An amenity-rich 55-plus Tampa community near attractions
Sun City Center is a 55-plus community known for its amenities, affordability and proximity to Gulf beaches and Tampa Bay area attractions. South of Tampa and north of Sarasota on Interstate 75, the Hillsborough County development is a self-contained village. It includes shopping centers, restaurants and recreation. “It's very affordable compared to other 55-plus communities in the area,” says Realtor Sandy Tams with CENTURY 21 Beggins Enterprises. "Its group activities and events are a major draw for residents." Developed in the 1960s, the golf cart-friendly Sun City Center has flourished into a community of 31,000 people. Sun City Center is surrounded by nature preserves, state parks and environmental areas to the east, and Tampa Bay is several miles west. Residents enjoy over 200 clubs and organizations and access to doctor’s offices, hospitals, and specialist facilities. HCA Florida South Shore Hospital and The ER at Sun City Center are within the community. The Moffitt Cancer Center at Southshore sits just over its western edge, and St. Joseph’s Hospital South is 7 miles away. While the median age in Sun City Center is 71, proximity to two major thoroughfares provides access to the county’s biggest employers. The State of Florida is its largest, followed by HCA Healthcare and Hillsborough County School District.
Many residents of Sun CIty Center use golf carts as their main transportation.
The Little Manatee River State Park is one of many nature areas to visit near Sun CIty Center
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A 55-plus community with single-family homes, townhouses and condos
Sun City Center is a master-planned 55-plus community on flat lands surrounded by greenbelts and lakes. The community offers single-family homes, condos, townhouses and apartment buildings. “There have been a lot of new developments over the last several years,” says Lorynn Gavin, Realtor with Compass Florida. “It’s expanding, but unlike neighboring communities, the price points here are much more affordable. Plus, you’re near all these cool waterways.” The median sale price for November 2024 was $295,000, down 14% from the year prior. Prices are 36% lower than Tampa and 35% lower than the national average. The Villages of Cypress Creek offer single-family houses ranging from the mid-$200,000s to the low-$600,000s overlooking a golf course. The gated Kings Point subdivision offers condos and has a free shuttle pool and community garden. Prices range from the low-$100 to the low-$400,000s. Cypress Creek provides townhouses averaging in the mid-$200,000s. The townhouses overlook a lake and sit near the Bullfrog Creek Wildlife & Environmental Area, which borders the community. A volunteer community association manages the 55-plus development. Many neighborhoods have homeowners’ associations. Single-family properties offer lower homeowners association fees than many Florida communities, and condos have higher fees, but maintenance is included. Sun City Center provides single-family, condo and apartment rentals, ranging from $1,400 to around $3,000 monthly. Sun City Center amenities include over 200 clubs, multiple clubhouses, sports courts and activities. The entire community is accessible via golf carts, which can be driven on local roadways.
Newer construction homes with a spanish style are also very common in the area.
The Kings Point neighborhood in Sun City Center is gated for security.
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Home to over 200 social clubs; nature preserves and hiking trails outside the community
Recreation and activities abound in Sun City Center. “There’s a lot going on. The overall community favorite is pickleball, plus there are fitness centers, swimming pools, tennis and softball,” Tams says. There are five golf courses, including private, semi-private and public. The public Cypress Golf Club has an 18-hole course, dining and events. There are also sports clubs, 22 music and dance groups, card clubs and social organizations. Sun City Center also includes nature trails, a dog park, movie theater and an atrium with pools. The 2,400-acre Little Manatee River State Park sits directly south of the community, offering 12 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, camping, fishing and boating spots. Bullfrog Creek Wildlife & Environmental Area is directly north, with hiking trails and is the place for spotting wildlife in natural habitats. Apollo Beach Nature Preserve is about 8 miles west. Swimming is prohibited, but it’s popular for wading and shoreline fishing. Also in Apollo, Gavin says the Manatee Viewing Center is a favorite local spot. “In the winter, when it gets chilly, the manatees crowd the viewing area because the energy from the [Big Bend Power Station] plant makes the water warmer.”
Pickle ball is one of the favorite activities in Sun City Center.
Little Manatee River State Park offers scenic views at every bend.
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Sun City Center Boulevard is convenient for shopping and dining
Most restaurants are along Sun City Center Boulevard, which cuts through the community’s center. The strip offers various cuisines, from German fare at Old Castle Restaurant to Mexican eats at Plaza Mexico. Shopping centers and national grocers sit at both ends of the boulevard, intersecting at I-75 and U.S. Route 301. Cypress Village Plaza and Kings Crossing are the largest, with big-box retailers, banks and other essentials. Ruskin Family Drive-In is about 7 miles west and has been an area staple since 1952.
Sun City Center Blvd. is the main thoroughfare in Sun City Center.
The Ruskin Drive-In near Apollo Beach has been in business since 1952.
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A holiday golf cart parade and Funfest
The community hosts regular free concerts, movie nights, a Fourth of July celebration and an annual themed golf cart parade in December. Sun City Center’s biggest event is FunFest, held every March. The celebration showcases the community clubs and includes a health fair, vendors and entertainment.
A subtropical climate and low crime
The community experiences a humid subtropical climate with mild winters. Sun City Center provides a volunteer-led emergency squad, security patrol and Samaritan services, which offer free food and medicine to those in need. There are 12 houses of worship. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the county’s crime rate decreased by 8 percent in 2023. County crime in 2020 was 42% lower than the state for that same year.
Less than 30 miles from Tampa
Highway 301 borders the community’s eastern edge, and I-75 runs along its western edge, providing access to the region. Tampa is about a 27-mile drive, Tampa International Airport is approximately 33 miles north, and St. Petersburg is about 37 miles away. Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit provides two bus lines for Sun City Center.
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