Coastal living, creativity and culinary delights in the Sunshine City
Once a sleepy retirement community, South Florida’s St. Petersburg now hums with a vibrant and creative energy only matched by its coastal amenities. Located on the Pinellas peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the city’s warm weather, vibrant downtown and outdoor recreation are luring new homebuyers and turning snowbirds into permanent residents. It’s a hub for the arts, with several creative districts, and its culinary scene has received numerous national accolades. Its housing market is also hot, with newcomers scrambling to buy in historic neighborhoods, on the waterfront and in creative enclaves. “Downtown is one of the things making St. Pete so attractive,” says Chau Nguyen, Broker for Source Real Estate and Tampa Bay local. “You’re 15 minutes from the beach to the west, the pier area is to the east, and you’re sandwiched in between. If you're heading over the bridge to Tampa, that’s another 20 minutes.” The city, known as St. Pete or “The Burg” to locals, wasn’t always a buzzing arts and culinary mecca, though.
Incorporated in 1903, St. Pete saw an initial influx in 1915 when it started hosting baseball teams for spring training. The city’s big boom came in the ‘20s, with tourists and the 55-plus community coming for its tropical climate and affordability. The Million Dollar Pier, now known as St. Pete Pier, also attracted residents for years, ballooning the population from 14,000 to 40,000. In the ‘40s, it saw expansion when The U.S. Coast Station at Bayboro Harbor was used as a training base for World War II troops. Rising home prices in the early 2000s in the Tampa Bay area caused homebuyers to venture to St. Pete. Museums and shopping plazas followed, and the construction of the Howard Frankland Bridge and other bridges provided easier access in and out. Today, the city has over 264,000 people, making it the second-most populous city in the Tampa Bay region. St. Pete features Fortune 500 companies and a buzzing startup community. The Gateway area, which includes Pinellas Park, is a hub for economic activity. Electronics manufacturer Jabil is headquartered here and is one of St. Pete’s largest employers. Other top employers include Raymond James Financial, Home Shopping Network, HCA Healthcare and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Tourism is still vital to St. Pete’s economy, as well. In 2024, the county saw its highest economic impact in tourism dollars, totaling $11.2 billion.
While St. Pete’s economy and arts scenes are thriving, it's not without its hardships. In 2024, two major hurricanes hit the city and the greater Tampa Bay area within two weeks of each other — a first for the region in more than a century. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused an estimated $3.45 million in residential damage and $136 million in damage to local businesses. Two of the areas hit the hardest were Madeira Beach and Treasure Island. The city is working with federal and state officials for beach renourishment funding. The federal government announced in January 2025 that St. Pete will receive $160 million to aid in any disaster recovery funding not covered by insurance or other sources. The dual hurricanes damaged several of the city’s old and new icons. The historic Don Cesar Hotel, known as The Pink Palace, had to close but is scheduled to reopen in 2025. The “Bending Arc” sculpture, a focal point of St. Pete Pier, was removed after suffering damage. The roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team, was also destroyed. City Council is still debating paying for the $58 million ballpark repair because it’s part of a $6.5 billion project planned for Downtown Saint Petersburg , which includes a new stadium.
Living in Downtown St. Petersburg has so much to offer from the pier to museums & much more.
Just 15mins away from Disston Heights is the beautiful beaches.
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Fun on the coast
St. Petersburg is known for its outdoor offerings, from waterfront parks to beaches, botanical gardens and maritime activities. Sitting on a peninsula with a string of barrier islands, St. Pete boasts miles of shoreline along Boca Ciega Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay and Intracoastal waterways. Boating and fishing are favorite year-round pastimes. The area has multiple marinas and fishing piers, and its waterways attract kayakers, parasailers and yacht enthusiasts. The city has more than 180 parks and over 30 miles of trails. Vinoy Park is one of the many waterfront parks along St. Pete Pier’s 26 acres. The pier features a marina, splash pad and fishing deck and is home to the St. Petersburg Museum of History. Fort DeSoto Park is one of the most popular waterfront areas, offering five islands, a historic fort and trails. A ferry stops here to reach several islands. Cyclists and joggers enjoy the 75-mile Fred Marquis Pinellas Loop Trail, stretching from St. Pete to Tarpon Springs. Sunken Gardens near Crescent Lake is a major attraction in St. Pete. A historic landmark since the 1930s, the botanical garden has over 50,000 exotic plants and birds from around the world, including parrots and flamingos. Wildlife refuges and preserves like Weedon Island are on the city's outskirts along the bay. Egmont Key island — accessible by boat — is popular for swimming, camping and snorkeling. St. Pete Beach is one of the area’s most visited beaches, about 9 miles west of the city. Pass-A-Grille Beach and the Gulfport Beach Recreation Area, both less than 10 miles away, are also popular beach destinations.
With the main beaches about 20mins away, Gandy beach gives you what you need without the drive.
Enjoy a day out on the water with your friends when you live in Azalea neighborhood.
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A vibrant downtown with seven arts districts and diverse cuisine
St. Pete’s dining, art and culture scenes are a core part of what draws newcomers and locals. Its rich and diverse culinary haven started gaining national recognition in 2021, and it’s still flourishing. Travel & Leisure named it the top food city in America in 2024. Downtown is the pulse of its culinary and entertainment world, where bars Pluma and restaurants Parkside Grill are packed with patrons nightly. “We’ve got shops, restaurants, nightlife…we have it all,” says Nicoleta Forbes, a Realtor with Douglas Elliman and longtime resident. “St. Pete is very big on staying local. We don’t have a lot of chains downtown.” The walkable Grand Central District is a 15-block stretch along Central Avenue with over 450 locally owned shops, restaurants, breweries and art galleries. It also has the most murals in the city. Wild Child is a favorite here, known for its Korean fried chicken sandwiches and other international dishes. The city boasts seven art districts. Attracting thousands annually, they each have a unique vibe and attractions. The St. Pete Pier District is the go-to spot for waterfront dining. The pier has several restaurants, like Teak, a fine dining spot serving fresh seafood coming in from the Gulf waters. Other seafood favorites around town include longtime institutions like Harvey’s Fourth Street Grill, where their grouper platter reigns supreme. Downtown St. Pete’s brewing scene is also exploding, with more than 12 within walking distance of each other. Art is woven into St. Pete’s culture and is as vibrant as its culinary scene. The Warehouse Arts, Central Arts and Edge districts are brimming with murals, galleries and performance venues. Creatives have been flocking to the area since 2021. The Waterfront Museum District features the world-renowned Dali Museum, housing the largest collection of Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali’s work outside Europe. Mahaffey Theater and the Palladium, a staple showcasing orchestras since 1925, are also located here. The Warehouse Arts District has transformed old industrial buildings into colorful studios and spaces for large-scale installations. For large-scale shopping, there’s The Sundial, an open-air plaza offering upscale brands in the heart of downtown. Tyrone Square is the other major shopping center. Downtown’s Saturday Morning Market is also a popular hub to shop for artisan foods and goods.
Living in Brighton Bay offers so many locations where you can be on the waters edge.
If you enjoy the night life then make sure to stop in to CJ's Backstage for a drink.
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Waterfront Mediterranean mansions, historic districts and artistic enclaves
The city has over 100 neighborhoods, each unique and diverse as its architecture. These include historic districts with homes dating to the 1800s, waterfront Mediterranean mansions and towering condos downtown. There is also a wide range of cottages, from quaint Key West-style to multistory multimillion-dollar beach houses. St. Petersburg’s median single-family home price is $450,000. Prices are 5% lower than Tampa and 7% higher than the national median but vary widely across the city. Depending on location, prices can range from $300,000 to over $2 million. Coastal properties and historic homes can cost over $10 million. In 2023, listing prices jumped nearly 12%, while home values rose more than 3%, according to a Norada Real Estate Investments report. The waterfront Jungle Prada neighborhood offers large parks, historic Mediterranean builds and a roaming pride of wild peacocks. Downtown St. Pete is the heart of the action, with trendy restaurants, bars and parks within walking distance. The median price is $840,000, but a penthouse condo costs over $7 million. “You have condos with amazing bay views, but because it’s the bay instead of the beach, it’s much less crowded,” says Forbes. Historic Kenwood has the highest concentration of Craftsman-style bungalows per square acre in the country, many dating to the 1920s. Live Oak is popular for those with children as it’s near highly ranked schools, parks, and shopping. The upscale Coquina Key offers island living on the bay. It’s primarily residential, with Spanish-inspired estates, condos and ramblers. Off the mainland, downtown is accessible in 3 miles via a bridge. St. Pete homebuyers pay higher insurance premiums and property taxes in waterfront enclaves because of the city’s tropical storms. Some insurance companies offer discounts for homeowners who install storm protections.
Bahama Shores neighborhood sits on the edge of the waters edge allowing some homes private docks
Spanish Mediterranean homes add a lot of character to Bahama Shore neighborhood.
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Top marks for St. Pete schools
Pinellas County Schools serves the area, which has an A-minus on Niche. Catering to over 93,000 students, it’s the 7th-largest district in Florida. College-bound students can attend the University of South Florida St. Petersburg or the St. Peterburg/Gibb Campus, a community college. In 2023, USF St. Petersburg received a state grant to fund the Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences Research and Teaching Facility, which will help Florida better prepare for hurricanes, rising sea levels and flooding events.
High school students can attend Gibbs High School in the Bartlett Park neighborhood.
John Hopkins is a well known middle school in the St. Pete Community.
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St. Pete's Pride Fest is the largest in Florida
Each year, the city hosts over 1,000 events and festivals. “We’ve got events happening every weekend in one of the parks or museums or at the farmers’ market,” says Forbes. June’s month-long St. Pete Pride celebration has been an integral event for over 20 years. It’s now spread across multiple sites and is the largest Pride event in Florida, attracting over 500,000 attendees. Localtopia is an annual event in February and the city’s largest locally focused celebration, featuring goods from over 300 independent businesses. The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance has hosted the SHINE Mural Festival every November since 2015. Featuring work by local, national and international artists, the festival has created 170 murals since its inception. The city also hosts a year-round event, the Second Saturday ArtWalk, and the City of Performing Arts Month in September, which showcases performances across multiple venues.
A subtropical climate but prone to storms
St. Pete experiences a humid subtropical climate with a defined rainy season. The city holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine, earning it the nickname “The Sunshine City.” However, it’s prone to flooding and storms. According to the St. Petersburg Police Department’s 2023 annual report, total crime increased less than 1% from 2022. However, violent crime was down 6%. Tourism season is from November to April, increasing traffic congestion and crowds.
Convenient access to major thoroughfares and public transit
U.S. Highway 19 and Fifth Avenue consolidate most cross-city traffic. Interstate 275 runs through downtown and across the Howard Frankland Bridge. St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport is the closest airport, about 13 miles from the city center, but mainly serves seasonal traffic to smaller cities. Tampa International Airport is approximately 20 miles northeast, and Clearwater is about a 23-mile drive. Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PTSA) provides 40 fixed routes across Pinellas County. PSTA’s Looper offers a free shuttle to downtown hot spots. The bus service also operates SunRunner, a rapid transit service connecting Downtown St. Pete with St. Pete Beach. The city’s Cross-Bay ferry runs from St. Pete to Downtown Tampa.
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