Located just south of Tampa, Apollo Beach, FL is an unincorporated area in Hillsborough County.
You will find that there are beaches, an array of residential communities, and more.
There is a significant amount of growth happening in the area, too.
As you consider whether you want to call this area home, you will want to consider both the pros and cons of what Apollo Beach has to offer.
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Pros of Living in Apollo Beach, FL
Apollo Beach is found on the West Coast of Florida. By location alone, it has a lot to offer.
Knowing the pros can help you to see why more people are choosing to call this town home.
1. There are Beautiful Homes
You’ll find a variety of single and two-story homes throughout Apollo Beach.
Many are traditional Florida homes with a stucco exterior and a split floor plan.
Depending on the community, it may be gated with a variety of amenities offered, such as tennis courts and public swimming pools.
Some of the homes even have screened lanais, three-car garages, and more.
2. You’re Close to the Water
There is a lot of water in and around Apollo Beach.
You may live right on the water by one of the inlets or you can travel to some of the other beaches in the area.
Whether you want to enjoy a view of the water, sun yourself on the beach, or go fishing, you can choose from such beaches as Honeymoon Island State Park, Clearwater Beach, and Indian Rocks Beach.
3. Great Locally-Owned Restaurants
While you will have your choice of plenty of fast-food restaurants around the area, you will also find an array of locally-owned restaurants.
It is a chance to support various mom-and-pop restaurants while also enjoying Florida cuisine.
There will be seafood restaurants, steakhouses, Irish pubs, and much more.
There are family-friendly and high-end restaurants alike for you to choose from.
4. Florida’s Public Education is Strong
Public education in Florida is strong – and Hillsborough County is one of the largest school districts in the country.
It provides a significant number of choices so that you can choose a public or charter school to send your children to.
There are highly rated schools in Apollo Beach, or you can choose to “choice” them into another school based on the courses that are offered.
5. There are Incredible Fishing Opportunities
Whether you fish in your backyard, at a local pier, or go out into the Hillsborough River or the Gulf of Mexico, fishing is plentiful.
You will find that there are plenty of different types of fish that you can catch, too.
Some of the most popular species include crevalle jack, red drum, and common snook.
The further out you go, the greater chance you have of catching bigger fish – including grouper.
Some of the charters will even take you to the best fishing holes on the coast.
6. Nature is Everywhere
The nature throughout the area is abundant.
When you want to spend some time outside and soak up all that Mother Nature has created, you can do so with hiking trails, bike paths, and parks.
Apollo Beach is also home to a manatee viewing area, which is a great way to see the sea cow and also learn about the various conservation efforts that are in place.
The best part about nature is that it can be enjoyed year-round.
7. The Crime Rate is Low
Apollo Beach is considered one of the lower crime areas throughout the entire region.
Most families feel safe inside their homes as well as walking around their neighborhoods.
Violent crime is 20.9 with the US average being 22.7.
Property crime is a little higher, which is natural considering the cost of the homes.
Property crime is 40.8, with the US average being 35.4.
8. The People are Friendly
While most people do not consider Florida to be part of the south, you will experience southern hospitality in Apollo Beach.
It is not a major city, so you do not get people who are constantly stressed and irritable.
Life is a little slower, so people don’t mind stopping to find out how you’re doing or how they can help you with something.
It is not uncommon to get into conversations with complete strangers anywhere you go within the town.
Cons of Living in Apollo Beach, FL
Knowing about the cons of living in Apollo Beach can help you to decide if it is a place you want to live.
Some cons may be easy to overcome depending on where you are moving from.
1. The Nightlife is Almost Nonexistent
Unless you count the happy hour at some of the nearby restaurants, there is not much nightlife in Apollo Beach.
Most restaurants and bars in the area close by 10 pm.
You would have to travel to Tampa to experience any nightclubs or concert venues.
Most people will spend their late evenings on the water or having private parties on their property.
2. Shopping Can Be a Drive
Beyond grocery stores and such, you will not find a lot of shopping nearby.
The nearest mall is going to be in Brandon, Florida.
The nearest outlet malls are in Ellenton.
The area is growing, so there is hope that more shopping will be built closer to the area.
Until then, you will have to plan on taking a drive, which can be over an hour depending on the time of day thanks to congested traffic.
Otherwise, you will have to depend on mail orders and Amazon deliveries.
3. Weather Can Be Unpredictable
The weather is extremely unpredictable in Florida.
While you will never have to deal with snow, you will have to deal with thunderstorms, flash flooding, and even the occasional hurricane.
What may start out to be a sunny day could end up with thunder, lightning, and torrential rain.
The area gets an average of 51 inches of rain every year, which is 13 inches more than the national average.
The temperatures are also high throughout the year.
In January, you will see the lowest temperatures, which are around 50.
4. Traffic is Congested
Most people live in Apollo Beach but work in one of the neighboring towns or cities.
As such, you may have to deal with traffic on I-75 or on the Selmon Expressway.
Depending on the traffic and whether there are accidents on your commute, you could have to spend 45 minutes or more getting to and from anywhere you want to go.
It can make it hard to plan when driving long distances.
5. There’s a Lot of Real Estate Competition
You will find that the area has a lot to offer – gated communities, waterfront properties, and more.
As a result, the real estate market is extremely competitive.
Many properties do not stay on the market for more than a week or two.
In some instances, homes that go on sale may have multiple offers.
It is not uncommon for homes to sell for above the asking price, which makes real estate that much more expensive.
6. Lack of Public Transport
You will not find much in the way of public transportation in Apollo Beach.
There are no trains, trolleys, or trams to help you get around.
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit does make it out to Apollo Beach, but there are limited stations.
Additionally, the nearest airport is Tampa International Airport (TPA) which is 25 miles away.
The easiest way for you to get anywhere is for you to have your own vehicle and drive.
Without a vehicle, you may have to depend heavily on rideshare apps.
7. Taxes are High
Taxes are high as a way to provide the things that you love – nice roads, beautiful parks, and high-end schools.
The sales tax is a total of 7.5%, which includes the 6% state tax and an added 1.5% from Hillsborough County.
Property taxes are also some of the higher taxes in the country, so it can be a shock if you are moving from out of state.
8. Cost of Living is High
The cost of living is high because there are quite a few things that are expensive in this area.
You will pay more for auto insurance than in other parts of the country.
You will pay more in property taxes.
And, you will also pay more for groceries, healthcare, and other aspects of living.
For comparison using the cost of living indices, 100 is the average for the US.
Florida is 102.8 and Apollo Beach is 110.1.
9. You’ll Get Wet
It is not uncommon for it to rain, but there is also flash flooding.
You are going to get wet a lot, even when you least expect it because of Florida’s sun showers.
This is when the sun is shining but it is also raining.
Plan on keeping an umbrella in your car just in case.
Pros and Cons of Living in Apollo Beach, FL – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Apollo Beach, FL | Cons of Living in Apollo Beach, FL |
|---|---|
| 1. There are Beautiful Homes | 1. The Nightlife is Almost Nonexistent |
| 2. You’re Close to the Water | 2. Shopping Can Be a Drive |
| 3. Great Locally-Owned Restaurants | 3. Weather Can Be Unpredictable |
| 4. Florida’s Public Education is Strong | 4. Traffic is Congested |
| 5. There are Incredible Fishing Opportunities | 5. There’s a Lot of Real Estate Competition |
| 6. Nature is Everywhere | 6. Lack of Public Transport |
| 7. The Crime Rate is Low | 7. Taxes are High |
| 8. The People are Friendly | 8. Cost of Living is High |
| 9. You’ll Get Wet |
Florida Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Florida Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top employers in Apollo Beach?
You will find plenty of job opportunities in and around Apollo Beach.
Some of the top employers in the area include West Marine, TECO Energy, Publix, DR Horton, and the Zachry Group.
What are the nearest big cities in Apollo Beach?
Tampa is the closest big city, which is approximately 30 minutes away.
You are also about an hour and a half from Orlando, which is closer to the center of the state.
To the south, you are about an hour from Sarasota.
Are there any public schools in Apollo Beach?
You will find that there are quite a few public schools in Apollo Beach, including Apollo Beach Elementary School, Doby Elementary School, and more.
The nearest high schools are in neighboring Ruskin (Lennard High School) and Gibsonton (East Bay High School).
Additionally, there are quite a few charter schools in and around the area.
What is the demographic mix in Apollo Beach?
There is quite a bit of diversity in Apollo Beach.
73% of the population is white, 12% is black, and the remaining includes Hispanic or a mix of two or more races.
What is the average home value in Apollo Beach?
Property values have been going up in Apollo Beach due to its popularity.
The typical home value is around $495,000.
Many of the more expensive homes are also in gated communities where HOA dues may be several hundred dollars per month.
As such, this is considered a higher cost of living area.
I lived here. Left due to traffic, too much unwanted noise e like car stereos, lots of accidents, Lennard high is going down hill. The taxes are not worth it. Ours were 5500.00 when we moved. Not worth it
Politics are very conservative. Apollo Beach is Trump country and not nearly as friendly if you don’t agree with them on that.
In my opinion, Apollo Beach, FL seems like a beautiful and growing area with a lot to offer.