St. Petersburg, FLBest Places To Live in the U.S. in 2023
Nestled along the Gulf Coast, St. Petersburg offers pristine beaches, a thriving arts community and a bustling downtown district. The city’s warm climate and year-round outdoor activities help to create a relaxed lifestyle with endless possibilities.
St. Petersburg, FL, Is One of the Best Cities To Live in America
Located on the Pinellas Peninsula, St. Petersburg, FL — St. Pete for short — is a fast-growing city and one of the best places to live in the U.S. In St. Petersburg, work-life balance includes lots of beach days. Nicknamed the “Sunshine City,” it’s sunny 361 days a year here, and the community holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine. (For the record, it was a 768-day stretch that started in 1967!).
Locals and residents alike mingle at more than 1,000 special events and festivals that happen annually, ranging from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to St. Anthony’s Triathlon, yachting events, farmers markets, Florida’s largest Pride celebration and a long-running parade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
St. Petersburg is also a city that prides itself on inclusivity. For example, the city scores a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Municipality Equality Index, which evaluates how inclusive cities’ laws, policies and services are for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people.
Stellar amenities also help St. Pete shine – we’re talking lots of pickleball courts, plus dog parks, the 45-mile Pinellas Trail that’s built atop old railroad tracks, award-winning golf courses, and, oh yeah, how about the historic shuffleboard and lawn bowling complex that has 74 courts and grandstand seating? But of course, one of St. Pete’s most prized amenities is its natural beauty, which includes 244 miles of shoreline along Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and intercoastal waterways. There’s also a unique downtown waterfront with restaurants and bars and a free Looper Trolley that connects to the city’s major attractions.
St. Petersburg also gets accolades for being an artsy city. Second Saturday ArtWalks are a great introduction to the area’s studios and galleries, and locals have access to an extensive art collection in their own backyard, from the surrealist masterpieces at the Salvador Dalí Museum to the glass art at Imagine Museum and the impressive collection at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg. Of course, enjoying an aerial performance or concert at the Floridian Social Club, a century-old venue, is also a must.
It’s no surprise that the city is attracting so many Fortune 500 companies and is a magnet for startups, with several districts like downtown, the Skyway Marina and the Warehouse Arts District appealing to companies looking to launch or grow.
St. Petersburg, FL Quality of Life LivScore
St. Petersburg, FL Top Categories
Amenities
Economy
Housing & Cost of Living
St. Petersburg ranks highest for amenities, economy and housing.
Weather and Outdoor Activities in St. Petersburg, FL
St. Pete has a sunny disposition! The city has a humid, subtropical climate with hot, humid summers, mild, dry winters and plenty of sunshine. The average highs and lows are 90°F and 76°F (summer) and 71°F and 56°F (winter).
The average annual snowfall in St. Petersburg is 0 inches. While the city may experience occasional frost or freezing temperatures during the winter months, snowfall is extremely rare.
The average annual rainfall in St. Petersburg is 51 inches, with the highest averages in July and August.
St. Petersburg averages 361 sunny days a year.
Go birdwatching at Boca Ciega Millennium Park, home to at least 175 species, in addition to boardwalks and an observation tower.
Things To Do in St. Petersburg, FL
At the century-old Sunken Gardens, visitors are greeted by a white cockatoo that says, “Hey, baby!” The botanical gardens are teeming with more than 50,000 tropical plants and birds.
Spend an afternoon having hands-on fun with little ones at the Great Explorations Children’s Museum. Then, make your way over to the Morean Arts Center to view the Chihuly Collection. Whimsical glass sculptures of flowers, fauna and funky-colored shapes will delight the entire family.
If you’re feeling fancy, head to Flute & Dram, a caviar and champagne bar with live music.
Bandit Coffee Co. is a locally owned cafe and coffee roaster that sources many of its goods from local Florida farmers. There’s intentionally no wifi here, but it’s a chance to have a meet-cute or get to know your neighbors.
The Local and State Economy in St. Petersburg, FL
Major growth industries in the St. Petersburg area include tourism and hospitality, financial services and technology. Raymond James Financial and the Home Shopping Network each have headquarters in St. Petersburg.
In 2023, the sales tax rate in St. Petersburg is 7%.
No, Florida does not have a state income tax.
St. Petersburg has several top health care providers that offer high-quality medical care to the community, including St. Anthony’s Hospital, Bayfront Health and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, which is nationally ranked in four specialties.
There are several colleges and universities in St. Petersburg, including the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg College and Eckerd College.
Quick Facts About St. Petersburg, FL
- Median Household Income
- $66,590
- Median Home Value
- $303,044
- Average State Property Tax
- $2,143
- Total Population
- 258,517
- Median Rent/Mo.
- $1,126
- Average Commute
- 20.02 minutes
St. Petersburg is one of the best places to live in the U.S., thanks to diverse amenities and a strong economy. It outranked other Florida cities on the list. Learn more about St. Petersburg and read our top reasons to move to Florida. One great way to learn about a city is to visit before you move there.
