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
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
Opportunity
50 · Bottom 38%
vs61 · Top 39%
Growth
72 · Top 16%
vs67 · Top 24%
Climate
81 · Top 4%
vs80 · Top 5%
Physical resilience
29 · Bottom 19%
vs42 · Bottom 32%
Housing affordability
63 · Bottom 7%
vs60 · Bottom 6%
Access
99 · Top 2%
vs99 · Top 2%
Economic stability
57 · Top 42%
vs70 · Top 25%
Measured values
| Metric | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,304,691 | 2,793,746 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $74,392 | $78,533 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,878 | $40,221 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,314/sq mi | 800/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $345,100 | $369,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,628 | $1,760 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.9% | 63.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.9% | 36.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 11.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 22,284 | 21,266 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.7 | 7.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 17.7% | -22.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 53°F | 50°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.5" | 51.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 3 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 31.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.2 | 38.5 | 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
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
65
Your Score
59
Area Score
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
69
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area · Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology