Living on Davis Islands
Download the Davis Islands Guide
Davis Islands, or just "DI" to anyone who lives in Tampa, didn't exist 100 years ago. Not really.
In the 1920s, developer D.P. Davis took two small keys at the mouth of the Hillsborough River and built them up with fill dredged from the bay. What came out of it is one of the most recognizable neighborhoods in Tampa: Mediterranean Revival homes, canals, palm-lined boulevards, and a view of the downtown skyline from almost everywhere.
And yes, it's Davis Islands, plural. A lot of people say "Davis Island," but there are two islands, separated by a canal. There used to be three, until the airport runway filled in the gap between two of them.
The sign at the entrance gets it right: Davis Islands.
Some of those original homes are still standing, but not many. Tampa Bay History Center historian Rodney Kite-Powell has estimated that 20 to 40 of the island's original 100 or so homes have been torn down. A few years ago I helped my buyers purchase one of the survivors: La Torretta, a mid-1920s Mediterranean Revival on Columbia Drive designed by architect Martin L. Hampton. FOX 13 covered it as one of the first homes ever built on Davis Islands. Homes like that come with history you can't build new: the architecture, the craftsmanship, and the questions every buyer should ask about a house that has stood through a century of Florida weather.
Today DI is a mix of original homes, waterfront estates, newer construction, and condos and townhomes. It's also home to Tampa General Hospital, which shapes who lives here more than most people realize. A lot of my DI buyers are physicians and healthcare professionals who want to live minutes from the hospital, not a commute away.
It feels like a small town, and it's a golf cart community. People walk, bike or golf cart to dinner on East Davis Boulevard, and you'll see the same faces at the coffee bar every morning. But you're one bridge from downtown, Channelside, and Hyde Park.
Davis Islands at a Glance
Median single-family price | About $2.1M (Stellar MLS, last 12 months, fall 2026) |
Median price per sq ft | About $600 |
Single-family sales, last 12 months | 82 |
ZIP | 33606 |
Schools | Gorrie Elementary, Wilson Middle, Plant High |
Hospital | Tampa General, on the island |
To downtown | One bridge, a few minutes |
Getting around | Walk, bike or golf cart |
Flood zone | Much of DI is in AE. Flood insurance is often required. |
What to Love About DI
- The village. East Davis Boulevard has restaurants, coffee, and a small market, all a short golf cart ride from almost anywhere on the island.
- Golf carts. DI is a golf cart community. The cart is the second car here: to dinner, the yacht club, the dog beach and school pickup.
- Tampa General next door. No one in Tampa has a shorter hospital commute.
- The water. There's Marjorie Park Yacht Basin, the Davis Island Yacht Club, boat ramps, and a dog beach at the south end.
- Peter O. Knight Airport. A small general aviation airport on the island, used by private pilots.
- Recreation. The Sandra Freedman Tennis Complex, a public pool, and a waterfront trail.
- The skyline. The best view of downtown Tampa is from here.
The Davis Island Yacht Club has been here since 1933. And yes, even the yacht club went with the singular.
Where to Buy on Davis Islands
The median single-family sale on DI is about $2.1 million. The average is closer to $2.6 million. That gap is the waterfront. A handful of big bayfront sales pull the average up, while interior streets and original homes sit closer to the median.
Waterfront. The west side looks across Hillsborough Bay toward Bayshore. The east side faces the channel, downtown, and the port. Many have docks. This is where the top of the market lives.
Interior streets. A short walk or golf cart ride to the village, often with a water or skyline view down the block. This is where most families land, and where the median actually lives.
Original 1920s homes. Mediterranean Revival, block construction, tile roofs. DI isn't a local historic district, so most original homes can be renovated without the city's historic review. A handful of buildings are designated landmarks, like the Palace of Florence and the Palmerin Hotel. Ask about elevation, flood history, and insurance on day one.
Condos and townhomes. Mostly at the north end, near the village and TGH. They're the easiest way onto the island, and plenty of residents, fellows and hospital staff start here, renting or buying, before they move into a house. Two buildings to know:
- Adalia Bayfront, 2 Adalia Ave. A waterfront building with bay views, a pool on the water and a fitness center. The seawall was recently rebuilt and the building envelope upgraded.
- The Islander, 91 Davis Blvd. Eleven residences, built in 2019. Newer construction, bigger floor plans, and pricing closer to a house.
Before you buy any Florida condo, ask for the reserve study and the milestone inspection report. The state's newer condo safety laws have led to big special assessments in some older buildings.
Living Here: My Picks
Dinner: Thai Island. 210 E Davis Blvd. A Davis Islands staple. Small, casual, with a dog-friendly patio.
Thai Island on East Davis Boulevard.
Coffee or wine: DI Coffee Bar. 214 E Davis Blvd. This is where I go to work for an hour. It's coffee or wine, depending on the mood.
The walk: Marjorie Park. 115 Columbia Dr. Walk along the water by the marina. D.P. Davis named the park for his wife, Marjorie.
Marjorie Park Yacht Basin, a block from the village.
Take the Guide With You
My free three-page Davis Islands guide has the history, the landmarks, the numbers and schools, and my picks for dinner, coffee and getting outside, all in one place. No sign-up.
Download the Davis Islands Guide
Davis Islands Schools
Davis Islands is zoned for Gorrie Elementary, Wilson Middle, and Plant High School. That's the same feeder path much of South Tampa competes to get into.
Nearby private options include Academy of the Holy Names on Bayshore and Tampa Preparatory School downtown.
Always confirm zoning for a specific address with Hillsborough County Public Schools. Boundaries can change.
The Honest Part
DI is an island, and it acts like one.
Much of it sits in flood zone AE and evacuation zone A. When a storm comes, you leave, and some homes take water. Flood insurance is a real line in the budget, and elevation matters more here than almost anywhere in South Tampa. Read my flood zone vs. evacuation zone guide before you fall in love with a house.
There's one way on and off. TGH traffic backs up at shift changes. Small planes fly over from Peter O. Knight.
Peter O. Knight Airport sits at the south end of the island.
None of that stops people from wanting to live here. It just means you should buy with your eyes open.
Davis Islands vs. Harbour Island
Both are islands. Both are minutes from downtown. They're very different places to live.
Davis Islands is a neighborhood: single-family homes, a walkable village, schools, and a small-town feel. Harbour Island is more urban: mostly condos and townhomes in gated communities, connected to downtown and Channelside.
If you want a yard, a dog, and dinner a golf cart ride away, it's usually DI. If you want lock-and-leave living next to downtown, look at Harbour Island.
The House That Wasn't for Sale
A physician was transferring to Tampa General. He had one non-negotiable: he wanted to walk to work. That meant Davis Islands.
Nothing on the market fit. So I went looking. I knocked on doors, left handwritten notes, worked my network, and dug through old listing photos until I found a house that was right. The owners weren't planning to sell.
I made a blind offer. They said yes.
It was during COVID, and my buyers were in Canada. They bought a home they'd never stood inside, in a neighborhood they trusted me to know.
The public listings are only part of the market. On DI, that's especially true.
If you're a physician headed to Tampa General, start with my physician relocation guide. It covers neighborhoods, timing, and the mistakes I see doctors make most often.
Davis Islands FAQ
What is the median home price on Davis Islands?
The median single-family sale on Davis Islands is about $2.1 million, based on 82 closed sales in Stellar MLS over the last 12 months (fall 2026). The median price per square foot is about $600.
Is Davis Islands in a flood zone?
Yes. Much of Davis Islands is in FEMA flood zone AE, and the island is in evacuation zone A. Flood insurance is often required. Check the specific address, elevation certificate, and flood history before you buy.
What schools is Davis Islands zoned for?
Davis Islands is zoned for Gorrie Elementary, Wilson Middle, and Plant High School. Confirm zoning for any specific address with Hillsborough County Public Schools.
Is it Davis Island or Davis Islands?
Davis Islands, plural. The neighborhood sits on two islands at the mouth of the Hillsborough River, separated by a canal. "Davis Island" is a common mistake, even on some signs and websites.
Why do people call it DI?
"DI" is the local shorthand for Davis Islands. You'll hear it everywhere in Tampa, from the DI Coffee Bar to listing descriptions.
How far is Davis Islands from Tampa General Hospital and downtown?
Tampa General Hospital is on Davis Islands, at the north end. Many residents walk or bike to work there. Downtown Tampa is one bridge away, a few minutes by car.
Davis Islands or Harbour Island?
Davis Islands is mostly single-family homes with a walkable village and a neighborhood feel. Harbour Island is mostly condos and townhomes in gated communities next to downtown. DI suits buyers who want a house and yard; Harbour Island suits lock-and-leave living.
Are there homes on Davis Islands that never hit the market?
Yes. Davis Islands has a lot of long-term owners, and some of the best homes trade privately. Kelly Burchill has sourced off-market homes on DI through direct outreach to owners.
Is Davis Island a good place to live if you work at Tampa General?
For a lot of TGH physicians, yes. Tampa General sits at the north end of the island, so you can walk or bike to work. When you're on call, you're minutes away instead of fighting the bridge.
I've sold several homes on Davis Islands to doctors, and walkability is almost always the reason. One family I helped buy their first home in South Tampa chose DI so the husband could be closer to the hospital. Now he walks home and sees the kids during the day. Before, he was at the hospital and away from them most of the time.
Another physician wanted to walk to TGH, and nothing on the market fit. So in the middle of COVID, I went door to door until I found the right house, on one of the first streets on the island. That's the story of "The House That Wasn't for Sale" above.
The tradeoffs are real. There's one way on and off, and it backs up at shift change. And every physician asks me about flooding.
My honest answer: it's an island. Much of it is in flood zone AE and evacuation zone A. But in all my years here, I can only remember one time homes on Davis Islands flooded, and that was Helene and Milton in 2024. Nearly the whole island was affected. It was a storm most longtime residents had never seen.
If storms are on your mind, here's what I tell buyers to look for:
- Elevation. It matters more here than almost anywhere in South Tampa.
- Newer construction. It's built to current code, sits higher, and usually has impact windows.
- A second floor. If water rises, you have somewhere to go.
- A generator. Most new luxury homes have one. If yours doesn't, it's worth adding.
When the island evacuates, most families go to friends or family inland or out of state. Have that plan before hurricane season, not during it.
I've never had a physician who wanted Davis Island change their mind because of storms. Most people who live here wouldn't live anywhere else. I understand that. I've lived in a flood zone my whole life, and I'm still in one in Sunset Park. It's the tradeoff for living somewhere you love.
What condo buildings are on Davis Island?
Most Davis Islands condos sit near the village and Tampa General. Two to know: Adalia Bayfront at 2 Adalia Ave, a waterfront building with bay views and a pool on the water, and The Islander at 91 Davis Blvd, eleven residences built in 2019. Before you buy any Florida condo, ask for the reserve study and the milestone inspection report.
Thinking About Davis Islands?
I'm a third-generation South Tampa native and a Broker Associate with Compass. I know DI street by street, and I know which owners might sell before they do.
Call or text (813) 758-3292.
