Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Opportunity
61 · Top 39%
vs50 · Bottom 38%
Growth
67 · Top 24%
vs72 · Top 16%
Climate
80 · Top 5%
vs81 · Top 4%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 32%
vs29 · Bottom 19%
Housing affordability
60 · Bottom 6%
vs63 · Bottom 7%
Access
99 · Top 2%
vs99 · Top 2%
Economic stability
70 · Top 25%
vs57 · Top 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,793,746 | 3,304,691 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,533 | $74,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,221 | $43,878 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 800/sq mi | 1,314/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $369,800 | $345,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,760 | $1,628 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.1% | 67.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 34.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 21,266 | 22,284 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.6 | 6.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -22.6% | 17.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 50°F | 53°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.4" | 49.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.5 | 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
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
69
Your Score
64
Area Score
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
65
Your Score
59
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metro Area · Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology