TAMPA, Fla. — WalletHub ranked Tampa No. 4 overall for first-time homebuyers and No. 1 among large cities, according to a report.
WalletHub said it ranked 300 cities of varying sizes using three key factors:
- Affordability
- Real-Estate market
- Quality of life
They then used 22 relevant metrics, each with a corresponding weight, to create the rankings.
Tampa was the second-highest-ranked Florida city, with Palm Bay coming in at No. 1 overall.
Nearby Lakeland ranked No. 21, and Clearwater ranked No. 27, according to the report.
St. Petersburg was near the middle of the list at No. 122.

Puerto Rican kikiriki chickens winning hearts across Florida
Puerto Rican kikiriki chickens are becoming one of Florida's fastest-growing pet trends. A Tampa Bay breeder tells Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska the demand for the miniature birds has exploded.