6 Quick Stats on Why People are Moving to Tampa

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, people from around the country keep moving to Florida. About 950 people a day are becoming Floridians, and home sales in some parts of Florida have almost doubled since the pandemic began. Many of these new residents are abandoning cities with higher taxes like New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago.

Tampa is one of the state’s top move-in destinations, and it’s easy to see why. The city was picked in 2019 as the best city in Florida to live by WalletHub, and was named the best place to live in Florida by Livability in 2018. Here are six quick statistics that help show why Tampa is attracting so many new residents.

1. Tampa ranked third-best city in nation for families

Tampa was ranked as the third-best city in the nation in 2019 for families that are relocating, according to the Magnify Money personal finance website. The Tampa Bay area offers numerous family-friendly things to do, including some fairly wacky activities.

2. Tampa ranked second in Florida for job creation

Tampa was second in the state in job creation in 2019, with 30,700 new jobs. This included 7,500 new jobs in the professional and business services industry.

3. Tampa ranked number one large city in U.S. for first-time homebuyers

In 2018, Tampa was ranked the No. 1 large city, out of 63 in the U.S., for first-time homebuyers, according to WalletHub. The Tampa Bay area offers a wide range of home prices and styles, and many new residents are choosing to living in appealing suburbs like Riverview, where they can get more house for their money. Additionally, Tampa in 2019 was ranked as one of the top 10 housing markets expected to explode in the next five years, according to Realtor Magazine.

4. Tampa voted top retirement city in nation

Tampa was voted the No. 1 best place to retire in the nation in 2014, 2015 and 2017, based on a list ranking the 150 largest U.S. cities, according to WalletHub. The area’s reasonable cost of living, combined with great weather and a variety of activities all add to the area’s appeal.

5. Tampa voted best city for military veterans

Tampa was voted the No. 1 city in the U.S. for military veterans to live in 2019 by WalletHub. The study compared the 100 largest U.S. cities on their livability, affordability, and veteran-friendliness and looked at four key elements: employment, economy, quality of life, and health.

6. Tampa number two on list of best places for family and friends to visit

Tampa in 2018 was No. 2 on MSN’s list of U.S. cities that are amazing getaways, making it a great spot for visits from family and friends living out of state, particularly during the winter months. Some Florida residents like to joke about the “fresh fish rule” – out-of-town house guests, like fresh fish, tend to spoil after three or four days. Still, it’s great to have visitors that can enjoy all Florida has to offer.

William Ryan Homes Tampa Division is helping many new Florida residents

William Ryan Homes Tampa has been building new single-family homes in Tampa for more than 15 years, focusing on technology-enhanced, energy-efficient, healthy homes that fit family budgets. The homebuilder currently has eight new home neighborhoods with available lots and quick move-in homes. Buyers can choose from numerous floor plans that have many structural and design options to personalize homes to a family’s needs.

Approximately one in four William Ryan Homes homebuyers are from out of state, coming from the Northeast (many from New Jersey and New York) and Midwest (many from Illinois, Ohio and Indiana) following the I-95, I-85, and I-75 corridors. Low interest rates on mortgages and incentives like free pools are attracting buyers to look more closely at the homebuilder’s offerings.

We're Here to Help

If you’re thinking of moving to Florida and want to find out more about William Ryan Homes Tampa, contact sales counselor Maxine to get information and to schedule a virtual home tour on FaceTime or Skype. She can also answer other questions you may have about living in the area. Call 813-773-2989 or email mstull@wmryan.com. For a snapshot of common questions she gets from out-of-towners, check out this blog post.