BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? Tampa, FL

C
Score
52/100
Rank #130 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Tampa can still work for retirement if you’re leaning into typical home value, plus typical rent (2br). Overall, it’s better for a specific set of priorities (#130 of 200). The main watch-out is median household income.

Methodology · Sources · FL rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why Tampa ranks here

  • Typical home value: $375,300 (8% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,673/mo (16% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 93% (2% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Median household income: $71,302 (6% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 13% (11% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
393,389
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,673/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Typical home value
$375,300
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
13%
National median: 14%
Median age
36
National median: —
Median household income
$71,302
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
93%
National median: 91%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and typical home value.
59/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
22/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
93/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
87/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

10%
Less than HS
45%
HS / Some college
26%
Bachelor’s
18%
Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

13%
Age 65+
87%
Under 65

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

93%
Broadband
7%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,673/mo
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$375,300
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
13%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$71,302
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
93%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
13%

Similar cities (by score)

#128 Phoenix, AZ
53/100
#129 McKinney, TX
53/100
#131 Stockton, CA
52/100
#132 Sacramento, CA
52/100

FAQ

›What is Tampa’s retirement score and rank?
Tampa, FL scores C (52/100) and ranks #130 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Tampa city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level retirement patterns can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Tampa, FL?
Population is about 393,389 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Tampa, FL?
About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).
›How affordable is housing in Tampa, FL?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,673/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $375,300 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in Tampa, FL?
Age 65+ share is 13% (national median: 14%).
›How common is broadband internet in Tampa, FL?
Broadband subscription is 93% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Tampa, FL?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 10%, HS/some college 45%, bachelor’s 26%, advanced 18%.
›Where does this data come from for Tampa, FL?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).