Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Tampa, FL
12 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 Tampa — Key Takeaways
The best neighborhood for retirees in Tampa is Ybor City with a Retiree Score of 75/100. Tampa has 12 neighborhoods evaluated for retirement livability. The safest neighborhood is Seminole Heights with a violent crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Best air quality goes to Westshore with an AQI of 38.
Tampa has a population of 399,700, a median household income of $55,584, and a median home value of $340,000, which is 21% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ybor City | 75 | ||
| Seminole Heights | 71 | ||
| Downtown Tampa | 69 | ||
4 | Bayshore Beautiful | 68 | |
5 | Westshore | 68 | |
6 | Tampa Heights | 66 | |
7 | Channelside | 65 | |
8 | Hyde Park Tampa | 63 | |
9 | SoHo Tampa | 63 | |
10 | Harbour Island | 61 | |
11 | Palma Ceia | 59 | |
12 | Davis Islands | 56 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 neighborhoods in Tampa for each retiree-relevant metric.
Lowest violent crime rate
- 3.8 per 1K
- 3.8 per 1K
- 3.8 per 1K
- 3.8 per 1K
- 3.8 per 1K
Lowest Air Quality Index
- AQI 38
- AQI 41
- AQI 41
- AQI 41
- AQI 41
Lowest median home value
- $197,600
- $280,200
- $297,900
- $360,000
- $375,000
Highest Walk Score
- 89/100
- 88/100
- 87/100
- 87/100
- 86/100
Lowest property crime rate
- 21.5 per 1K
- 21.5 per 1K
- 21.5 per 1K
- 21.5 per 1K
- 21.5 per 1K
Lowest poverty rate
- 2.0%
- 2.7%
- 2.7%
- 4.5%
- 6.5%
Highest median household income
- $156,750
- $151,250
- $151,250
- $127,125
- $103,466
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.