— Community Guide
Westchase
Tampa, FL
“Westchase is a 2,000-acre master-planned community in northwest Tampa — 3,514 homes in 33 neighborhoods built around an 18-hole golf course, two swim-and-tennis centers, and West Park Village, a walkable neo-traditional town center with Publix, restaurants, and a Publix-anchored retail row.”
Master-planned · golf course · West Park Village town center · top-rated schools · Veterans Expressway access
What locals love
- West Park Village — neo-traditional town center with Publix, restaurants, cafes, and village green
- Westchase Golf Club — public-access 18-hole course designed by Lloyd Clifton, opened 1992
- Two WCA Swim & Tennis Centers with pools, lap lanes, pickleball courts, and slides
- Westchase Elementary (GreatSchools 9/10) and Sickles High School (GreatSchools 8/10, A-rated)
- Zone X flood designation for most of the community — minimal flood risk, no mandatory flood insurance
A brief history
Hillsborough County commissioners approved the Westchase master plan on April 15, 1991. Construction began on September 15, 1991, converting former agricultural land into what would become northwest Tampa's largest planned community. Westchase Golf Club opened in the fall of 1992 as the community's physical centerpiece. West Park Village, the neo-traditional town center, followed in subsequent phases — inspired by historic Hyde Park in South Tampa, it placed residences above ground-floor retail on walkable streets with village greens and a bell tower.
The housing mix
The community spans condos and townhomes starting in the high $200Ks, villas, neo-traditional townhomes above West Park Village storefronts, and single-family homes ranging from around $450K to over $1M for lake-view or golf-course-front lots. Most homes were built between 1991 and 2005. Many back to conservation land, retention ponds, or the golf fairway. The 33 neighborhoods each have their own character — The Greens has golf frontage, Harbor Links runs to larger estate-style lots, and Keswick Forest offers deeper conservation setbacks.
Who lives here
Westchase draws families relocating from out of state — the combination of top-rated schools, master-plan amenities, and a 15-minute drive to Tampa International Airport appeals strongly to corporate transferees and Northeast/Midwest buyers who want established suburban infrastructure without new-construction distance. Young professionals who work in the Westshore corridor or downtown Tampa use the Veterans Expressway as a 20-25 minute commute corridor. The median age of 38.9 and a 54% married-with-children household composition (2020 census) tell you who dominates the buyer pool.
Landmarks & things to do
- West Park Village — village green, outdoor stage, splash park, dog park, and bell tower in the neo-traditional town center
- Westchase Golf Club — public 18-hole Lloyd Clifton design winding through wetlands, lakes, and wooden bridges
- WCA Swim & Tennis Centers (two locations) — pools, lap lanes, lit tennis and pickleball courts
- Tampa Bay Downs — Thoroughbred horse racing facility just outside the community on Race Track Rd
- Veterans Expressway (SR-589) — quick shot north to Citrus Park or south to Tampa International and Westshore
- Oldsmar waterfront — minutes west for Old Tampa Bay access and Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve
- Westchase Community Park — soccer fields, basketball courts, picnic pavilions, walking trails
- Race Track Road commercial corridor — BayCare outpatient, restaurants, and everyday retail
Schools in the area
Detailed school zone + rating pages are rolling out progressively. Ask Ben about school-zoned home searches in Westchase — he'll pull the exact attendance map and closed-sale data for each feeder pattern.
Frequently asked about Westchase
What makes Westchase a master-planned community?
Westchase was designed as a complete community from the ground up — approved by Hillsborough County in April 1991 and built on former agricultural land. The plan includes 33 distinct neighborhoods, a public golf course, two swim-and-tennis centers, a walkable town center (West Park Village), hundreds of acres of preserved land, and its own governance structure (the Westchase Community Association). Residents pay annual WCA dues ($411 in 2025) plus CDD infrastructure fees through their county tax bill — both entities maintain separate functions.
What flood zone is Westchase in?
Most of Westchase falls in FEMA Zone X — the minimal-risk designation. The community sits inland in northwest Hillsborough County with no storm surge exposure, which is a genuine advantage over coastal Tampa Bay neighborhoods. Zone X typically means flood insurance is not required by lenders, though some low-lying interior lots may differ. Always verify the specific parcel's flood zone on the Hillsborough County flood map tool (hcfl.gov) before closing.
What schools serve Westchase?
Westchase Elementary (PK-5) is within the community and rates 9/10 on GreatSchools, with 80% math proficiency — one of the stronger elementary schools in Hillsborough County. Davidsen Middle School (6-8) is also on-site, rated 6/10 — many families pursue Hillsborough County magnet options for middle school. Sickles High School, just outside the community boundary, rates 8/10 on GreatSchools with a 96% graduation rate and an average GPA of 3.59. Confirm your specific address at mysdhc.org — zone lines shift.
How far is Westchase from Tampa International Airport?
About 15-18 minutes under normal traffic — 12 to 13 miles east via Sheldon Road or the Veterans Expressway. This proximity is a major selling point for corporate transferees and frequent travelers. The Westshore Business District, Tampa's largest office market, is 20 minutes south. Downtown Tampa is 20-25 minutes via the Veteran's Expressway depending on time of day. Note that Race Track Road and Gunn Highway can back up significantly during peak commute hours.
How does Westchase compare to Carrollwood or New Tampa?
Westchase has West Park Village's walkable town center — Carrollwood and New Tampa do not. Westchase is also closer to Tampa International Airport and the Westshore employment corridor than New Tampa, which sits 20 miles north. New Tampa offers newer housing stock and slightly lower prices. Carrollwood is older, lacks a master-plan governance structure, and has no on-site golf course. The trade-off with Westchase is HOA plus CDD fees, which buyers from non-deed-restricted neighborhoods sometimes underestimate.
Nearby
Other communities you might like
Allendale Terrace
St. Petersburg
Cobblestone brick streets, estate-scale lots, and 1920s Mediterranean and Tudor homes on high ground north of Crescent Lake.
Bayshore Beautiful
Tampa
Bayshore Beautiful lines the eastern shore of South Tampa along Hillsborough Bay — stately homes from the 1920s and 1940s on canopied streets a short walk from one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the United States.
Channelside
Tampa
Downtown Tampa's waterfront high-rise district. Riverwalk access, Amalie Arena, Water Street development, and a fast-growing urban core.
Thinking about a home in Westchase?
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.