Tampa Named Best Place to Live for Veterans & Retired Military
The Sunshine State is a retirement haven thanks to warm weather, lush golf courses and no state income tax, but in a recent WalletHub survey, Tampa in particular was named #1 for veterans and retired military.
After retiring from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, you might be thinking about settling down in the area of your dreams. Affordable housing, military tax breaks, easy access to veterans’ services and job opportunities are some of the qualities you might be looking for in your new home. You’ll find all that and more in Tampa, a military-friendly city well known for its support of veterans.
HOME PRICES
US home values increased 8.4% in 2020, and Zillow predicts they will rise another 10.5% in the coming year. Tampa’s housing prices have been climbing the same as they have elsewhere, but are still affordable compared to other markets. Housing expenses in Tampa are 23% lower than the national average.
MILITARY BENEFITS
Florida provides many benefits for veterans and retired military, including no tax on military pensions, property tax exemptions, homestead exemptions, veteran hiring preference and tuition waivers. Get the details on these benefits at military.com.
VA FACILITIES
The Veterans Health Administration is the largest healthcare system in the US, providing care to nine million veterans at 1,255 healthcare facilities. Nineteen of these VA facilities are located within 50 miles of Tampa.
JOBS
Tampa is home to Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and entrepreneurs. Financial services, STEM, healthcare, research, education, tourism, retail and military all make significant contributions to jobs, offering a diversity that ensures continued growth.
COST OF LIVING
Tampa’s cost of living is 5% lower than the national average, and even more reasonable when you consider what you get for the money. Living in Tampa provides a mixed urban suburban feel with lots of cafés, parks, entertainment options and recreational activities—and you’re never more than an hour’s drive away from a world-class beach.
WEATHER
Leave your winter coat behind when you come, because you won’t need it! Tampa’s average high is 81°F, while the average low is 65°F. With outdoor activities all year long, a wide range of eateries, and entertainment options galore, Tampa’s quality of life just can’t be beat!
ART, CULTURE, FOOD, FUN & SUN
Play 18 holes at Rocky Point Golf Course. Enjoy a day of thrills at Busch Gardens. Catch a Broadway show at the Straz Center. Get your fill of Cuban cuisine at the 120-year-old Columbia Restaurant. Take a Caribbean cruise out of Port Tampa Bay. Interpret surrealistic art at the Salvador Dalí Museum. Captain your own Speed Boat Adventure. Cheer for the Rays, Lightning and Buccaneers.
Carrie Rowland is an Accredited Buyer’s Representative,® Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist,® Military Relocation Professional,® Graduate of the Realtor Institute® and a Realtor-Associate at RE/MAX Alliance Group in South Tampa
