St. Petersburg is a bustling city in Pinellas County, Florida. St. Petersburg is part of the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area - the second-largest in Florida with a population of around 2.8 million – and is located on the Pinellas peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Often referred by locals as “St. Pete,” St. Petersburg was ranked by American Magazine its top mid-size city in 2011, citing its "vibrant" arts scene. 

What is the community of St. Petersburg like? 

Ranked by Niche as the fourth-best city to retire in America, St. Petersburg has long been a popular retirement destination thanks to its incredible weather and low cost of living. Over time, St. Petersburg has emerged as one of the best cities to live in America. In 2020, St. Petersburg was awarded a spot on "the top cities to visit" in Conde Nast's 33rd annual Conde Nast Traveler 2020 Reader's Choice Awards. , the city was recognized for being a "perfect" getaway because of its iconic beaches and historic destinations. 
Located on the Gulf Coast, St. Petersburg is nicknamed “The Sunshine City,” boasting an average of some 361 days of sunshine each year. Apart from its perfect weather, St. Petersburg offers a plethora of top-notch outdoor recreational opportunities to residents and visitors alike including pristine beaches, immersive restaurants, great state, and national parks, excellent shopping facilities, craft breweries, farmer’s markets, and a myriad of exciting cultural experiences. 
The city is home to the Dali Museum, which celebrates the life and work of Salvador Dali and features masterpieces that span the artist's entire career. With over 2000 pieces of art, the Dali Museum is home to the largest Dali collection outside of Europe. , the museum plays an important role in the cultural life of the community, inspiring and delighting visitors with great artist’s masterpieces and hosting a range of events and programs. 
St. Petersburg is also home to the world’s longest fishing pier and is loved by anglers for the opportunity it offers to park right next to your favorite fishing spot and relax all day. After the sunset, the lights on the pier attract a ton of different fish.  
Other prominent attractions in St. Petersburg include the Florida Holocaust Museum, Fort De Soto Beach, the Morean Arts Center, and Weedon Island Preserve. 

What is Real Estate like in St. Petersburg?    

Real estate in St. Petersburg has shown an average growth of 4.92% per year since the year 2000. , since 2000, the prices of homes in St. Petersburg have overall appreciated by a whopping 174.2%. Local real estate agent Buster Levin categorizes St. Petersburg’s housing market as ‘very competitive’. The sale prices of homes in St. Petersburg have experienced strong growth of more than 26.7% since May 2019.   
The median home price in St. Petersburg is $304,000. Currently, there are 1,116 active homes for sale in St. Petersburg, and normally it takes just 26 days for a listed home to sell 

How is the economic landscape of St. Petersburg?    

Much economic activity in St. Petersburg is concentrated in the Gateway area, which overlaps St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park. The city’s largest industries are health care, retail, and professional services. , some of the top employers in St. Petersburg include, among others, Raymond James, Home Shopping Network, St. Anthony’s Hospital, and Jabil Circuit. 
Over the last year, St. Petersburg’s job market has grown by 2.3%, while its unemployment rate stands at a decent 4.6%. The US average is 6%. Also, the city’s job market is expected to grow by a strong 42% over the next ten years.  
On average, a St. Petersburg resident earns around $28,700 per annum, almost in line with the US average of $28500. The city’s median household income per resident is about $45,400. Most of the residents of St. Petersburg work in construction, manufacturing, retail, finance, administrative services, educational services, accommodation, professional and technical services, and healthcare.     

How are the schools in St. Petersburg?     

St. Petersburg is covered by Pinellas County School District, which plays home to 177 schools and 103,411 enrolled students. , St. Petersburg also lies in proximity to many colleges including, among others, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg College, and Fortis College Largo.  
When it comes to higher education, St. Petersburg is home to the University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg Campus. The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota, Florida; with the main campus located in Tampa. USF is home to 14 colleges, offering more than 180 undergraduate majors as well as graduate, specialist, and doctoral-level degree programs.   
, founded in 1956, USF is the fourth-largest university in Florida and seventh-largest public university in the United States, with an enrollment of 50,830 students from over 145 countries, 50 states, and the District of Columbia as of the 2020–2021 academic year. 

St. Petersburg in a nutshell        

To sum up, St. Petersburg is a vibrant city offering perfect weather conditions, a plethora of parks, restaurants, museums, and a unique, award-winning arts scene. The city has consistently been ranked as one of the best cities to live in America and has bagged several awards for being one of the best places to retire in America. If you are mulling over moving to Florida, St. Petersburg is the place to be.