Budget, amenities and schools bring people to Connerton
Not much surrounds Connerton except for swampy nature preserves and more homes, but the master-planned community 25 miles north of Tampa draws people because of what’s within its expanding boundaries. Residents often live a short walk from the nearest park, and trails and bike paths lead to a pool and a conservation area. For more than 20 years, construction has been ongoing in Connerton, a landing spot for buyers wanting new, spacious homes for a budget of $400,000 to $600,000, says Tetiana Gapych, a Realtor with Charles Rutenberg Realty who lived in Connerton until 2024. “It’s mostly families with kids who need at least four bedrooms and who want a good school system and a place where you can walk, hang out and go to the park.”
Houses include new homes from Lennar and updated resales
Construction continues in Connerton, where Lennar sells newly built homes ranging from three-bedroom Craftsman-inspired houses starting in the mid-$300,000s to five-bedroom homes with Italianate features that begin in the mid-$600,000s. More options are on the way, as Lennar is building two townhouse communities.
There’s also an active resale market. Even sellers who have lived in their homes for less than five years often make upgrades, such as replacing appliances and installing new flooring, by the time they list their properties, Gapych says. “It’s like no one has even lived in the house yet.” Resale prices for townhouses vary from $265,000 to $340,000, while most single-family homes cost between $350,000 and $700,000. Luxury homes in gated communities can sell between $725,000 and $1.1 million.
Homeowners pay HOA fees as well as Community Development District fees, which fund community-wide infrastructure in Connerton. CDD fees vary based on the phase when homes were built, with higher CDD fees for newer houses, Gapych says.
The community CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Land O’ Lakes High trains future chefs and bakers
Gapych says many kids walk or ride their bikes to Connerton Elementary, located in the community. Niche gives the school a B grade, while Pine View Middle receives a B-plus. Across the street from Connerton stands A-rated Land O’ Lakes High. The school’s Academy of Culinary Arts teaches students cooking and baking skills, starting with food safety and nutrition in ninth grade and ending in 12th grade with hands-on training in the school’s student-run cafe.
Pool, sports and trails in Connerton
Residents live miles from the amenities of the city, but they can have fun without leaving Connerton thanks to the community’s pools and trails, Gapych says. At the clubhouse, people can swim in the resort-style pool, which attaches to a splash park with water slides. Locals can play games of tennis, volleyball and basketball at the clubhouse, where there’s an indoor gym. On Saturdays, vendors sell produce, pastries and plants from the clubhouse’s front lawn during the Connerton Farmers Market.
Small parks with playgrounds are spread among Connerton’s subdivisions. Ten miles of walking and cycling trails cross through the community, with boardwalks elevating the trails over wetlands inhabited by alligators. Trails lead from Connerton to the neighboring Conner Preserve, where visitors can hike, bike or ride on horseback through marshes and sandhill ridges. The 18-hole course at The Groves Golf & Country Club is open to the public.
Shopping essentials and lakeside dining on Route 41
Residents can turn out of Connerton onto U.S. Route 41 to shop at Publix, fill prescriptions at Walgreens and visit AdventHealth Connerton hospital. There are a few fast-food chains and one sit-down eatery, San Jose Mexican Restaurant, alongside the community. Farther south down Route 41, diners at Ukulele Brand’s can hear live music on a lakeside patio. At the intersection of U.S. Route 41 and Florida state Road 54, shopping centers house Target, The Home Depot and Marshalls.
Route 41 and state Road 52 connect Connerton to Tampa, I-75
Connerton borders U.S. Route 41, which leads to Tampa, and Florida state Road 52, which connects to Interstate 75. The Florida Department of Transportation added lanes to Route 41 in 2023 and plans to widen state Road 52 in 2027, easing the flow of traffic. The drive to and from Tampa can take up to 90 minutes during rush hour. It’s about 30 miles to Tampa International Airport, where planes fly directly to more than 100 destinations.
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Written By
Alex Soderstrom
