— Community Guide
Gulfport
Gulfport, FL
“Gulfport is its own city — not a St. Pete neighborhood — a small independent municipality on Boca Ciega Bay with a genuine arts district, the 1930s Casino Ballroom on the waterfront, a year-round Tuesday Fresh Market, and more galleries per block than most Florida towns three times its size.”
Independent city · arts district · Boca Ciega Bay waterfront · bohemian
What locals love
- Historic Casino Ballroom (1930s-era) on Boca Ciega Bay — 5,000 sq ft dance floor, year-round events
- Tuesday Fresh Market on Beach Boulevard — year-round open-air market every Tuesday morning
- Walkable Waterfront District: locally owned galleries, studios, cafes, and bars on one stretch of Beach Boulevard
- Art Walk first Friday of each month; GeckoFest annual arts and music festival
- Stetson University College of Law campus — in-city academic anchor since 1954
- Williams Pier — public fishing pier on the bay; no admission, open daily
A brief history
The area was settled in 1868 by James Barnett (Barnett's Bluff), renamed Bonifacio in 1880, and reimagined as Disston City in 1884 when Philadelphia financier Hamilton Disston envisioned a commercial port. The name changed again to Veteran City in 1905 as a Civil War veterans' retirement community took shape, before the city incorporated on October 12, 1910, as Gulfport — the name taken from the Gulf Casino at the dock of the local Electric Railroad Company. The Casino Ballroom was built in 1930 (current structure 1934) and has anchored the waterfront ever since. Stetson University College of Law arrived in 1954, bringing institutional permanence to what was already becoming a creative enclave.
The housing mix
Gulfport's housing stock is primarily 1950s-70s Florida vernacular ranches and bungalows throughout the interior neighborhoods, with waterfront canal-front and bay-front properties in subdivisions like Skimmer Point (about 180 homes, roughly two-thirds waterfront) and the finger-island Kipps Colony Estates. Non-waterfront homes typically run $350K-$550K; canal-front properties with dock access $500K-$900K+; premium bay-front lots $1M+. The overall city median runs below the Pinellas County average, making Gulfport one of the more accessible waterfront-adjacent options near St. Pete.
Who lives here
The median resident age of 57 years tells the story: Gulfport draws retirees and semi-retirees from the Northeast and Midwest who want warm-weather arts-community living without the scale of St. Petersburg proper. Artists, musicians, and creative-economy workers make up a visible share of the population — the density of working studios and galleries is real, not decorative. Remote workers and second-home buyers have grown as a segment; the city's short-term rental scene is active given proximity to downtown St. Pete and the Pinellas beaches. Buyers are typically coming from North Florida, the Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic, often after ruling out more expensive barrier-island options.
Landmarks & things to do
- Gulfport Casino Ballroom — 1930s-style ballroom on Boca Ciega Bay; weekly dances, private events, outdoor seating on the beach
- Tuesday Fresh Market — year-round, Beach Boulevard below 28th Ave S; produce, handmade goods, local art, honey
- Art Walk — first Friday of every month; galleries open late, street artists, outdoor seating throughout the Waterfront District
- GeckoFest — annual outdoor arts, music, and community festival on the waterfront
- Williams Pier — free public fishing pier jutting into Boca Ciega Bay; accessible daily
- Catherine A. Hickman Theater — in-city live performance venue, local productions year-round
- Stetson University College of Law campus — distinctive clock tower; public gardens and grounds
- Beach Boulevard Waterfront District — locally owned galleries, artist studios, bars, and cafes along the bayfront
Schools in the area
Detailed school zone + rating pages are rolling out progressively. Ask Ben about school-zoned home searches in Gulfport — he'll pull the exact attendance map and closed-sale data for each feeder pattern.
Frequently asked about Gulfport
Is Gulfport part of St. Petersburg?
No. Gulfport is an independent incorporated city — it has its own mayor, city manager, police, and municipal services. It borders St. Petersburg to the south and southwest but is a separate municipality within Pinellas County. The distinction matters for property taxes (Gulfport millage vs. St. Pete), building permits, and code enforcement. Buyers sometimes assume it's a St. Pete neighborhood and are surprised by the city-specific utilities and governance structure.
What flood zones are in Gulfport?
Gulfport has a mix of flood zones. Properties along Boca Ciega Bay, the canal-front subdivisions (Skimmer Point, Kipps Colony), and low-lying areas near the waterfront are typically in AE flood zone, requiring flood insurance for financed homes — premiums run $1,500-$4,000+ per year depending on elevation and construction. Interior residential blocks further from the bay may fall in Zone X (minimal risk) with no required flood coverage. Always confirm the FEMA flood zone and get an insurance quote before making an offer; two streets of separation can mean a $2,000/year difference in annual cost.
What schools serve Gulfport?
Gulfport has two in-city public schools under Pinellas County Schools: Gulfport Elementary (which runs a public Montessori program, the first in Pinellas County) and Boca Ciega High School (grades 9-12, known locally as "Bogie," on the St. Petersburg border with magnet programs). The nearest public middle school is Thurgood Marshall Fundamental in St. Petersburg. Gulf Beaches Elementary Magnet is another elementary option. Private school options exist in the area. Confirm exact attendance zones at pcsb.org for any specific address.
What is the Gulfport real estate market like in 2026?
Gulfport runs below the Pinellas County median price, which makes it one of the more accessible entry points for waterfront-adjacent living near St. Pete. Estimated median sale price is around $385K, with homes averaging about 62 days on market — slightly longer than peak-year 2022-23 pace but in line with the broader softening across Pinellas County. Waterfront canal-front and bay-front properties command significant premiums over interior blocks. Inventory has grown, which means more negotiating room than the past few years, but condition-ready homes in the Waterfront District still move faster.
How does Gulfport compare to St. Pete Beach or Treasure Island?
Gulfport is on Boca Ciega Bay, not the Gulf, so it doesn't have direct Gulf beach access the way St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island do. Trade-off: Gulfport's Waterfront District has a denser cultural and arts scene than either barrier island, prices are generally lower, and the community has an independent-city character the beach towns don't replicate. Gulf beach access is a short drive west across the bay bridges. Buyers who prioritize walkable arts-community living over direct Gulf frontage typically find Gulfport the better fit.
Nearby
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Thinking about a home in Gulfport?
Tell me what you're looking for and I'll send a tailored list with context on each one — schools, flood zones, market timing, the stuff that matters.