Tampa Scorecard is a service of Tampa City Council Member Bill Carlson. Its purpose is to provide an objective set of measures to guide policy decisions in Tampa and the region. To give feedback or suggestions, please email Council Member Carlson.
Special thanks to Moez Limayem, Dean of the USF Muma College of Business, and his team for their guidance and insights in setting the framework and compiling the data. Thanks also to USF graduate student Alexander Frei for his hard work in putting together the spreadsheets, charts and presentation.
We researched how the best cities in the world measure themselves and created a list of key metrics.
What gets measured gets done.
Per capita income is a measure of the amount of money earned per person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per Capita Income: Florida Cities Tampa has the third higehst per capita income of all major Florida cities.
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $28779 | $29009 | $29704 | $30269 | $31605 | $32869 | $34570 | $36169 | $37834 | $40962 |
| Miami | $20886 | $21120 | $21724 | $22493 | $23498 | $25067 | $27078 | $28804 | $31437 | $34295 |
| Orlando | $25550 | $25805 | $25644 | $25866 | $26982 | $28117 | $29930 | $32085 | $34033 | $36596 |
| Jacksonville | $25433 | $25374 | $25496 | $25554 | $26159 | $27486 | $28793 | $30064 | $30906 | $32654 |
| St. Petersburg | $27825 | $27792 | $28670 | $28944 | $30206 | $31724 | $33356 | $36266 | $38802 | $41493 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $35919 | $35605 | $36405 | $36777 | $38099 | $39601 | $41887 | $43274 | $45232 | $48407 |
Tampa lags behind its benchmark cities.
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $29000 | $29500 | $30000 | $31000 | $32000 | $34000 | $36000 | $38000 | $39000 | $40962 |
| Austin | $31387 | $31990 | $32672 | $34015 | $35672 | $37888 | $40391 | $43043 | $44829 | $48550 |
| Charlotte | $31653 | $31556 | $31844 | $32254 | $33050 | $34687 | $36426 | $38000 | $39834 | $43080 |
| Atlanta | $35719 | $35890 | $35719 | $37175 | $38686 | $40595 | $43468 | $47424 | $50032 | $54446 |
Tampa's high-income earners skew the average.
| City | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 16.1 |
| Orlando | 11.4 |
| Miami | 7.8 |
| Jacksonville | 7.2 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 16.2 |
| St. Petersburg | 12.2 |
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $33752 | $34241 | $33809 | $34394 | $35576 | $37783 | $39739 | $41287 | $42869 | $46806 |
| Jacksonville | $12783 | $13456 | $13165 | $13358 | $12859 | $13089 | $13509 | $13497 | $12593 | $14267 |
| Miami | $10946 | $11407 | $11772 | $12175 | $12345 | $12959 | $13480 | $14259 | $16042 | $18058 |
| Orlando | $17264 | $17103 | $16162 | $14881 | $15530 | $14902 | $16262 | $16902 | $19785 | $23109 |
| St. Petersburg | $16014 | $15556 | $16224 | $16983 | $17442 | $18659 | $19013 | $20504 | $21676 | $25381 |
| Tampa | $20365 | $20627 | $21775 | $21386 | $21780 | $21487 | $23549 | $24901 | $27478 | $31983 |
| City | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 31983 |
| Orlando | 23109 |
| Miami | 18058 |
| Jacksonville | 14267 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 46806 |
| St. Petersburg | 25381 |
Median income is the amount which divides the income distribution into two equal groups, half having income above that amount, and half having income below that amount. Mean income (average) is the amount obtained by dividing the total aggregate income of a group by the number of units in that group. The means and medians for households and families are based on all households and families. Means and medians for people are based on people 15 years old and over with income.
Median Income: Florida Cities
Tampa has the third higehst median income of all major Florida cities.
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $43514 | $43242 | $43740 | $44185 | $45874 | $48245 | $50909 | $53883 | $55634 | $59893 |
| Miami | $29762 | $30375 | $30858 | $31051 | $31642 | $33999 | $36638 | $39049 | $44268 | $47860 |
| Orlando | $42418 | $42147 | $41901 | $42318 | $44007 | $45436 | $48511 | $51757 | $55183 | $58968 |
| Jacksonville | $48143 | $47557 | $46768 | $46764 | $48256 | $50555 | $52576 | $54701 | $55531 | $58263 |
| St. Petersburg | $44756 | $45044 | $45483 | $45748 | $48183 | $50622 | $53816 | $56982 | $60798 | $64375 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $50191 | $49119 | $48898 | $50778 | $51648 | $52315 | $55269 | $59450 | $64313 | $66994 |
Tampa lags behind its benchmark cities.
| City | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 59893 |
| Charlotte | 68367 |
| Atlanta | 69164 |
| Austin | 78965 |
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $8444 | $7314 | $6679 | $6679 | $5829 | $8820 | $8936 | $10401 | $9084 | $10216 |
| Jacksonville | $6934 | $7063 | $5907 | $5907 | $5713 | $6199 | $6220 | $6455 | $5716 | $7479 |
| Miami | $4142 | $3852 | $4299 | $4299 | $4425 | $4247 | $4316 | $4813 | $4820 | $5359 |
| Orlando | $6639 | $4204 | $3469 | $3469 | $4301 | $4349 | $5072 | $5491 | $7593 | $9767 |
| St. Petersburg | $6152 | $5271 | $4926 | $4926 | $4291 | $3881 | $5151 | $4919 | $5361 | $6783 |
| Tampa | $9749 | $9857 | $9914 | $9914 | $10427 | $9249 | $9154 | $9296 | $7393 | $9289 |
| City | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 9289 |
| Orlando | 9767 |
| Miami | 5359 |
| Jacksonville | 7479 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 10216 |
| St. Petersburg | 6783 |
Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. The official poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps). Source
Middle Class: Florida Cities
Tampa's middle class is the second smallest from all major Florida cities.
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $34.9 | $34.5 | $34.5 | $34.9 | $35.6 | $36.5 | $37.4 | $38.5 | $39.1 | $39.9 |
| St. Petersburg | $38.5 | $38.8 | $39.2 | $39.4 | $41.1 | $42.2 | $43.6 | $44.9 | $46.1 | $47.3 |
| Orlando | $36.1 | $35.5 | $35.9 | $36.3 | $36.8 | $37.3 | $39.6 | $41.5 | $42.8 | $42.6 |
| Jacksonville | $42.3 | $41.5 | $40.8 | $40.7 | $41.5 | $43 | $44.2 | $45.5 | $45.8 | $46.4 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $38.1 | $37.5 | $36.9 | $38.3 | $38.1 | $37.5 | $38.4 | $40.5 | $43.1 | $44.1 |
| Miami | $25 | $25.6 | $25.6 | $26.3 | $26.9 | $28.6 | $30.1 | $31.9 | $34.4 | $36.6 |
Poverty Rate: Florida Cities
Tampa has the second highest poverty rate from all major Florida cities.
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $21.1 | $21.4 | $22 | $21.8 | $21.2 | $20 | $19.5 | $18.6 | $17.5 | $17.2 |
| St. Petersburg | $16.1 | $16.9 | $17.2 | $17.2 | $16.4 | $15.9 | $14.9 | $13.4 | $11.6 | $12.4 |
| Orlando | $18.4 | $19.2 | $19.8 | $20.2 | $19.9 | $19.1 | $18.2 | $17.2 | $16.1 | $15.5 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $19.5 | $20.6 | $21.2 | $20.7 | $19.5 | $19.3 | $17.8 | $16.9 | $15.8 | $15.4 |
| Jacksonville | $16.1 | $17.3 | $17.8 | $17.7 | $17 | $16.4 | $15.9 | $14.9 | $15 | $14.9 |
| Miami | $29.5 | $29.9 | $29.9 | $28.3 | $27.6 | $25.8 | $24.3 | $23.4 | $21.5 | $20.9 |
Poverty Rate: Benchmark Cities
Tampa has the second highest poverty rate from all benchmark cities.
| City | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 17.2 |
| Charlotte | 11.6 |
| Atlanta | 18.5 |
| Austin | 12.5 |
All people who were not employed during the reference week but were available for work (excluding temporary illness) and had made specific efforts to find employment some time during the 4-week period ending with the reference week are classified as unemployed. Individuals who were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not have been looking for work to be classified as unemployed. People waiting to start a new job must have actively looked for a job within the last 4 weeks in order to be counted as unemployed. Otherwise, they are classified as not in the labor force. Source
Unemployment Rate: Florida Cities
Tampa has the third lowest unemployment rate of Florida's largest cities. (Tied with Miami)
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $7.7 | $8.1 | $7.4 | $6.8 | $6.2 | $5.3 | $4.7 | $4.1 | $3.8 | $3.6 |
| St. Petersburg | $0.077 | $7.4 | $6.5 | $5.7 | $4.7 | $4.1 | $3.4 | $3.2 | $3 | $3 |
| Orlando | $8.4 | $8.4 | $7.4 | $6.6 | $5.9 | $5 | $4.3 | $3.9 | $3.6 | $4 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $7.9 | $8.1 | $8 | $7.2 | $6 | $5.2 | $5 | $4.6 | $4 | $4.2 |
| Jacksonville | $7.3 | $7.8 | $7.3 | $6.6 | $5.6 | $4.9 | $4.3 | $3.8 | $3.5 | $3.4 |
| Miami | $7.7 | $8.1 | $7.7 | $6.8 | $5.8 | $5 | $4.3 | $3.7 | $3.6 | $3.6 |
Homeownership Florida Cities
Tampa lags behind St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, and Ft. Lauderdale in homeownership rates.
| City | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $54.8 | $54.3 | $52.9 | $52.9 | $52.6 | $52.4 | $53.1 | $52.7 | $53.9 | $54.4 |
| Jacksonville | $62.4 | $61.6 | $60.3 | $60.3 | $57.9 | $57.1 | $56 | $56 | $56.4 | $56.6 |
| Miami | $33.8 | $32.8 | $31.6 | $31.6 | $30.5 | $30.2 | $29.8 | $29.6 | $30.4 | $30 |
| Orlando | $39.6 | $39 | $37.4 | $37.4 | $35.5 | $35 | $35.1 | $35.4 | $37.3 | $38.2 |
| St. Petersburg | $61.6 | $60.5 | $58.7 | $58.7 | $57.7 | $58.1 | $58.8 | $60.4 | $62.4 | $62.7 |
| Tampa | $51.7 | $50.9 | $49.6 | $49.6 | $48.4 | $48.3 | $47.8 | $48.6 | $49.3 | $50 |
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses that involve force or threat of force.Source
| City | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 547 |
| Orlando | 816 |
| Miami | 601 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 637 |
| St. Petersburg | 686 |
Educational Attainment: Florida Cities
Tampa is the most educated major Florida city.
| City | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 41.8 |
| Orlando | 40.1 |
| Miami | 33.1 |
| Jacksonville | 30.2 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 39.3 |
| St. Petersburg | 38.8 |
| Florida | 29.9 |
Educational Attainment: Benchmark Cities
Tampa is less educated than its benchmark cities.
| City | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 41.8 |
| Charlotte | 45.7 |
| Atlanta | 55.6 |
| Austin | 55.1 |