C-

Tarpon Springs, FL

Source:

Affordability Score: 50/100

Population: 33,406 · 2 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Tarpon Springs, FL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes covering 33,406 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (50/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $82,962, median home value of $374,692, median rent of $1,319 per month, and 37.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,977 per month (studio $1,593, 1BR $1,696, 3BR $2,527, 4BR $3,077). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $15,600 per year, consuming 19% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, commute, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 4.5% and poverty 9.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$82,962
Median household income
Education B-
37.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.5x
Home value $374,692 vs income
Commute F
29 min
Average commute time
Rent C-
$1,977/mo
2BR fair market rent (29% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$15,600/yr
Center-based infant care (19% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$82,962
▲ 34% vs national
Per Capita Income
$58,087
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Poverty Rate
9.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$374,692
▲ 36% vs national
Median Rent
$1,319/mo
Owner Occupied
84.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,977/mo
▲ 65% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,593
1BR
$1,696
2BR
$1,977
3BR
$2,527
4BR
$3,077

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
37.5%
▲ 8 ppt vs national
High School+
64.3%
Median Age
54.4
Avg. Commute
29 min
▲ 3 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,600/yr
19% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,620/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,684/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,500/yr

What This Means

Tarpon Springs, FL receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100), aggregated from 2 ZIP codes with a total population of 33,406. Challenges include housing and commute and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Tarpon Springs ZIP Codes
View all 2 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Tarpon Springs, FL affordable?
Tarpon Springs, FL receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $82,962. Median home value is $374,692.
What is the cost of living in Tarpon Springs?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,319/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,977/mo. Infant childcare $15,600/yr. Median home value $374,692.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →