TAMPA, Fla. —
A new report has confirmed what many locals already know about the Tampa Bay area: it's home to some of the greatest neighborhoods in the country. Three to be exact, according to Niche.com's 2024 list of the Best Places to Live in America.
Securing spots in the top 10 rankings are the areas of Uptown, Hyde Park and Harbour Island. These communities were the only ones in Tampa Bay to make the top 50, with the only other Florida neighborhood to make an appearance being Audubon Park outside of Orlando coming in at number 22.
Here's a look at each of our local spots to make the cut, and why the experts at Niche placed them accordingly.
#4: Uptown
While those who live in Tampa Bay may think of Uptown as the area near the University of South Florida, Niche includes places like Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and the iconic Floridian Palace Hotel in its classification of Uptown.
The data analyzed by Niche to rank Uptown 4th in the country pertains to the area of Downtown Tampa that falls between I-275 and Kennedy Boulevard, and east of the Hillsborough River to North Marion Street.
Out of all the characteristics that Niche takes into account, Uptown got an 'A+' in the nightlife, health and fitness as well as family-friendly categories.
Those living in that part of downtown have direct access to a wide range of activities. If you like the arts, the Straz Center and Tampa Museum of Art always have the latest pieces of work. There's also direct access to the Tampa Riverwalk and greenspace at Kiley Gardens for anyone wanting to exercise. For families, the Glazer Children's Museum offers an interactive experience for kids to have some hands-on fun, and the dog park is right around the corner.
The area's worst rating, a 'B-', was for the cost of living. The average rent is $2,130 per month, almost twice the national average of $1,268 monthly.
According to Niche, no data on crime was taken into account.
Uptown's atmosphere is driven by the young professionals who live there, the Niche ranking said.
#6: Hyde Park
Tucked between Kennedy and Bayshore Boulevards, Hyde Park sits in sixth place on the list of best places to live in the U.S.
Niche gave the neighborhood the same high grade as Uptown in the nightlife, wellness and family-friendly categories. What likely pushed Hyde Park's ranking a bit lower than its Uptown neighbor is its 'C+' in cost of living.
While rent in Hyde Park skews slightly lower than the Downtown Tampa area, around $1,977 per month, the median home value is more than two times the national average at $921,272 according to Niche.
The crime rating is also blank, indicating data was not evaluated by Niche. Though, locals left reviews on Niche.com giving kudos to Hyde Park for being safe. They also highlighted how close they are to shops, restaurants and bars – along with having Bayshore Blvd "at your back door."
#9: Harbour Island
Harbour Island is a small but close-knit island sandwiched between Davis Islands and the Port of Tampa.
The percentage of homeowners compared to renters is nearly split down the middle, with renters taking a slight majority. Many of the residences are condominiums and townhomes.
The neighborhood's lowest grades from Niche were for commute and cost of living. The average rent on Harbour Island is $2,323 per month, higher than Uptown's median rent.
Being that it is an island, it can be a bit of a hassle to get to and from other places around Tampa Bay. However, being so close to Downtown Tampa means going out may not be as big of a hassle as other destinations. Harbour Island is just a small bridge away from Amalie Arena, The Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf.
There's plenty to do on the island as well. American Social, one of the city's most popular restaurants and bars, is just off the island's main road.
Harbour Island is becoming a more popular spot, too, as a brand new luxury country club called Life Time is set to open in the summer. The 36,000-square-foot facility will include pickleball and tennis courts, a resort-like pool, a gym, and a spa (among other things).
Methodology
Niche.com mostly uses data collected by government agencies when analyzing the categories it uses to rank neighborhoods. Some of those include the U.S. Census, the FBI, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the IRS.
Niche.com primarily collects information to assist students, parents and families to find the schools and neighborhoods that best suit them.
