Clearwater Beach

If you want the water at the center of daily life, it's hard to beat — 80 of the 124 active listings are waterfront, and neighborhoods like Island Estate put boat access and beach mornings within reach. It's an island community with an easy 38-minute drive to Tampa International, so you're not cut off from the mainland. Assigned schools include Clearwater High, Dunedin Highland Middle, and Sandy Lane Elementary.

Yes, relative to the wider Tampa Bay area — the median list price is $904,995 and 53 of the active listings are above $1M. At an average $926 per square foot, waterfront and Gulf-view stock carries a premium. That said, listings span from $249,000 to $37.5M, so entry points do exist depending on the segment.

Over the last 12 months, 175 homes sold at a median price of $690,000, while current active listings carry a higher median list of $904,995. The median home size is about 1,415 square feet at roughly $926 per foot, reflecting the condo-heavy, water-forward mix in places like Sand Key. The gap between sold and list prices reflects both negotiation and a range of property types.

It's a measured market: homes take a median 82 days to sell and close at about 94% of asking, so sellers are giving some ground. With 124 active listings against 175 sales in the past year, buyers have real choice, including 19 new-construction options. Bring patience and a willingness to negotiate rather than expecting to move fast.

Because much of the inventory is condos and managed communities like Viewpoint On The Bay, the median HOA runs about $1,256 a month. Median property tax lands near $11,552 a year, which tracks with the higher waterfront values. Factor both into your monthly math, since they can meaningfully change what a given price point actually costs to own.