more things are happening down there than up here.

Although the hot weather and flat land will take adjustment. Buffalo is a great city and I will miss it. I love the 4 seasons and small city feel.

The only problem I have with this statement is...the job market is horrible down here too!

[Angler]

Originally Posted by Kwanger

The only problem I have with this statement is...the job market is horrible down here too!

St. Pete's latest unemployment figure is 3.1%, Buffalo's is around 4.6%.

It's better- though I guess it depends what sector. if you are in construciton- forget it.

[Eastern Roamer]

Harbour Island is a gated slice of suburbia next to downtown Tampa. There is very little recreation and downtown empties out at 5. Tampa is very suburban.
I have lived in trendy South Tampa (Howard Ave.), I lived in New Tampa, (one road in and out, long commute ANYWHERE), and I've live in Carrollwood (North West Tampa). Literally every corner of the city. You might like Carrollwood or Westchase if you like the suburban thing.
I'm moving to Old North East St. Petersburg because their are tree lined streets, walkable sidewalds with urban, grid pattern streets. There are parks and people seem to get out and are more active, both night and day. It seems like an easier commute FROM St. Pete to Tampa than vice versa, assuming you're 9 to 5.
There a lot of jobs in both cities, St. Pete has the financials like Raymond James and many call centers.
I would avoid Clearwater.
If you want to know your neighbors and go for walks, NE St. Pete.
If you want a house with a garage for a front door and the false sense of security from seclusion, suburban Tampa.
Although there also areas with historic bungalows in central Tampa worth considering, Riverside Heights, Tampa Heights. But if you go the wrong direction you can end up on a scary looking street fast.
I don't have the stats, but I bet more people have died from hit and runs in suburban traffic than random violence in the city.