University (Hillsborough County) today
What this means
Twelve month change in University (Hillsborough County): +1.1%, essentially flat.
No Zillow figure covers this place, so the value is the Census 2020 to 2024 median updated with the FHFA price index. Rough guide only; see how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| University (Hillsborough County) | vs Hillsborough County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,127 (Census survey) | ||
| Median home value | $164,900 | 56% lower | 54% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,295 | 22% lower | 22% lower |
| Median household income | $37,207 | 53% lower | 50% lower |
| Owner occupied homes | 12.9% | -48.6 pts | -54.7 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 9.4% | -5.6 pts | -11.9 pts |
| Average commute (minutes) | 28 | 3% lower | about the same |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 11.1% | -7.5 pts | -3.1 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $1,217 | 60% lower | 55% lower |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in University (Hillsborough County)
Unincorporated community about 9 miles north of downtown Tampa, grown up around the University of South Florida.
As an unincorporated area, University (Hillsborough County) follows Hillsborough County rules for zoning, permits and short term rentals.
Known for: University of South Florida; AdventHealth Tampa; former University Mall site (Rithm)
How it has grown: The old mall is being redeveloped into a mixed use district with student housing; a $70 million drainage project was approved in 2026.
Next to the rest of Hillsborough County, fewer homes are owner occupied (12.9% vs 61.5%); more of the housing is in apartment and condo buildings (61.1% vs 23%); homes are cheaper than the county median ($164,900 vs $371,500) and household incomes are lower ($37,207 vs $79,540).
If you like the numbers here, also look at North Fort Myers ($161,800, $1,255), Taft ($163,000, $1,512), Eatonville ($204,200, $1,289).
Growth and housing
Yearly population estimates are not published for Census designated places; the county trend is the best guide. Hillsborough County grew 7.8% from 2020 to 2025.
Half the homes are older than 1986. This is a multifamily heavy market (61.1% in buildings of 5+ units). Average household size is 2.27.
Out of state arrivals: 2.9% of residents a year, versus 3.2% countywide.
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $3,525 a year |
| Coastal county | check flood zone and elevation per address |
Older homes (31.5% built before 1980) draw insurer questions about roofs and wiring. Inspections
Before buying in one of the larger buildings (27.4% of housing), check reserves, minutes and insurance. Condo financing
Flood, storms and jobs
As an unincorporated area, University (Hillsborough County) uses Hillsborough County flood rules (CRS class 4, 30% off high risk premiums). Countywide, 12.7% of homes sit in a FEMA high risk zone; the Hillsborough County guide has the full flood, storm and jobs picture.
Buying a home in University (Hillsborough County)
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $541,287 |
| Conforming, one unit | $832,750 |
| Median home value here | $164,900 |
Homes cost 4.4 times median household income here (Hillsborough County 4.7, Florida 4.8).
- Conventional: mortgage insurance drops off as equity builds.
- FHA: works for the typical $164,900 home here.
Investing in University (Hillsborough County)
Long term rentals
| University (Hillsborough County) | vs Hillsborough County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 87.1% | +48.6 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 9% | +2.6 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 41.9% | +8.0 pts |
Short term rentals
0.5% of homes are held for seasonal or vacation use (Hillsborough County 1.6%).
| 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 | 9.6% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 61.1% |
| Manufactured homes | 7.2% |
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.