NEW YORK – TAMPA, Florida, with its definite Greek flavor – nearby Tarpon Springs is known as ‘America’s Greek village’ – was ranked No. 1 on Forbes magazine’s list of the top-10 places to live in Florida, and as “a destination for people looking to change up their scene,” according to Sam Sachs in an article for Floridarealtors.org.

The piece cites “positive attractions for young adults and families, as well as ‘pristine beaches’, as it emphasized “Tampa was the best place to live in the Sunshine State.”
According to Sachs, “the Forbes analysis of which cities were Florida’s best examined things to do, median home prices, median salaries, crime levels, and population sizes, to name a few,” and “while Miami was named the ‘most vibrant’ and Orlando was ‘most prominent,’ according to Forbes, Tampa had the right mix of museums, sports teams, job opportunities, tourism, and a commitment to the arts.”

It was also noted that many businesses are coming to the area, and that, “in addition to the new businesses and new job opportunities, Tampa is also in a drivable zone to get to other popular cities with different attractions, like Orlando or Miami.”

“Tampa has also experienced an influx of employers across several industries ranging from advanced manufacturing to financial services and life sciences. Tourism and MacDill Air Force Base also play a pivotal role,” the Forbes piece adds.

It was noted that home costs in Tampa are relatively higher, “Tampa’s median income of $55,600 and low unemployment rate put it above places like Gainesville, Orlando, and even Miami. Compared to Tampa, Miami had a lower median income and higher median home prices, in addition to a higher cost for monthly expenses,” the article noted.

The complete top 10 on the Forbes list for Florida’s best places to live follows:

1. Tampa
2. Jacksonville
3. Gainesville
4. Cape Coral
5. Orlando
6. Miami
7. Melbourne
8. Sarasota
9. Tallahassee
10. Pensacola

Material from the website Floridarealtors.org was used in this article.