Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Which is the better fit for you?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,249,291 | 3,304,691 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,527 | $74,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,766 | $43,878 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,233/sq mi | 1,314/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $443,300 | $345,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,869 | $1,628 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.5% | 67.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 34.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 20,532 | 22,284 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 6.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 6.7% | 17.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 59°F | 53°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 62.0" | 49.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 42.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metro Area · Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology