Living in New Tampa FL means calling home one of the most well-established master-planned suburban areas in the entire Tampa Bay metro - a large swath of north Tampa that was largely developed from the 1990s through the early 2000s and has matured into a community known for its tree-lined neighborhoods, strong schools, extensive amenities, and convenient access to both I-75 and I-275. New Tampa isn't a separate city - it's an area within the City of Tampa that sits north of the University of South Florida and south of the Pasco County line, running along the Bruce B Downs Boulevard corridor. I help clients buy and sell New Tampa homes regularly, and in this guide I'm going to walk you through everything you need to know - from neighborhoods and home prices to schools, commute times, HOA and CDD fees, and the honest pros and cons - so you can decide if New Tampa is the right move for you.
Whether you're relocating from out of state, moving within the Tampa Bay area, or comparing New Tampa to nearby communities like Wesley Chapel, Lutz, or Temple Terrace, this guide will give you the full, no-fluff picture. I'll cover the same things I'd tell you over the phone - just in a lot more detail.
Where Exactly Is New Tampa?
New Tampa is located in northeastern Hillsborough County, within the official City of Tampa limits. It's bounded roughly by the Pasco County line to the north, I-75 to the east, the University of South Florida campus area to the south, and the general vicinity of Dale Mabry Highway and the Lutz area to the west. The heart of New Tampa runs along Bruce B Downs Boulevard, which serves as the area's main commercial and residential spine.
Here's how New Tampa connects to surrounding areas:
- North: Wesley Chapel and the Pasco County line - cross County Line Road and you're in Pasco, which means different property taxes, different schools, and different county governance
- East: I-75 corridor and the interchange with I-275 - quick access to both interstates is one of New Tampa's biggest selling points
- South: University of South Florida, Temple Terrace, and the more established urban areas of Tampa
- West: Lutz, Carrollwood, and the Veterans Expressway corridor
The primary ZIP codes in New Tampa are 33647 and portions of 33637. The area is approximately 15-18 miles northeast of downtown Tampa and sits at one of the most strategically useful highway interchanges in the metro - the I-75 / I-275 split. That interchange gives you direct highway access north toward Ocala and Gainesville, south toward Sarasota and Fort Myers, and west toward Tampa International Airport, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg.
| Destination | Distance from New Tampa | Drive Time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Tampa | 15 miles | 20-25 minutes |
| Tampa International Airport (TPA) | 20 miles | 22-30 minutes |
| University of South Florida (USF) | 5 miles | 8-12 minutes |
| Clearwater Beach | 38 miles | 40-50 minutes |
| St. Petersburg | 35 miles | 35-45 minutes |
| Wesley Chapel (Shops at Wiregrass) | 6 miles | 10-15 minutes |
| Orlando (theme parks) | 75 miles | 75-85 minutes |
| Lakeland | 40 miles | 40-45 minutes |
What Is the History of New Tampa?
Understanding New Tampa's history helps explain why the area looks and feels the way it does today. Unlike older Tampa neighborhoods like Seminole Heights, Hyde Park, or even Temple Terrace, New Tampa is exactly what its name suggests - a newer, master-planned expansion of the City of Tampa into what was previously undeveloped ranch and agricultural land in northeastern Hillsborough County.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the City of Tampa annexed large portions of unincorporated land north of USF, and developers began building the master-planned communities that define the area today. Tampa Palms was one of the earliest and most prominent of these developments, breaking ground in the mid-1980s and eventually growing into one of the largest planned communities in the region. Other major developments - Hunters Green, Pebble Creek, Heritage Isles, Cross Creek - followed throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
The result is an area that was purpose-built as suburban residential communities with commercial corridors, schools, parks, and infrastructure all planned from the start. That's both the appeal and the character of New Tampa - it doesn't have the eclectic, organic feel of an older Tampa neighborhood, but it has the infrastructure, the layout, and the amenities that come with intentional planning. By the mid-2000s, most of New Tampa's available land was developed, which means the community is now largely built out and mature. Trees have grown in, communities have established themselves, and the area has a settled, lived-in feel that distinguishes it from still-developing suburbs farther north in Wesley Chapel and Pasco County.
New Tampa Neighborhoods and Real Estate Overview
New Tampa is home to a collection of well-known master-planned communities, each with its own HOA, amenities, architectural style, and price range. I always tell people that buying in New Tampa is really about choosing the right community within the area - because each one has a slightly different character, fee structure, and school zone. Here's a breakdown of the major communities and what you can expect in each.
Tampa Palms
Tampa Palms is the flagship community of New Tampa and one of the most recognizable names in the entire Tampa Bay real estate market. It was one of the first master-planned communities developed in the area, starting in the mid-1980s, and it covers a large footprint with multiple sections - Tampa Palms, Tampa Palms South, and various sub-neighborhoods within. The community features a championship golf course, community pools, a recreation center, and miles of walking trails. Homes range from the mid-$300s for older townhomes and smaller single-family homes up to $800,000+ for larger executive-style homes on premium lots. Tampa Palms has an active HOA that maintains common areas, enforces architectural standards, and manages community amenities.
Hunters Green
Hunters Green is another long-established New Tampa community known for its golf course (Hunters Green Country Club), mature landscaping, and well-maintained homes. The community was largely built out in the 1990s and early 2000s. Homes here typically range from the mid-$300s to the low $600s, and the neighborhood has a mix of single-family homes and townhomes. Hunters Green has a mandatory HOA, and the country club is a separate membership. The community is centrally located along Bruce B Downs with easy access to shopping, dining, and the I-75 interchange.
Pebble Creek
Pebble Creek is one of New Tampa's more popular communities, located near the northern end of the area along Bruce B Downs. It was developed primarily in the late 1990s and 2000s and offers a range of home sizes and price points. Pebble Creek is known for its community amenities, including a pool, playground, tennis courts, and a walking trail system. Homes generally range from the mid-$300s to the mid-$500s, and the HOA is well-managed with reasonable monthly fees. Pebble Creek feeds into some of the area's most desirable school zones, which keeps demand steady.
Cross Creek
Cross Creek sits on the eastern edge of New Tampa near the I-75 corridor. This community was built primarily in the early 2000s and features single-family homes on a range of lot sizes. It's a quieter, more tucked-away community compared to some of the larger developments along Bruce B Downs. Homes range from the low $300s to the mid-$400s, making it one of the more affordable entry points into New Tampa. The community has an HOA and access to community amenities including a pool and playground.
Heritage Isles
Heritage Isles is a gated community in New Tampa with a golf course (Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club), resort-style pool, fitness center, and tennis courts. It was developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and homes range from the mid-$300s for townhomes up to the mid-$500s for larger single-family homes on the golf course. Heritage Isles has both an HOA and a CDD (Community Development District) fee, so monthly carrying costs are higher than in some other New Tampa communities. More on CDDs below - and if you're not familiar with CDD fees, I break it all down in my CDD fee guide for Florida buyers.
Live Oak Preserve
Live Oak Preserve is one of the newer communities in New Tampa, developed in the mid-to-late 2000s. It's a gated community with a large clubhouse, resort-style pool, playground, and walking trails. Homes range from the low $400s to the mid-$500s, and the community has both HOA and CDD fees. Live Oak Preserve is known for its newer construction compared to the rest of New Tampa, and homes here tend to have more modern floor plans, higher ceilings, and updated features.
Arbor Greene
Arbor Greene is a gated community located off Bruce B Downs near the northern end of New Tampa. It was developed in the early 2000s and features a large community pool, tennis courts, and walking trails. Homes range from the mid-$300s to the mid-$500s. The community has both HOA and CDD fees. Arbor Greene tends to offer solid value in the New Tampa market because it provides gated community amenities at price points below some of the more premium communities like Tampa Palms.
