Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in St. Petersburg, FL
6 neighborhoods ranked by safety, quiet living, air quality, affordability, and walkability — the factors that matter most for a comfortable retirement.
Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in St. Petersburg — Key Takeaways
The best neighborhood for retirees in St. Petersburg is Downtown St. Pete with a Retiree Score of 74/100. St. Petersburg has 6 neighborhoods evaluated for retirement livability. The safest neighborhood is Snell Isle with a violent crime rate of 0.3 per 1,000 residents, 92% below the national average. Best air quality goes to Kenwood with an AQI of 38.
St. Petersburg has a population of 258,308, a median household income of $54,830, and a median home value of $310,000, which is 10% above the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, DOT Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
Top 3 Neighborhoods for Retirees
| # | Neighborhood | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown St. Pete | 74 | ||
| Old Northeast | 71 | ||
| Grand Central District | 69 | ||
4 | Kenwood | 67 | |
5 | Snell Isle | 61 | |
6 | Shore Acres | 59 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 neighborhoods in St. Petersburg for each retiree-relevant metric.
Lowest violent crime rate
- 0.3 per 1K
- 0.3 per 1K
- 0.4 per 1K
- 0.6 per 1K
- 5.8 per 1K
Lowest Air Quality Index
- AQI 38
- AQI 38
- AQI 38
- AQI 38
- AQI 38
Lowest median home value
- $145,800
- $193,000
- $366,700
- $784,000
- $784,000
Highest Walk Score
- 99/100
- 63/100
- 62/100
- 46/100
- 14/100
Lowest property crime rate
- 4.0 per 1K
- 4.0 per 1K
- 5.2 per 1K
- 7.1 per 1K
- 26.9 per 1K
Lowest poverty rate
- 2.2%
- 2.2%
- 7.1%
- 11.2%
- 13.1%
Highest median household income
- $123,393
- $123,393
- $97,396
- $59,171
- $59,119
Neighborhoods are ranked using the Retiree Score, a composite livability index specifically designed for retirees. It prioritizes the factors that matter most for a comfortable, safe, and healthy retirement:
- Safety (Violent Crime)
- 25% weight
- Quiet Living (Road Noise)
- 20% weight
- Air Quality (AQI)
- 20% weight
- Affordability (Home Value)
- 20% weight
- Walkability (Walk Score)
- 15% weight
Safety is weighted highest because personal security is the top concern for retirees. Quiet living and air quality reflect the importance of a healthy, peaceful environment. Affordability matters for those on fixed incomes, and walkability supports an active lifestyle without reliance on driving.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.