Cost of Living in Safety Harbor, FL

Population 17,040 · Florida · Data vintage 2023

138
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Safety Harbor is a smaller Florida community of around 17000 residents, where median household incomes of $105,813 and housing costs ($433,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. The labor market has been unusually tight, with unemployment around 2.8% — below most comparable cities in the state.

Located 5 miles east of Clearwater, Safety Harbor falls within that metro's commuting orbit. Median home values run roughly 33% higher than Clearwater's $326,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 142
Rent 131

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Safety Harbor

The median home value in Safety Harbor is $433,300 — 42% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,719/month, 31% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $105,813/year is 42% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 2.8%, below the national average of 4.8%. Florida charges no state income tax, a meaningful advantage for take-home pay. Overall, Safety Harbor has a cost of living index of 138 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 38% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$433,300
42% above avg
Zillow Home Value
$489,520
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,719/mo
31% above avg
Zillow Rent
$2,080/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.0x
Favors renting
Property Tax Rate
0.9%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,085
1 BR
$1,181
2 BR
$1,427
3 BR
$1,797
4 BR
$2,099
Owner-occupied 84.2%
Renter-occupied 15.8%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,719
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $2,333/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
26.8 min
1% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
23.2%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
65.4%
Carpooled
8.8%
Public transit
0.3%
Walked
1.6%
Bicycle
0.3%
Work from home
23.2%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax (flat) None
Total Sales Tax 7.0%
State rate 6.0%
Avg local rate 1.1%
Property Tax 0.9%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$105,813
42% above avg
Per Capita Income
$57,086
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
42% below avg
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor Force Participation
62.4%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 31.5%
Graduate degree 15.6%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 49.1
Male median age 48
Female median age 50.8

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 47 — Good
59.5%
Good air days/yr
113
Max AQI recorded
237
PM2.5 days
125
Ozone days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Safety Harbor, FL?

Safety Harbor has a cost index of 138 (100 = national average). It is 38% above the national average.

What is average rent in Safety Harbor, FL?

The median gross rent in Safety Harbor is $1,719 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Safety Harbor?

The median home value in Safety Harbor is $433,300 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Safety Harbor?

The median household income in Safety Harbor is $105,813 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Safety Harbor, FL?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Safety Harbor is 7.0%. Florida has no state income tax.

Is Safety Harbor, FL affordable?

Safety Harbor is above average in cost of living, with an index of 138 — about 38% higher than the national average.

Safety Harbor at a Glance

Population
17,040
Median Income
$105,813
Home Value
$433,300
Median Rent
$1,719/mo
Unemployment
2.8%
Sales Tax
7.0%
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🗺️ County data for Florida

Explore county-level cost of living data

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