Living in St. Petersburg, Florida

What it's like

St. Petersburg is in Pinellas County and had about 258,000 residents at the 2020 census, making it the fifth most populous city in Florida. It sits on the Pinellas peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Salvador Dalí Museum holds the largest collection of Dalí's works outside Europe, and the city is also home to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mahaffey Theater. The St. Petersburg Pier extends about half a mile into the bay, and the waterfront park system stretches about seven miles.

Getting around

Three bridges connect St. Petersburg across the bay: the Sunshine Skyway toward Manatee County, the Howard Frankland toward Tampa, and the Gandy. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg is downtown, and Albert Whitted Airport sits on the waterfront.

What to look at carefully

Parts of St. Petersburg are low-lying and close to the water, so flood zone, elevation and insurance costs can differ block by block. Before you make an offer, we help you review the flood zone, insurance quotes and the condition of the home. Our Florida page covers what else to budget for.

Beach living nearby

The Gulf Beaches, including Madeira Beach and John's Pass, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach, are a short drive west. Our Gulf Beaches page covers them.

Who tends to love it

People who want arts, restaurants and the water within reach, and a real city feel close to the Gulf Beaches. If you are weighing St. Petersburg against the beach towns or the Manatee County side, we can help you compare them.