St. Pete Beach today
What this means
St. Pete Beach prices barely moved in the past year (−0.8%), now 17.3% below the Aug 2022 peak.
Builders are busier: 23 homes permitted so far in 2026, up 64%.
Rents are area estimates; check comps for the exact house. Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| St. Pete Beach | vs Pinellas County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,553 (2025 estimate) | ||
| Growth since 2020 | -3.7% | -2.6 pts | -12.6 pts |
| Median home value | $675,700 | 90% higher | 88% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,811 | 10% higher | 9% higher |
| Median household income | $114,583 | 58% higher | 54% higher |
| Owner occupied homes | 74.8% | +5.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 44.8% | +18.4 pts | +23.5 pts |
| Average commute (minutes) | 26 | 4% higher | 6% lower |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 1.7% | -4.1 pts | -12.5 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $5,631 | 128% higher | 106% higher |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in St. Pete Beach
Pinellas barrier island tourist city on Long Key, formed from several communities in 1957.
As an incorporated city, St. Pete Beach sets its own zoning inside Pinellas County.
Known for: Pass a Grille Historic District; The Don CeSar; Corey Avenue
Getting around and growth: Three bridges connect it to Treasure Island, South Pasadena and St. Petersburg.
Next to the rest of Pinellas County, homes are pricier than the county median ($675,700 vs $355,100); more homes are seasonal or vacation homes (28.6% vs 9.2%); household incomes are higher ($114,583 vs $72,646) and the population is older (44.8% age 65 or older vs 26.4%).
Cities with similar prices and rents: Fort Myers Beach ($642,400, $1,836), St. Augustine Beach ($634,400, $1,807), Key Largo ($643,900, $1,887).
Growth and housing
St. Pete Beach changed -3.7% in population from 2020 to 2025 (county -1.1%, Florida 8.9%).
| 2025 building permits | St. Pete Beach |
|---|---|
| Single family | 38 |
| 5 or more units | 0 |
| Total units | 38 |
| Per 1,000 residents | 4.4 |
The typical home here was built around 1971. This is a multifamily heavy market (48% in buildings of 5+ units). Average household size is 1.76.
Out of state arrivals: 4.5% of residents a year, versus 3.3% countywide.
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $4,063 a year |
| Coastal county | check flood zone and elevation per address |
75.3% of homes predate 1980: expect four point inspections. Inspections
Large buildings hold 34.8% of homes here; read the reserve study before buying a condo. Condo financing
Flood, storms and jobs
St. Pete Beach has its own flood program rating: CRS class 6, which takes 20% off federal flood premiums in high risk zones. Since 2000, flood insurance has paid $337,197,604 on 2,545 claims inside St. Pete Beach. For county flood claims, disaster history and jobs, see the Pinellas County guide (1.2% of homes there are in high risk zones).
Buying a home in St. Pete Beach
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $541,287 |
| Conforming, one unit | $832,750 |
| Median home value here | $675,700 |
Homes cost 5.9 times median household income here (Pinellas County 4.9, Florida 4.8).
- Conventional: the most common loan in Pinellas County.
- VA: veterans are 7.5% of adults.
- Jumbo: many homes here run near or past the $832,750 conforming limit.
Investing in St. Pete Beach
Long term rentals
| St. Pete Beach | vs Pinellas County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 25.2% | -5.3 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 20.6% | +11.5 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 27.3% | -7.7 pts |
Short term rentals
St. Pete Beach is one of Florida's vacation rental markets: 28.6% of homes are held for seasonal or vacation use.
| Short term rental taxes | Rate |
|---|---|
| County tourist development tax | 6% |
| State sales tax | 6% plus any county surtax |
Confirm zoning, registration and HOA rules for the exact address. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 41.2% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 48% |
| Manufactured homes | 0.2% |
Nearby
Other Florida markets
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5 year estimates. 2020 to 2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Vintage 2025. July 1, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual. 2025.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, originated loans. 2025 and 2024.
- LendingTree: 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida by county (HUD figures). 2026.
- Florida Realtors: FHFA sets 2026 conforming loan limits. 2026.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research: 2026 local option tourist tax rates. 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, July 2026 Insurance Stability Unit report (average homeowners premium with wind, as of March 31, 2026). March 31, 2026.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. week of October 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia: List of counties in Florida. checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file. 2024.
- Wikipedia county article and statewide lists (colleges, teams, airports); Florida Defense Support Task Force installation map. checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia article for this place (history, setting, roads). checked October 2026.
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. September 2026.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (county annual, metro and state quarterly, all transactions). through Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, January to September 2026 and 2025. September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. as of August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (2000 to 2026). as of September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book (Community Rating System class). August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries (2000 to 2026). October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. 2023.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024, median gross rent by bedrooms (B25031). 2020 to 2024.
- Hurricane landfalls: Wikipedia, List of Florida hurricanes (2000 to present). checked October 2026.
Estimates from public data; they change over time. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice, and not a loan offer. Methods and assumptions.