St. Petersburg, FL vs Tampa, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, FL | TampaTampa, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Safe | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
-1.2% job growth over the past year in St. Petersburg, FL contrasts with +1.2% in Tampa, FL, a 2.4-point difference in opposite directions, based on 2023 Census figures. The median age in St. Petersburg is 43.1 years, placing it in the 81st percentile, while Tampa’s median age of 35.6 falls in the 30th percentile, a gap of 7.5 years. Violent crime rates differ notably, with St. Petersburg reporting 167 incidents per 100,000 people (33rd percentile) and Tampa recording 311 per 100,000 (64th percentile), an 86% higher rate. Property crime also shows Tampa higher at 967 per 100,000 compared to St. Petersburg’s 736 per 100,000, a 31% difference.
The poverty rate in Tampa is 15.9% (70th percentile), 4.2 percentage points higher than St. Petersburg’s 11.7% (51st percentile). Average household size is slightly larger in Tampa at 2.4 (38th percentile) versus St. Petersburg’s 2.2 (16th percentile), an 8% difference. Distance to coastline is 9 miles for St. Petersburg and 0 miles for Tampa, placing St. Petersburg in the 9th percentile and Tampa at the 0th percentile. Median home values are $331,500 in St. Petersburg (60th percentile) and $375,300 in Tampa (68th percentile), a 13% higher figure for Tampa.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in St. Petersburg or Tampa?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12766th pctl | 13470th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): St. Petersburg, FL 127; Tampa, FL 134; Tampa is 6% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $331,50060th pctl | $375,30068th pctl | Median home value: St. Petersburg, FL $331,500; Tampa, FL $375,300; Tampa is 13% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,54272nd pctl | $1,56773rd pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $73,11851st pctl | $71,30248th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $64,40561st pctl | $72,91469th pctl | Comfortable income (single): St. Petersburg, FL $64,405; Tampa, FL $72,914; Tampa is 13% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $94,67561st pctl | $107,18469th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): St. Petersburg, FL $94,675; Tampa, FL $107,184; Tampa is 13% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Tampa needs about
$79,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 127 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 | St. Petersburg, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -1.2%5th pctl | +1.2%55th pctl | Job growth (YoY): St. Petersburg, FL -1.2%; Tampa, FL +1.2%; Tampa is 2.4 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $49,82377th pctl | $49,51376th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 11.7%51st pctl | 15.9%70th pctl | Poverty rate: St. Petersburg, FL 11.7%; Tampa, FL 15.9%; Tampa is 4.2 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.4 min63rd pctl | 24.7 min59th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 18.3%79th pctl | 19.3%82nd pctl | About the same |
| 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 | St. Petersburg, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 16733rd pctl | 31164th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: St. Petersburg, FL 167; Tampa, FL 311; Tampa is 86% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 73620th pctl | 96731st pctl | Property crime per 100k: St. Petersburg, FL 736; Tampa, FL 967; Tampa is 31% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty 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 | St. Petersburg, 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 | Poor | Clean | Tap water: St. Petersburg, FL F; 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 | St. Petersburg, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 0 mi1st pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: St. Petersburg, FL D+; Tampa, FL F; St. Petersburg is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 917 mi93rd pctl | 928 mi94th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 9 mi9th pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Distance to coastline: St. Petersburg, FL 9 mi; Tampa, FL 0 mi; St. Petersburg is 9 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 260,64697th pctl | 393,38998th pctl | Population: St. Petersburg, FL 260,646; Tampa, FL 393,389; Tampa is 51% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,21788th pctl | 3,43782nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): St. Petersburg, FL 4,217; Tampa, FL 3,437; St. Petersburg is 23% higher. |
| Median age | 43.181st pctl | 35.630th pctl | Median age: St. Petersburg, FL 43.1; Tampa, FL 35.6; St. Petersburg is 7.5 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.3%69th pctl | 44.6%73rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: St. Petersburg, FL 41.3%; Tampa, FL 44.6%; Tampa is 3.3 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.216th pctl | 2.438th pctl | Average household size: St. Petersburg, FL 2.2; Tampa, FL 2.4; Tampa is 8% larger. |
More about St. Petersburg'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.
| Measure | St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, FL | TampaTampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+5 | D+5 |
| 2024 presidential | D +7.0 pts | D +7.0 pts |
Full politics data: St. Petersburg · Tampa
Moving between St. Petersburg and Tampa
- Median rent: $1,542 in St. Petersburg, $1,567 in Tampa
- Median home value: $331,500 in St. Petersburg, $375,300 in Tampa
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 127 in St. Petersburg, 134 in Tampa
- Median household income: $73,118 in St. Petersburg, $71,302 in Tampa
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $94,675 in St. Petersburg, $107,184 in Tampa
- Unemployment: 3.2% in St. Petersburg, 3.4% in Tampa
- Average commute: 25.4 min in St. Petersburg, 24.7 min in Tampa
- Violent crime per 100k: 167 in St. Petersburg, 311 in Tampa
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at St. Petersburg and Tampa against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in St. Petersburg or Tampa?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
People also compare
More places like St. Petersburg 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.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.