What it's like to live in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is a large city in Florida with unemployment 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.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Crime above national average
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How St. Petersburg compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to St. Petersburg
Based on St. Petersburg's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,326
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $66,520 a year
- 55% of St. Petersburg renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,220
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,110
- Homes cost 4.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 18% above US
$1,663/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,663 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $371,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $371,100 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 50% above US
492 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2021/100k · St. Petersburg Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 25.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% 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
Healthcare
5 hospitals
There are 5 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.3 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 18% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
40 public schools inside the boundary
There are 40 public schools inside the boundary and 28 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 (17 miles away).
Bottom line
St. Petersburg's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,663/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals.
Other places near St. Petersburg
All Florida guides →Moving to Gulfport →
4 mi away · pop. 11,734
Rent $1,555/mo · Income $71,203
Compare with St. Petersburg →Moving to Lealman →
5 mi away · pop. 20,567
Rent $1,247/mo · Income $45,308
Compare with St. Petersburg →Moving to West Lealman →
6 mi away · pop. 14,944
Rent $1,302/mo · Income $51,589
Compare with St. Petersburg →Moving to Pinellas Park →
8 mi away · pop. 53,560
Rent $1,631/mo · Income $63,432
Compare with St. Petersburg →Not sure St. Petersburg is the one?
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