St. Petersburg FL vs Tallahassee FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
Tallahassee, FL
Florida · Population: 199,696
- Median HH Income$55,931
- Median Home Price$293,664
- Unemployment6.5%
- Bachelor's+51.0%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
St. Petersburg
260,646
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
199,696
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Petersburg
N/A
Tallahassee
N/A
Median Age
St. Petersburg
43.1
Tallahassee
28.0
Tallahassee +
Foreign Born
St. Petersburg
10.1%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
8.0%
White
St. Petersburg
66.2%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
50.7%
Black
St. Petersburg
19.4%
Tallahassee
35.7%
Tallahassee +
Asian
St. Petersburg
3.1%
Tallahassee
4.0%
Tallahassee +
Hispanic
St. Petersburg
9.3%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
8.6%
Spanish at Home
St. Petersburg
N/A
Tallahassee
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 260,646 | 199,696 | St. Petersburg + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 28.0 | Tallahassee + |
| Foreign Born | 10.1% | 8.0% | St. Petersburg + |
| White | 66.2% | 50.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| Black | 19.4% | 35.7% | Tallahassee + |
| Asian | 3.1% | 4.0% | Tallahassee + |
| Hispanic | 9.3% | 8.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Petersburg
$73,118
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
$55,931
Per Capita Income
St. Petersburg
$49,823
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
$35,704
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Petersburg
$65,328
Tallahassee
$65,328
Tie
Unemployment Rate
St. Petersburg
4.9%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
6.5%
Poverty Rate
St. Petersburg
11.7%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
23.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Petersburg
41.3%
Tallahassee
51.0%
Tallahassee +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $73,118 | $55,931 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Income | $49,823 | $35,704 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $65,328 | Tie |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 6.5% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poverty Rate | 11.7% | 23.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 41.3% | 51.0% | Tallahassee + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Petersburg
$331,500
Tallahassee
$293,664
Tallahassee +
Homeownership Rate
St. Petersburg
63.0%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
39.5%
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $331,500 | $293,664 | Tallahassee + |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 39.5% | St. Petersburg + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
324
Tallahassee
324
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
1453
Tallahassee
1453
Tie
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 324 | Tie |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 1453 | Tie |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
32.7%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
34.1%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.2%
Tallahassee
9.6%
Tallahassee +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
20.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
11.1%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
13.2%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
Tallahassee
16.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.4%
Tallahassee
12.2%
Tallahassee +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.7% | 34.1% | St. Petersburg + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 9.6% | Tallahassee + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.6% | 20.3% | St. Petersburg + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.1% | 13.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.6% | 16.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 12.2% | Tallahassee + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Tallahassee
67.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Tallahassee
58.1 in
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 67.6°F | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 58.1 in | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
Tallahassee
7.2 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Petersburg
75.0%
Tallahassee
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | Tie |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
Tallahassee
20.3 min
Tallahassee +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 26.8 min | 20.3 min | Tallahassee + |
Which City is Right for You?
St. Petersburg leads in median household income at $73,118, while tallahassee offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $293,664. On public safety, Tallahassee is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and Tallahassee has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Petersburg scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.7%.
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