At a glance
| Typical home value | $325,800 (−0.5% in a year, Zillow, Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Status | Incorporated city, Hillsborough County (incorporated May 28, 1925) |
| Population | 26,690 (2020 census) |
| Area | 7.77 square miles |
| Zillow typical home value (Aug 2026) | $325,798, down 0.5% over the year |
| ZIP codes | 33617, 33637 |
| Setting | Hillsborough River runs through the east and south of the city |
Temple Terrace at a glance
Temple Terrace is an incorporated city of 7.77 square miles in northeastern Hillsborough County, next to Tampa, with 26,690 residents in 2020. It was incorporated on May 28, 1925. The city began around 1920 as one of the first planned golf-course communities in the United States, with Mediterranean Revival architecture, and hosted the Florida Open on its golf course in 1925 and 1926.
It takes its name from the Temple orange, developed by William Chase Temple. The Hillsborough River flows through the eastern and southern parts of the city, and it is home to Florida College.
The city grew quickly after the 1950s, from 3,812 residents in 1960 to 24,541 in 2010 and 26,690 in 2020. Between 1984 and 1987 it annexed Telecom Park and other adjacent areas, which doubled its size and tripled its tax base. It is bounded by Tampa to the west and north, Del Rio to the south and rural Hillsborough County near I-75 to the east.
Is Temple Terrace a good place to live?
For many buyers it offers a rare combination: a small city with its own government, river and golf-course scenery and 1920s architecture, at a typical home value below Tampa's. Zillow put it at $325,798 in August 2026, against $377,566 for Tampa. The trade-offs are older housing stock in the historic core, flood checks near the river, and a city tax rate close to Tampa's.
If you want a settled, tree-lined setting next to Tampa and are ready to inspect an older home carefully, it is worth a look. The pros and cons below set out the details.
Homes and prices in Temple Terrace
Zillow's typical home value for Temple Terrace was $325,798 in August 2026, down 0.5% over the year. That is below Tampa's $377,566 and well below Lutz at $488,064.
Compare sales of the same type and era. The Tampa housing market page has the wider trend.
1920s Mediterranean Revival homes
The original homes from the planned golf-course community, including about 15 houses and buildings by M. Leo Elliott and more than 35 residences by Dwight James Baum. These are the rarest homes in the city and need the most careful inspection.
Mid-century and later houses
The population grew sevenfold between 1960 and 2020, so much of the housing dates from those decades. Ask for the age of the roof, wiring, plumbing and sewer line on any home from these decades.
River and golf-course homes
Homes near the Hillsborough River and the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club trade differently from interior streets, so compare like with like. River homes need a flood zone check and a flood insurance quote.
Neighborhoods in and around Temple Terrace
The historic golf-course core
The original 1920s plan by George F. Young, who also planned Davis Islands, laid out homes around the golf course, which Tom Bendelow designed and which is described as virtually unchanged. Florida College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1946, occupies some of the oldest buildings, including the former clubhouse.
Along the Hillsborough River
The river flows through the eastern and southern parts of the city and forms part of its southern boundary. Riverhills Park, where a replica of a cross placed by Spanish explorers in 1757 stands, and Billy Graham Memorial Park by the 18th green are both on the river.
Later subdivisions and annexed areas
The subdivisions and business areas added in the 1980s annexations make up much of the city today. Homes here are usually newer than in the historic core.
Temple Crest (City of Tampa)
Next door to the west, Temple Crest was platted in 1924 from the original Temple orange groves and hugs the Hillsborough River. It is in the City of Tampa, where Zillow's typical value was $294,737 in August 2026, up 1.5%. Compare tax bills on both sides of the line.
Living in a separate city next to Tampa
A Temple Terrace address is not in the City of Tampa. The city has a council-manager government, its own public library (established 1959), zoning and permitting, and it levies its own city millage on top of countywide taxes. That means the tax bill on a Temple Terrace home can differ from a similar Tampa or unincorporated home at the same price.
Before you compare homes across the line, check each parcel's millage and non-ad valorem charges on the Hillsborough County property appraiser and tax collector records. See Hillsborough County property tax for how the bill is built.
Living in Temple Terrace
Schools: check by address
Temple Terrace is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools. Schools in or near the city include Temple Terrace, Riverhills and Lewis elementary schools, Terrace Community and Greco middle schools, and King and Patel high schools, but assignment depends on the exact address. Use the district's School Zones Locator and see the Tampa schools guide.
Parks and the river
Riverhills Park and Billy Graham Memorial Park give access to the Hillsborough River, and the city is a Tree City USA known for its sand live oaks.
Golf
The Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club course, a par-72 layout of 6,414 yards, has operated since the 1920s and hosted the Florida Open in 1925 and 1926.
Costs and taxes in Temple Terrace
Property tax rate
The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's final total millage for 2025 was 19.5319 in Temple Terrace, compared with 19.8428 in the City of Tampa and 18.2515 in unincorporated Hillsborough. On $300,000 of taxable value, Temple Terrace's rate works out about $93 a year less than Tampa's and about $384 more than unincorporated areas. Estimate taxes from your purchase price, since the assessed value resets after a sale; see Hillsborough County property tax.
City utilities and fees
Ask the seller for recent water, sewer and solid waste bills, and check the tax bill for non-ad valorem charges.
Flood insurance near the river
Homes near the Hillsborough River need a flood zone check on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, plus a flood insurance quote. The Tampa flood zone guide explains the maps.
Getting to Tampa from Temple Terrace
Temple Terrace borders Tampa on the west and north, with I-75 near its eastern edge, so much of the city is a short drive from north and central Tampa. Drive times to downtown or Westshore depend on route and time of day, so test yours at rush hour.
Pros and cons of living in Temple Terrace
Pro: lower typical value than Tampa
$325,798 against Tampa's $377,566 in Zillow's August 2026 figures.
Pro: history and trees
1920s architecture, a historic golf course and river parks give the city a character few suburbs have.
Pro: a small city of its own
A council-manager government, its own zoning and permitting, and a public library established in 1959.
Con: older homes need work
Many homes are decades old, so budget for roofs, plumbing and electrical updates.
Con: tax rate close to Tampa's
At 19.5319 mills for 2025, the city's rate is only slightly below Tampa's and above unincorporated Hillsborough.
Con: river flood checks
Homes near the river need flood zone and insurance checks before you commit.
What to check before buying in Temple Terrace
- Older-home systems: ask for the age of the roof, wiring, plumbing and sewer line, with permits. Use the Florida home inspection checklist.
- Historic rules: for 1920s homes, ask the city whether any local historic rules apply to exterior work.
- Evacuation zone: Hillsborough County revised its evacuation zones for 2026. Check the address.
- City limits: confirm on the property appraiser record that the home is inside Temple Terrace, not in neighboring Tampa or unincorporated areas.
Nearby, compare New Tampa and Seminole Heights.
Common questions
Is Temple Terrace part of Tampa?+
No. Temple Terrace is a separate incorporated city in Hillsborough County, incorporated on May 28, 1925, and bordering Tampa. It has its own government, zoning, permitting and city millage. Confirm which city a home is in on the property appraiser record before comparing taxes.
How much are homes in Temple Terrace?+
Zillow's typical home value for Temple Terrace was $325,798 in August 2026, down 0.5% over the year, below Tampa's $377,566. The city mixes original 1920s homes with later houses and river and golf-course property, so compare recent sales of the same type.
Why is it called Temple Terrace?+
The city is named after the Temple orange, a hybrid developed by William Chase Temple, a former owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The community was originally planned around a golf course surrounded by citrus groves and was incorporated in 1925.
What is Temple Terrace known for?+
Temple Terrace began around 1920 as one of the first planned golf-course communities in the United States, with Mediterranean Revival homes by architects such as M. Leo Elliott and Dwight James Baum. Its 1920s golf course, designed by Tom Bendelow, is largely unchanged, and Florida College occupies the former clubhouse.
Is Temple Terrace a good place to live?+
It can be if you want a small city next to Tampa with river parks, a historic golf course and 1920s architecture. Zillow's typical home value was $325,798 in August 2026, below Tampa's $377,566. The trade-offs are older homes that need careful inspection, flood checks near the Hillsborough River and a 2025 tax rate of 19.5319 mills, close to Tampa's 19.8428.
Are property taxes higher in Temple Terrace than Tampa?+
Slightly lower. The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's final total millage for 2025 was 19.5319 in Temple Terrace and 19.8428 in the City of Tampa, about $93 a year less on $300,000 of taxable value. Both are above unincorporated Hillsborough's 18.2515. Non-ad valorem charges for utilities and services also differ, so compare full tax bills.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Temple Terrace, Florida
- FEMA: Flood Map Service Center
- FOX 13 Tampa Bay: Hillsborough County adjusts hurricane evacuation zones (April 2026)
- Zillow Research: Zillow Home Value Index (August 2026 data)
- Hillsborough County Property Appraiser: Final 2025 millage rates
- Wikipedia: Temple Crest
- Hillsborough County Public Schools: School zones locator
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Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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