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Living in
Palm River-Clair Mel.
Palm River-Clair Mel is an unincorporated community in Hillsborough County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Palm River-Clair Mel
If you're considering Palm River-Clair Mel, understand that you're choosing proximity to Tampa without being in it—your commute to downtown runs about 29 minutes on average, which is reasonable but something to factor in depending on your job. The cost of living is moderate for the region, with median home values around $272,000 and rentals averaging $1,440, so it won't break the bank but it's not dirt cheap either. The community is genuinely diverse, with strong White, African American, and Latino populations, which shapes the neighborhood culture and available services.
Palm River-Clair Mel at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Foreign-Born
24.0%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+12.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.0% foreign-born, most often from Cuba
Who lives in Palm River-Clair Mel: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palm River-Clair Mel, the largest foreign-born group is from Cuba (38.2%), and 34.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.1%
of residents
65 and Older
12.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.2%
of households
Married Couples
37.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.77
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Palm River-Clair Mel
In Palm River-Clair Mel, rent runs 9% below the FL average, and home values are 24% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,805
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.5%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Palm River-Clair Mel and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Hillsborough County, which includes Palm River-Clair Mel, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Palm River-Clair Mel: Hillsborough County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hillsborough County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Palm River-Clair Mel is about 2% of Hillsborough County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Palm River-Clair Mel Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area
Commute30.6 min avg
How Palm River-Clair Mel residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palm River-Clair Mel, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Major hub12.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which covers Palm River-Clair Mel, runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
126
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
435.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hillsborough, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hillsborough County, which includes Palm River-Clair Mel, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $276,000 |
| 2023 | 5 | Hail | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $60.1M |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13,000 |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $570,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $611,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $315,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hillsborough County, county-wide
Palm River-Clair Mel is about 2% of Hillsborough County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hillsborough County, which includes Palm River-Clair Mel, is typically good — 194 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
194
per year
Moderate Days
169
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hillsborough County, county-wide
Palm River-Clair Mel is about 2% of Hillsborough County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate91°F summers, 55°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palm River-Clair Mel has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and warm winters (avg low 55°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
83°/65°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
85°/68°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
73°/55°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
94
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
109
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 53°F | 2.65" |
| Feb | 74°F | 56°F | 2.62" |
| Mar | 78°F | 59°F | 2.52" |
| Apr | 83°F | 65°F | 2.55" |
| May | 88°F | 71°F | 2.60" |
| Jun | 91°F | 75°F | 7.37" |
| Jul | 91°F | 77°F | 7.75" |
| Aug | 91°F | 77°F | 9.03" |
| Sep | 90°F | 75°F | 6.09" |
| Oct | 86°F | 69°F | 2.34" |
| Nov | 79°F | 61°F | 1.40" |
| Dec | 74°F | 56°F | 2.56" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palm River-Clair Mel
Uninsured
13.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Palm River-Clair Mel's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Tampa General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Tampa
Adventhealth Riverview
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Riverview
HCA Florida Brandon Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Brandon
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palm River-Clair Mel
Palm River-Clair Mel's student/teacher ratio is 19.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Palm River-Clair Mel (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 37,207 students · in-state tuition $6,410 · 75% graduate · median earnings $63,660 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,572 students · in-state tuition $35,744 · 64% graduate · median earnings $69,272 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 1,107 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 20% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 588 students · in-state tuition $21,628 · 56% graduate · median earnings $52,207 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 388 students · in-state tuition $18,145 · 45% graduate · median earnings $39,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa
9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 335 students · in-state tuition $23,213 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: De Soto National Memorial, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palm River-Clair Mel
Palm River-Clair Mel has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being De Soto National Memorial (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
32 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palm River-Clair Mel
78th Street Community Library
7625 Palm River Road, Tampa
Cities Near Palm River-Clair Mel
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palm River-Clair Mel?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palm River-Clair Mel FAQ
Is Palm River-Clair Mel, Florida affordable?⌄
Palm River-Clair Mel's median rent is $1,525/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $71,787/year. Median home value is $271,700.
Is Palm River-Clair Mel, Florida safe?⌄
Palm River-Clair Mel is policed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 126 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 436 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palm River-Clair Mel, Florida?⌄
Hillsborough County, which includes Palm River-Clair Mel, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palm River-Clair Mel, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Palm River-Clair Mel is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,525/month and median household income is $71,787/year. The median home value is $271,700. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palm River-Clair Mel, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Palm River-Clair Mel is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from