Tommy wrote last year about how Forbes ranked Tampa-St. Pete #35 (of 40) on their list of “best cities to be single.”
The most important factor in this list is the number of singles, or percentage of people 15 or older and never married. Only Las Vegas has fewer than us.
Forbes’ 2007 ratings are here, and there’s great news: we’ve improved to #32 (of 40)! This is despite us moving to dead last in number of singles (only 27% of us are unmarried) and 35th in cost of living. The new report is on the tails of our recent ranking as worst on their list of best cities for young professionals.
The city ranks 32nd for young professional concentration, last for its never-married population, second-to-last for big and small businesses and, to top it all off, has a high cost of living for what a recent grad can expect to earn.
Well that’s not very nice. Clearly Forbes never took my mother’s advice about keeping quiet if you don’t have any constructive criticism. The only categories where Tampa-St. Pete scored above average on the “Best for singles” rankings were “coolness” and “job growth.”
We didn’t even break the top 20 in drunkenness!
Does anyone care? Or are the residents just happy to lose our fantastic museums and theatre groups and charities, the sorts of things that are backed by young, energetic people? Is Tampa-St. Pete the next Boca Raton?
NorthernChik
2 years ago
I feel Forbes is exactly right – I had to move out of the Tampa area due to all of the things Forbes list. No single people – no progressive job & super expensive to live….
TPA needs to step it up if it wants to be on ‘next great city’ list… otherwise – it WILL become the next del boca vista!
Gregory Gianella
2 years ago
This city is simply pathetic. I have never in my life have seen so many lazy and irresponsible people in one tired TOWN. For starters, you need to service people past 8pm. The service industy rolls up the sidewalks as fast as they can because work is a dirty four letter word here and A)everyone is afraid of hard work and B)everyone would rather run and get themselves a beer than accomplish something worth while.
The next time any of you walk into a convenient store look how many losers are in front and in back of you waiting to buy beer. Get with it Tampa learn from the business people above the Mason Dixon line. We know you all can`t stand when we say up north but thanks to our tenacity and hard work you have a job!
The people here a “Ballers On A Budget” wanna-be spenders counting their nickels and dimes.
Until then Tampa will always be that little town on the west coast of sunny Florida
Vivian2007
2 years ago
I believe these billionaire singles should turn to online dating scene. They don’t have time on blind date. I still believe wealth and looks match! Charlie Sheen just found his second wife on wealthyromance.com, why don’t single billionaires give it a try!
DAF
2 years ago
Gee, another insult about Tampa/Floridians. Now we are all lazy in addition to being bad drivers, cooking horrible food, and failing at relationships. I am a native and I take offense at these comments as I think I’m one of about five natives and I’m sure everyone else doesn’t know too many either. The majority of the people who live here moved from up north – New York, New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and let’s not forget Michigan. To me, calling all of the people who live here Floridians is a joke. Not saying it is perfect here, as I agree with the other comments made, but I am tired of hearing how everything stinks here and it’s so much better up north. The drivers on the road are mostly from the northern states previously mentioned. I highly doubt every restaurant is owned and operated by a native Floridian. I’m sure most are owned and operated by people who moved here from up north where the food is perfect, yet the food in Florida is still terrible. And dating??? If I have to hear how much better the men are up north one more time….EVERY guy I’ve ever gone out with or met for that matter has been from up north, and guess what? They were not all Mr. Wonderful. Again, I agree with the other posts, and I have traveled, and yes, there are other cities out there that are much better than Tampa, includig the restaurants, but please stop saying that everyone who lives here is this way or that way and it’s so much better up north when it’s pretty much all northerners who moved here and are currently living here. Except those losers that are always buying beer at the convenient stores. I’m sure they were ALL born and raised below the Mason Dixon line.
gar
2 years ago
Hey NorthernChik Boo Hoo! No singles? You must have not gotten out very much. Expensive? Ever been to California? You know the state on the west coast just south of Oregon. Question is why did you move here in the first place? Hey Gregory do you live in Tampa? If so, back to the question I asked NorthernChik. You come here for reason. What is it? I am tired of all the bitching about how FL and Tampa suck. Either go get some pamprin or do something to make it better here or wherever you choose to call home. Life is what you make of it.
DAF
2 years ago
Well said gar.
tim
2 years ago
No singles? You must have not gotten out very much.
Oh come on. There’s a reason that this area ranks dead last in # of singles. THERE AREN’T ANY SINGLES OUT THERE. There just aren’t. We have a lot of really fantastic things here, but what we do not have are young, single professionals.
NorthernChik
2 years ago
Gar – Life IS what you make it & you can’t make much in Tampa.
TPA is a great place to VISIT – I’ll see you at Gasparilla
gar
2 years ago
Tim what can I say? Maybe all the young, single professionals out there that can not find other young, single professionals should just give up and stay out home with NetFlix. NorthernChik look for me at Gasparilla and will give you a drink and some beads to make your visit worthwhile
.
Anonymous
2 years ago
Or maybe all the young single professionals (that are bitching) are looking in the wrong places…..
dj
2 years ago
No kdding. Does anyone go to SOHO on Fridays for happy hour? How about International Mall or even Whisky North? Plenty of young single professionals every time I have gone to any of these places.
Gregory Gianella
2 years ago
Tampa`s big claim to fame is “GASPARILLA” WOW. Get a life like I said before. Everyone looks forward to 5 weekends a year. Its such a farce they stretch Gasparilla over a 5 week period. 1st the “Childrens Parade” this is the dry run for all those grown up kids to get the kinks out before the “Big Day” then comes the “Day Parade” for all the adults to shine in broad daylight and say “look at me dressed up like a moron I have something that you want”, and I feel powerful… and that is BEADS, then the “Night Parade” where all the braods get to show off their hooters (another word Florida blessed us with), then comes the “Gasparailla 5K Run” after that the “Gasparilla Marathon” and on and on and on. Oh yes, lets not forget that this is the one day that we get to drink beer in public and show off our brand new coolers on wheels! Now thats living. As for me I came here to make $ and I will leave here with more of it. Mission accomplished.
PS: DAF, as far as the guys that you went out with from up north did you ever think maybe the common denonminator is you not finding Mr. Wonderful?
Anyway got to go to WORK!
G.G.
gar
2 years ago
Sounds like someone didn’t get invited to a Gasparilla party last January…
Mark
2 years ago
Why not find a single billionaire at BillionaireCupid.com? Today, I come across to that site. it is interesting.
scottykniving
2 years ago
hey,
Ive lived here most my life, but also have traveled the world. The reason young/professional singles are hard to find because of the lack of decent professional jobs. Most of my friends moved elsewhere to build their careers. Tampa doesnt really offer shit outside of medical, food/hospitality, law. Just keep your spirits up. This place can really eat at you if you are having a hard time. Just remember to give everyone a chance you meet. Im going to give it a bit more time, I cannot even afford a house in the ‘hood i grew up in. Just stay tough, at least we arent as fake as Orlando.
jason
1 year ago
I totally disagree. I am one of these “damn northerners” and I love living in Florida. I came from Ohio, and there is no state half as beautiful as this one. Every state has its downsides. But not every state has thousands of miles of coastline, and very beautiful women.
mike
1 year ago
I have lived in tampa for three years. The restaurants are so bad we eat at home.If your an alcoholic you will love it. I am already planning my escape. Everyone is so nice as soon as you turn your back they stab you.The roads are a nightmare. I have lived in many cities and without a doubt, Tampa is the ugliest, I have ever seen. Downtown what a joke. Sports, if the team doesnt win they just don’t go. How did this town ever get a sports franchise. If the natives ever bothered to travel they would realize this is not paradise. No wonder the politicians picked florida to fix an election. I just voted in the presidential election. They gave me a paper ballot. Hello it’s 2008.
scott
1 year ago
I’ve been in Tampa for almost three years now. The weather is nice… that’s about it. I really didn’t believe the warnings about lack of culture, lack of intelligence, lack of good people in general, but it’s all true and worse. The city is ugly, no one seems to care about making it a beautiful place to live. Everything is strip malls, strip bars and dumb dumb D-U-M-B people. Did I mention dumb people? Think Scarlett O’Hara without the brains, beauty or wonderful wardrobe. Ninnys with lobotomies. I can’t tell you how much hate this place and I if I wasn’t stuck here with my job I would move to anywhere but here. It really is a city of retards. Lord I miss Boston.
scott
1 year ago
I’ve been in Tampa for almost three years now. The weather is nice… that’s about it. I really didn’t believe the warnings about lack of culture, lack of intelligence, lack of good people in general, but it’s all true and worse. The city is ugly, no one seems to care about making it a beautiful place to live. Everything is strip malls, strip bars and dumb dumb D-U-M-B people. Did I mention dumb people? Think Scarlett O’Hara without the brains, beauty or wonderful wardrobe. Ninnys with lobotomies. I can’t tell you how much I hate this place and if I wasn’t stuck here with my job I would move to anywhere but here. It really is a city of retards. Lord I miss Boston.
Martin
7 months ago
Tampa is a complete hole….there is really not much to offer. Everything is seond-rate, no culture, but no class either. From the lame musuems to the shitty weather to the lack of vitality and sophistication in general. Anything worth experiencing can be taken in over course of a long weekend. It’s a place to visit when you want to escape any real place for a mini-vacation. The roads, the toads, the dumb looking motherfuckers everywhere. Its an embarassment. TThe seasons dont change, the weather is muggy and unpleasant, it rains like ason of a bitch, Busch Gardens is a joke compared to the one in VA. Third-class city at best. Good for whore mongers or people who have ruined their lives inn their hometownns to come and just exist. Everyone has this dead-eyed stare that can only come from crippling boredom. Young professionals will ultimately get stuck here because beign from the south is completely unnaatractive on a resume. A hurricane should blow this disgrace off the map. Sure there are a lot of transplants who seem unsatisfied, but the natives take the cake. What a bunch of inbred, orthodontically-challenged, sunstroked losers…Tampa can go fuck itself.
marcus
1 month ago
Tampa Is One Lame Boring City Like There’s Nothing Too Fucking Do Exept The Beach And The Zoo Or Busch Gardens or The Clubs And The State Fair But iether Than That It Sucks And The People Hear Are Ignorant And Dumb Ass Fuck,Every City Has A Nickname, Tampa’s Nickname Should Be THE CITY THAT NEVER THINKS Beacause Everyone Hear Is A Fag And The Girls Are Too,Like They Only Care About How You Look And That Theyre Too Good For You And Almost All Of The Good Nice Ones Who Are Honest And Nice Are Taken And There’s No Singles,Man The Hell With All That Im Just Saving Up Some Money So I Can Get On A Plane And Leave This Crack Shit City And Go Up North Or West Were The People Make Sense And Girls Are Good Not Ignorant Like Hear Im Tired Of This Shitt.