Moving to Valrico, Florida

Valrico is the suburb that families discover when they start comparing school ratings and lot sizes in Hillsborough County. It sits just east of Brandon, far enough from Tampa to feel removed from the city grind but close enough that you're not living in the middle of nowhere. The pace here is slower, the yards are bigger, and the schools are among the best in the county.

If you're relocating with kids and your top priority is strong public schools on a reasonable budget, Valrico should be on your short list. It won't wow you with nightlife or a trendy downtown. That's not what Valrico is selling. It's selling stability, space, and a community where people actually stay.

Why Move to Valrico

Valrico is for families. That's the short version. The long version is that it offers a combination of school quality, lot size, and home value that's hard to match elsewhere in Hillsborough County. You get more square footage for your dollar than South Tampa, better school zones than most of Brandon, and a quieter environment than the rapidly developing areas to the south like Riverview.

The community here skews toward married couples with kids, established professionals, and people who traded a shorter commute for a better backyard. If you're single, in your twenties, and looking for walkable bars and live music on a Tuesday night — Valrico is not your place. But if you want a neighborhood where your kids ride bikes in the cul-de-sac and you know your neighbors' names, this is the sweet spot.

Valrico is unincorporated Hillsborough County, like Brandon. No separate city taxes. County services handle everything. It keeps things simple and keeps costs predictable.

Neighborhoods

Valrico's neighborhoods range from established 1990s subdivisions to newer developments, with a few country-club communities mixed in.

Bloomingdale — This large community straddles the Brandon-Valrico line, and many residents identify more with Valrico than Brandon. The Bloomingdale area includes several subdivisions with mature landscaping, community pools, and tennis courts. Homes range from the $340Ks to $500K+ depending on size and updates. The big draw is school zoning — Bloomingdale High School is consistently one of the top-rated public high schools in Hillsborough County.

Buckhorn area — Named for Buckhorn Creek and the surrounding developments. This area sits along Lithia Pinecrest Road and includes subdivisions like Buckhorn Preserve and Buckhorn Springs. Homes are a mix of early 2000s and 2010s builds, generally in the $380K-$500K range. Well-maintained, family-oriented, with good school access to Randall Middle and Newsome High.

River Hills Country Club — The upscale option in Valrico. A gated golf course community with a Tom Fazio-designed course. Homes here start around $500K and climb well past $1M for waterfront or golf-course lots. River Hills is where Valrico starts to feel like a different tax bracket. If you want country-club living without the South Tampa price tag, this is it.

Lithia Pinecrest corridor — The stretch along Lithia Pinecrest Road heading south toward Lithia and FishHawk. Newer developments, some with larger lots (half-acre to one-acre parcels). This area appeals to people who want space and don't mind being a few extra minutes from the main commercial areas. Homes range from $400K-$600K+.

FishHawk-adjacent areas — FishHawk Ranch is technically Lithia, but its northern edge borders Valrico. Some neighborhoods in this border zone get the benefits of Valrico's location with FishHawk-style amenities. If your search includes Valrico, extend it south to compare.

Cost of Living

Valrico's median home price is approximately $380K, which puts it slightly above Brandon but below South Tampa and most of the trendier Tampa neighborhoods. For the school quality you get, it's a strong value.

Average rent for a single-family home (apartments are scarce in Valrico — it's mostly houses) runs $2,000-$2,600/month for a 3-4 bedroom. There are very few apartment complexes in Valrico proper. If you want to rent before buying, you'll likely be looking at a single-family rental through a property manager.

Property taxes: same Hillsborough County rate of roughly 1.1% of assessed value after homestead exemption. River Hills and some newer communities may have additional CDD fees (Community Development District) on top of property taxes — this can add $1,500-$3,000/year. Always ask about CDDs when shopping for a home.

Groceries and daily expenses are comparable to the broader Tampa metro. Publix locations along Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia Pinecrest Road are the main grocery anchors. There's also a Winn-Dixie and Walmart Neighborhood Market nearby.

Schools

Schools are Valrico's strongest card, and it's not close.

Top-rated public schools:

• Newsome High School — One of the top-rated public high schools in Hillsborough County and a major reason families choose Valrico. Strong AP offerings, competitive athletics (swimming, cross country, and baseball are standouts), and active parent involvement. This school zone directly impacts home values.
• Randall Middle School — Feeds into Newsome High. Consistently earns high ratings for academics. Band and STEM programs are well-regarded.
• Buckhorn Elementary — A top-rated elementary school in the Newsome pipeline. Small enough to feel personal, strong test scores.
• Stowers Elementary — Another well-performing elementary serving parts of Valrico.
• Bloomingdale High School — Serves the western parts of Valrico and Brandon. Also highly rated — you can't go wrong with either high school zone.
• Burns Middle School — Feeds into Bloomingdale High. Reliable academics and good extracurricular options.

Private options:

• Bell Shoals Baptist Academy — Located on the Brandon-Valrico border. Large private school with a solid academic and athletic reputation.
• Corpus Christi Catholic School — Smaller parochial school nearby.

The Newsome High zone is the most sought-after in eastern Hillsborough County. If school zoning is a priority, confirm the zone at the Hillsborough County School District website — don't rely on listing descriptions alone.

Commute and Getting Around

Valrico is further from downtown Tampa than Brandon, and you'll feel it during rush hour.

• Valrico to downtown Tampa: 30-35 minutes via the Selmon Expressway or I-75 to I-4. Can stretch to 45+ minutes during peak traffic.
• Valrico to Westshore business district: 30-35 minutes.
• Valrico to Tampa International Airport: 35-40 minutes.
• Valrico to Brandon (Westfield mall area): 10-15 minutes.
• Valrico to Gulf beaches: 50-60 minutes.

Key roads:

• Bloomingdale Avenue — The main east-west road through Valrico's commercial areas. Gets congested near the Brandon Boulevard intersection.
• Lithia Pinecrest Road — Runs north-south and connects to FishHawk and Lithia. Two lanes in many stretches, which creates bottlenecks during school drop-off and pickup times.
• SR-60 (Brandon Boulevard) — You'll use this for most major shopping and to connect to the Selmon Expressway.

You need a car. There is no realistic public transit option in Valrico. Walking and biking are limited to within your neighborhood — this is not a walkable community in the urban sense.

Local Favorites

Valrico's dining and entertainment scene is modest, but there are legitimate local spots worth knowing:

Restaurants:

• Shrimp & Co — Seafood spot on Lithia Pinecrest that locals swear by. Casual, good portions, fresh fish.
• Two Henry's Brewing Company (Plant City, 15 min east) — The closest craft brewery worth the trip. Good beer, food trucks on weekends, and a laid-back vibe.
• Shells Seafood — A Tampa Bay chain that started local. The Bloomingdale location is a solid weeknight option.
• Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant — On Bloomingdale Avenue. Consistent, unpretentious, and the margaritas are generous.
• Brooklyn Joe's Italian — Family-run, red-sauce Italian in a strip mall. It's not fancy, and it doesn't need to be.

Parks and outdoors:

• Alafia River State Park (Lithia, 10 minutes south) — Mountain biking trails that draw riders from across the state. Also offers hiking, horseback riding, camping, and kayaking on the Alafia River. This is Valrico's biggest outdoor asset.
• Bloomingdale Park — Community park with ball fields, a playground, and walking paths. Central to the Bloomingdale neighborhoods.
• Lithia Springs Park — A county park with a natural spring-fed swimming area. The water stays cool year-round. Great for families on hot summer days (which is most days).
• Alderman's Ford Nature Preserve — Hiking trails through hardwood hammocks along the Alafia River. Quieter and less crowded than state parks.

Things to do:

• Valrico is honest-to-goodness quiet. For nightlife, dining variety, or entertainment beyond what's in the immediate area, you're driving to Brandon or Tampa. Most residents consider that a feature, not a bug.
• Strawberry Festival in nearby Plant City (every March) is a regional institution — fried everything, strawberry shortcake, and country music concerts.

Setting Up Your New Home

Valrico's housing stock includes everything from 1990s builds that need freshening up to 2020s new construction that's move-in ready. Either way, you'll have a list of things to handle after closing.

Home services: Best Bay Services — Handyman & Home Services covers the move-in punch list — TV mounting, ceiling fan installation, pressure washing (Florida driveways get green fast), furniture assembly, and those random handyman tasks that come with any new home. Especially useful if you're coming from out of state and don't have a go-to handyman yet.

Internet: Spectrum Internet is the primary provider in Valrico. Coverage is solid in established neighborhoods. Newer developments sometimes have fiber options — ask your builder or HOA. Schedule your install early; availability windows fill up during summer moving season.

Home security: Valrico is low-crime, but many homes here sit on larger lots with more entry points. ADT Home Security is a practical choice, especially for homes without gated community security. Cameras and doorbell systems pay for themselves in peace of mind.

Moving: If you're relocating from out of state, PODS Moving & Storage lets you pack on your schedule and have your container delivered to Valrico when you're ready. Easier than driving a moving truck through Florida in July.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Valrico a good place to raise kids? It's one of the best in Hillsborough County for families. The Newsome High School zone is the primary reason people move here, and it lives up to the reputation. Neighborhoods are safe, there are parks and youth sports programs, and the community is family-oriented without being stifling. If schools are your top priority, Valrico delivers.

What are the downsides of living in Valrico? The commute to Tampa is the biggest one. If you work downtown, you're looking at 30-45 minutes each way depending on traffic. Dining and entertainment options are limited — you'll drive to Brandon or Tampa for most of that. The area is car-dependent with no walkable commercial districts. And some older subdivisions have homes that need roof, AC, or cosmetic updates. It's a great family suburb, but it's undeniably a suburb.

How does Valrico compare to FishHawk? FishHawk (technically Lithia) is a large master-planned community with resort-style amenities — pools, splash pads, sports courts, clubhouses, and trails. It's newer, pricier (median around $450K-$500K), and has CDD fees. Valrico offers more variety in housing styles and age, generally lower prices, and the same strong school zones. FishHawk feels like a resort community. Valrico feels like a neighborhood. Both work well for families — it comes down to whether you want structured amenity-rich living or a more traditional suburban experience.

Is Valrico safe? Yes. Crime rates are consistently below both the Tampa and Hillsborough County averages. Property crime (car break-ins, package theft) exists everywhere in suburban Florida, but violent crime is rare in Valrico. Gated communities like River Hills add an extra layer, but even non-gated neighborhoods have very low incident rates.

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Ready to find your home in Valrico? The NOW Team — Barrett Henry, REALTOR®