Is Oak Park, Tampa A Good Place To Live?

Is Oak Park, Tampa a nice place to live? Should I move to Oak Park, Tampa? What is it like living in Oak Park, Tampa? Find out information on living conditions, demographics, transit options, schools, daycares, things to do, and homes for sale.

Before you even start your home buying search, you’d want to know which area to move to. Several factors can influence the choice of place such as demographics, nearby schools, amenities, local community, and more. If you’re considering moving to Oak Park, Tampa, there are several ways for you to identify if Oak Park is a good fit for you.

Oak Park: Highlights

  Oak Park Neighborhood Guide

Who are your Oak Park neighbors?

The demographics of a place can be a fair indicator of how ‘neighborly’ a place is. 63% of the households in Oak Park are renter-occupied.

Is Oak Park a walkable neighborhood?

Quality of life is subjective and can depend on a variety of things. While some home buyers might want a walkable city that offers ample things to do closer to where they live, others might prefer the suburbs with their tranquil streets, peace and quiet, and proximity to open spaces and nature. For some, the idea of being car-dependent is unacceptable, while for others, a reasonable drive time to their favorite weekend hangout is a dream come true.

Taking that into account, it would be great to know what amenities are available in the neighborhood, and whether you can complete most of your daily tasks on foot. Oak Park, Tampa has a walk score of 40 and a transit score of 40. Most errands require a car.

The nearest airport is Tampa International Airport. The freeways nearest to Oak Park, Tampa are I-4 and FL-618 Toll.

What are the best schools in Oak Park, Tampa?

The definition of a good school can vary depending on what people are looking for - some might be interested in schools which have great sports programs, while others might be looking at schools that are better at preparing kids for higher education. Since perspective can make a difference, independent bodies like Niche assign ratings to schools and are commonly used by parents to make a decision. However, you are encouraged to verify these ratings through other sources including visiting the campus.

It is not surprising to note that places with highly-rated public schools tend to have relatively higher home prices because of the perpetual demand for those neighborhoods. If you have children or plan on having in the future, checking out the nearby schools and their ratings is a good idea. Lincoln Elementary Magnet School (#48 in metro), Lutz Preparatory School (#12 in metro), Roland Park Magnet School (#9 in metro) are among 8 A+/A/A- rated public elementary schools in the district. Bell Creek Academy (#14 in metro), Terrace Community Middle School (#2 in metro), Walker Middle Magnet School (#4 in metro) are among 9 A+/A/A- rated public middle schools in the district. Howard W. Blake High School & Magnet Program (#48 in metro), Tampa Bay Technical High School (#19 in metro), Bell Creek Academy High School (#26 in metro) are among 4 A+/A/A- rated public high schools in the district.

Choosing an area with good school rating consistency is important. While the area you’re looking at right now might have great elementary schools for your young children, it’s well worth examining the middle and high schools they’ll grow up to attend. The nearby elementary school, middle school and high school quality ratings from Niche are very similar. If you have children and desire a consistent school experience as they grow up, this neighborhood may be a good place to plant long-term roots.

School info and ratings provided by

What are the activities for kids in Oak Park, Tampa?

For households with kids, accessibility to nearby parks, playgrounds, daycare centers as well as highly-rated preschools is key. There are a few parks and playgrounds in Oak Park, Tampa, including Grant Park, McKay Bay Nature Park, and Wilderness Park-Veteran's Mmrl. These playgrounds provide great recreational facilities for kids, as well as adults. Families can enjoy a nice picnic under the shade in summer months, or walk along the trail for a weekend activity with the kids.

Proximity to good daycare centres is extremely important, especially if the parents have a full-time job. For young families there are plenty of options for childcare in Oak Park, Tampa, including A Bridge of Learning, Academy of Achievers, Fun Factory Center of Palm River, and STEAM Preschool Academy at Netpark Tampa Bay. Proximity to urgent care centers such as Mptc Holdings and University Community Hospital is also a plus.

What's nearby Oak Park?

Whether a neighborhood is a good place to live or not could also depend on the nearby amenities. Having a high walk score means that there are a lot of places nearby like stores, restaurants, coffee shops, schools, and more. While the scores are by no means perfect, they are a good indicator for "stuff to do" around those places. Things like proximity to grocery stores, dining options, and parks can make a huge difference in your daily lives.

There are also plenty of dining options for the residents of Oak Park, Tampa. You can grab your morning cup of coffee from Dunkin', Francescas Of Brooklyn, or Green Island Frozen Yogurt & Tea Bar and sit down for a relaxed weekend brunch at Brocato's Sandwich Shop, Wawa, or Palm Riverside Pizzeria & Grill. Dessert shops like Casino Bakery Wholesale and Berns Dessert Room in Oak Park, Tampa are great options for satisfying your sweet tooth. Residents love to order tacos from Taco Son, Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food Cafe, or McDonald's and burgers from Wendy’s, Crazy Cafe, or Edy's Grand Ice Cream. Ricopan Bakery, Sushi Yama, or Taco Son are some great spots for a fun dine-in experience.

Oak Park, Tampa has quite a few grocery stores including MD Oriental Market, Colonial grocery, and Rick's Scratch & Dent.

Who is the best internet provider in Oak Park, Tampa?

A good internet and broadband connection is a must-have, whether you work from home or not. Broadband internet connection options in Oak Park, Tampa include satellite, DOCSIS, Asymmetrical xDSL, ADSL, and fiber from 6 different providers. Aside from optic fiber which provides Gbps speeds, you can get up to 940 mbps download speeds via DOCSIS powered by Charter Communications Inc.

What are the noise levels and air quality in Oak Park, Tampa?

Most often than not, the higher the walk score, the higher the noise. So if you’re an extremely noise-sensitive person and it’s absolutely intolerable, you may need to opt for a neighborhood with a lower walk score.

Should I buy a house in Oak Park, Tampa?

There is one important indicator of knowing how good the neighborhood is - the number of homes sold in the past. A high percentage of homes sold in the past say, 5 years could indicate that it’s an up and coming neighborhood with people looking to settle here. At the same time, a neighborhood with low home sales, in spite of getting listed on the market could indicate that current residents are looking to move out. It would be nice to speak to residents of this neighborhood to understand what they loved, or didn’t like about living here.

The total number of homes for sale in Oak Park, Tampa is 50% lower than it was at the same time a year ago. null

You can also look at several other factors before deciding to make the move. For example, do all the houses in the neighborhood look almost identical? That could mean that the homeowners association might not be the most adjusting. Is there space for parking? Where would your friends and family park when they come to visit you? Your garage could already be full with your own vehicles. How well is the neighborhood maintained? It could help you identify whether you’d want to live next to such neighbors.