Orlando, FL vs Tampa, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | OrlandoOrlando, FL | TampaTampa, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Moderate | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 41 mi from the coastline, Orlando, FL sits farther inland than Tampa, FL, which lies at 0 mi, and that gap shapes several other differences in 2023 Census figures and 2025 crime data. Orlando’s air quality index of 41 falls below Tampa’s 50, placing Orlando in the 42nd percentile and Tampa in the 80th percentile. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 167 in Orlando versus 311 in Tampa, a figure that puts Orlando in the 33rd percentile and Tampa in the 63rd percentile; property crime per 100,000 people is 736 in Orlando and 967 in Tampa, with Orlando in the 20th percentile and Tampa in the 31st percentile.
Per-capita income in Orlando is $41,985, while Tampa reports $49,513, a difference of 18% higher in Tampa, which lands Tampa in the 76th percentile compared to Orlando’s 62nd. Population density also diverges: Tampa has 3,437 people per square mile, 43% higher than Orlando’s 2,405, placing Tampa in the 83rd percentile and Orlando in the 69th. Average commute times run 26.7 minutes in Orlando and 24.7 minutes in Tampa, with Orlando 2 minutes longer and sitting in the 72nd percentile versus Tampa’s 59th.
The cost of living index remains close at 136 for Orlando and 134 for Tampa, both in the 70th and 71st percentiles, respectively. Median home values are $359,000 in Orlando and $375,300 in Tampa, while median rents are $1,650 and $1,567. Tampa’s 2023 unemployment rate of 3.4% slightly exceeds Orlando’s 3.3%, and Tampa’s 19.3% work-from-home share is 4.2 points higher than Orlando’s 15.1%.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 13671st pctl | 13470th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $359,00066th pctl | $375,30068th pctl | About the same |
| Median rent | $1,65077th pctl | $1,56773rd pctl | Median rent: Orlando, FL $1,650; Tampa, FL $1,567; Orlando is 5% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $69,26845th pctl | $71,30248th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $69,74867th pctl | $72,91469th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $102,52967th pctl | $107,18469th pctl | About the same |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Tampa needs about
$73,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 136 vs 134). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.3%34th pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.4%62nd pctl | +1.2%55th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $41,98562nd pctl | $49,51376th pctl | Per-capita income: Orlando, FL $41,985; Tampa, FL $49,513; Tampa is 18% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 15.5%68th pctl | 15.9%70th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 26.7 min72nd pctl | 24.7 min59th pctl | Average commute: Orlando, FL 26.7 min; Tampa, FL 24.7 min; Orlando is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 15.1%70th pctl | 19.3%82nd pctl | Work from home: Orlando, FL 15.1%; Tampa, FL 19.3%; Tampa is 4.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 16733rd pctl | 31164th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Orlando, FL 167; Tampa, FL 311; Tampa is 86% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 73620th pctl | 96731st pctl | Property crime per 100k: Orlando, FL 736; Tampa, FL 967; Tampa is 31% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Sweaty | Sweaty | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Orlando, FL C+; Tampa, FL A+; Tampa is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Florida, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Florida →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi0th pctl | 0 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Orlando, FL 0 mi; Tampa, FL 0 mi; Tampa is higher (Orlando: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Orlando, FL D+; Tampa, FL F; Orlando is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 993 mi95th pctl | 928 mi94th pctl | Distance to international border: Orlando, FL 993 mi; Tampa, FL 928 mi; Orlando is 7% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 41 mi20th pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Distance to coastline: Orlando, FL 41 mi; Tampa, FL 0 mi; Orlando is 41 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 311,73298th pctl | 393,38998th pctl | Population: Orlando, FL 311,732; Tampa, FL 393,389; Tampa is 26% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,40569th pctl | 3,43783rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Orlando, FL 2,405; Tampa, FL 3,437; Tampa is 43% higher. |
| Median age | 35.126th pctl | 35.630th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2%70th pctl | 44.6%73rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Orlando, FL 42.2%; Tampa, FL 44.6%; Tampa is 2.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.450th pctl | 2.438th pctl | About the same |
More about Orlando's residents · Tampa's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Orlando and Tampa
- Median rent: $1,650 in Orlando, $1,567 in Tampa
- Median home value: $359,000 in Orlando, $375,300 in Tampa
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 136 in Orlando, 134 in Tampa
- Median household income: $69,268 in Orlando, $71,302 in Tampa
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $102,529 in Orlando, $107,184 in Tampa
- Unemployment: 3.3% in Orlando, 3.4% in Tampa
- Average commute: 26.7 min in Orlando, 24.7 min in Tampa
- Violent crime per 100k: 167 in Orlando, 311 in Tampa
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More places like Orlando and Tampa
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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