I am going to St. Petersburg, Florida, tomorrow. Let the worthy citizens of Chicago get their liquor the best they can. I'm sick of the job-it's a thankless one and full of grief. -Al Capone
St. Petersburg was named as the United State’s very first green city, and has dedicated time and resources to conservation and other ecologically-forward policies. The city has also been a USA Tree City award recipient for more than 20 years.
Here's a local/tranplant on what St. Pete is like:
This area is booming. IMO a great place for a realtor but as almost every where we have plenty of those. Downtown St Pete is awesome, arts, food, hip, established, you name it and with the new pier (not fishing but entertainment) always something to do. The homes aren’t cheap anymore but nothing I’m sure you haven’t already dealt with or researched. You have cool cities in Tampa/StPete/Sarasota all close and offering anything you could want. I think anyone could find it a great place to live. St Pete is not glam like South Beach though, unless you wanna grab one of the downtown st pete condos for a few mill:)
For more reviews of what living in St. Petersburg is like from locals check out: The Buzz
Like many cities in Florida, tourists and snowbirds can crowd into St. Petersburg, making it feel even hotter than usual and more uncomfortable. Locals know how to mitigate the crowds -- and the weather -- and make it work for them.
Here's a local on managing the heat in St. Pete:
Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are you friends! Water bottles that keep your water COLD are your BFF. Honestly it’s very manageable if you’re not outside for long periods of time. This is coming from someone who moved down from the Great Lakes 3 years ago. Embrace the sweat!
St Pete was built as a vacation town and that vibe permeates the city. Tourists flock to the downtown bars and beach areas and residents, typically youngsters do as well, living in downtown condos/apts and appreciating a walk to the nightlife. St. Pete’s family or suburban lifestyle has expanded in recent years with plenty of renovation of the bungalows and new builds expanding the options for families. Regardless you can expect the “action” in town to be driven by beaches and an outdoor activity lifestyle driven by water play.
If you want to see what happens in St Pete check out the calendar of events: https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/events-festivals
Tourism is big business in St. Pete. The largest employer base, the biggest revenue generator and certainly the most visible sector in the city. There is also, however, a big base of financial sector companies and if you look closely you’ll notice a booming tech and web scene, in particular in the downtown area. If you’re young and looking to work in tech/web services then expect to find your work in the place you’re likely going to want to live.
St. Petersburg (or St. Pete as the locals call it) is a warm non-coastal town with an open mind and lots to do. The cost of living is about average for the United States and housing is more affordable than the rest of Florida. And there’s plenty of sunshine!
Use our friends at VRBO and Expedia to help get you going!
Downtown is the spot for young people looking to live amidst the most active social scene. Tons of Condo/Apt units were added in recent years and that living combined with plenty of Downtown tech/web services work make this the ideal starting point for a search for a home.
