What it's like to live in Gulfport
Gulfport is a small city in Florida with county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Gulfport deals with a population that has been shrinking, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, hot summers, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How Gulfport compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Gulfport
Based on Gulfport's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,110
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $62,200 a year
- 58% of Gulfport renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$73,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,620
- Homes cost 5.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 10% above US
$1,555/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,555 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $366,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $366,200 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Pinellas County is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Pinellas County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 45% below US
181 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2109/100k · Gulfport Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 11% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 24% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 56°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 12% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 40% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is De Soto National Memorial (16 miles away).
Bottom line
Gulfport's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are a population that has been shrinking and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,555/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (24% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Gulfport
All Florida guides →Moving to St. Petersburg →
4 mi away · pop. 262,732
Rent $1,663/mo · Income $75,192
Compare with Gulfport →Moving to West Lealman →
6 mi away · pop. 14,944
Rent $1,302/mo · Income $51,589
Compare with Gulfport →Not sure Gulfport is the one?
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