Your complete community guide
Living in Hillsborough County, FL Tampa Bay Living, Lake-Country Close
Big-city Tampa and the bay to the west, with growing suburbs like Brandon, Riverview and Plant City a short drive from Polk. Here's what daily life really looks like, city by city.
A letter from Desiree
Welcome to Hillsborough County
"So many of my Polk County clients work in Tampa, and so many Tampa families are looking east for more space. Knowing both sides of I-4 is what helps you choose well."
Hillsborough gives you the energy of a major city: Tampa International Airport, a growing downtown, a research university and pro sports. Just east, Brandon, Riverview and Plant City trade some of that buzz for more room and an easier pace.
This guide covers the history, what's happening this season, how locals spend their weekends, schools and healthcare, commutes, and a closer look at each featured city. When you're ready, I'll help you compare neighborhoods on both sides of the county line.
Desiree Pelletier
Hillsborough County at a glance
The Bay Side of Central Florida
Know before you go: the story
Created in 1834 and named for the Earl of Hillsborough, the county once covered land that is now eight counties. Tampa grew up around Fort Brooke, and in the late 1800s Ybor City's cigar factories made it a manufacturing hub with Cuban, Spanish and Italian roots. Farming still matters here: strawberries are the county's most valuable crop.
Why people move here
Big-city jobs, Tampa International Airport, a major research university and pro sports, with suburban and waterfront neighborhoods close by. For many of my clients, it pairs naturally with a home in Polk County, about 20 to 45 minutes east on I-4.
What's happening now
This Season in Hillsborough
Fall and winter traditions locals look forward to every year.
Dover · Late Oct to early Nov
Hillsborough County Fair
Rides, livestock, food and music at the county fairgrounds.
Downtown Tampa · Mid-Nov to early Jan
Winter Village
An ice rink and holiday shops at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, plus Santa Fest and the tree lighting in early December.
Plant City · Thanksgiving to Dec 24
Christmas Lane
More than 1.5 million lights at the Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds.
Tampa · December
Victorian Christmas Stroll
A beloved tradition at the Henry B. Plant Museum on the University of Tampa campus.
On the water · Mid-December
Lighted Boat Parades
The Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Boat Parade and the Apollo Beach Lighted Boat Parade.
Bayshore Blvd · Late January
Gasparilla
The Children's Parade and the famous pirate invasion and Parade of Pirates. Then the Florida State Fair in February and the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City in early March.
Dates change from year to year; check each event's official site before you go.
Live like a local
Things to Do, Eat & Explore
Entertainment
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- The Florida Aquarium
- ZooTampa at Lowry Park
- Tampa Riverwalk and Tampa Museum of Art
- Ybor City Historic District
- Henry B. Plant Museum
- TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach (Nov to Apr, free)
Dine & drink
- Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City (since 1905, Florida's oldest restaurant)
- Bern's Steak House, South Tampa (since 1956)
- La Segunda Bakery, Ybor City (Cuban bread since 1915)
- Parkesdale Farm Market, Plant City (strawberry shortcake)
- Fred's Market Restaurant, Plant City
- Moreno Bakery, Brandon
- Circles Waterfront Restaurant, Apollo Beach
The great outdoors
- Alafia River State Park, Lithia (mountain biking)
- Edward Medard Conservation Park, near Plant City
- Bell Creek Nature Preserve, Riverview
- Bayshore Boulevard's waterfront path
- Kayaking the Alafia River
- About 55 miles of bay-access canals in Apollo Beach
A perfect day in Hillsborough
Cuban Toast to Sunset on the Bay
Morning. Café con leche and Cuban toast at La Segunda in Ybor City.
Afternoon. Walk the Riverwalk to the Tampa Museum of Art, then the Florida Aquarium.
Evening. Dinner at the Columbia, then a sunset stroll on Bayshore Boulevard.
Plan My Tour DaySchools, colleges & healthcare
Learning and Care Close to Home
Schools
Hillsborough County Public Schools is one of the largest districts in the country, with magnet, IB and career academy options alongside private and charter schools. I'll help you look up the assigned schools for any home.
Colleges
University of South Florida (Tampa), University of Tampa and Hillsborough College.
Hospitals
Tampa General, Moffitt Cancer Center, St. Joseph's, AdventHealth Tampa and HCA Florida South Tampa in the city; HCA Florida Brandon, AdventHealth Riverview, St. Joseph's Hospital-South and BayCare South Florida Baptist (Plant City) in the suburbs.
Getting around
Commutes From Hillsborough County
| From | Tampa Airport | Downtown Tampa | Lakeland | Orlando |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Tampa | ~15 min | — | ~40-45 min | ~1 hr 25 min |
| Brandon | ~25 min | ~20 min | ~35 min | ~1 hr 15 min |
| Plant City | ~35-40 min | ~30 min | ~20 min | ~1 hr 5 min |
Approximate drive times outside rush hour.
Find your fit
Where to Live in Hillsborough
Featured city
Tampa, FL
Population 413,554 (2025) · Incorporated 1855
Neighborhoods to know: Hyde Park and South Tampa, Seminole Heights, Davis Islands, Ybor City, New Tampa.
Eat & drink: Columbia Restaurant, Bern's Steak House, La Segunda Bakery.
See & do: Riverwalk, Florida Aquarium, Henry B. Plant Museum, ZooTampa, Busch Gardens.
Explore Tampa homesFeatured city
Plant City, FL
Population 44,118 (2025) · Incorporated 1885 · "Winter Strawberry Capital of the World," about 20 minutes from Lakeland.
Neighborhoods: Historic Downtown, Walden Lake.
Eat & drink: Parkesdale Farm Market, Fred's Market Restaurant, Krazy Kup.
See & do: Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, Dinosaur World, Keel & Curley Winery.
Perfect day: shortcake at Parkesdale, antiques and the railroad museum downtown, then a show at the historic Art Deco theater.
Explore Plant City homesFeatured community
Brandon, FL
Population 114,626 (2020 Census) · Unincorporated · Settled 1857.
Neighborhoods: Brandon Hills, Kensington Estates, Limona.
Eat & drink: Moreno Bakery.
See & do: shopping and dining along SR-60, Alafia River State Park nearby.
Perfect day: pastries at Moreno, mountain biking at Alafia River State Park, dinner close to home.
Explore Brandon homesFeatured community
Riverview, FL
Population 107,396 (2020 Census) · Unincorporated · Founded 1885 on the Alafia River.
Areas: the Alafia River waterfront, the Boyette Road corridor.
See & do: Bell Creek Nature Preserve, kayaking the Alafia, plenty of new construction.
Perfect day: a morning walk at Bell Creek, an afternoon paddle on the Alafia, dinner on the water.
Explore Riverview homesFeatured community
Apollo Beach, FL
Population 26,002 (2020 Census) · Unincorporated · Named Apollo Beach in 1958.
Areas: canal-front neighborhoods with Tampa Bay access.
Eat & drink: Circles Waterfront Restaurant.
See & do: TECO Manatee Viewing Center (Nov to Apr), boating and fishing.
Perfect day: manatees in the morning, a boat ride through the canals, dinner at Circles on the marina.
Explore Apollo Beach homesAlso ask me about Valrico, Lithia, Seffner, Temple Terrace and every community in between. Ask me about your area →
Settling in
New Resident Checklist
- Get your Florida driver's license within 30 days of becoming a resident
- Register your vehicle and update your title in Florida
- Register to vote with the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
- File for your homestead exemption by March 1 after you buy
- Check your flood zone and get insurance quotes early
- Set up power, water and trash with your local providers
- Look up your assigned schools before you go under contract
- Build a hurricane kit and know your evacuation zone
Move with a plan
Your Move in 5 Steps
Book a call
Your timeline, budget and must-haves.
Compare areas
Tampa vs. the suburbs vs. Polk, side by side.
Get pre-approved
With a trusted local lender.
Tour & offer
In person or by video.
Keys & beyond
Closing day and my local list.
Ask Desiree
Hillsborough County FAQs
Is Hillsborough more expensive than Polk County?
Generally, yes. Median prices in Hillsborough tend to run higher than in Polk, which is why many buyers who work in Tampa look east to Plant City, Lakeland and the lake towns. I'll pull current numbers for the areas you're considering.
What should I know about flood zones near the bay?
Coastal and low-lying areas can carry flood zone designations that affect insurance costs. I'll help you check a home's flood zone and get insurance quotes early.
Which areas are best for commuting to both Tampa and Lakeland?
Plant City, Brandon and the east side of the county sit right on I-4, so you can reach both downtown Tampa and Lakeland in roughly 20 to 35 minutes outside rush hour.
Can you help me sell in Hillsborough and buy in Polk?
Yes. I work across Polk, Hillsborough and Lake Counties and can sequence the sale and purchase so you move once. See my Buying & Selling at Once guide.
Ready when you are
Thinking About Hillsborough County?
Let's talk neighborhoods, commutes and what your budget buys on the bay side.
Local photos via Wikimedia Commons: Tampa skyline by Alvesgaspar (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Tampa Riverwalk by Eric Statzer (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, Florida Strawberry Festival and Florida State Fair. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.