The following is a list of important cities and unincorporated communities located in the Tampa Bay Area. Most of these locations are also in the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater MSA. Those that are not are indicated by a ★.

Primary cities

These cities are the primary cities of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA. Each has a population in excess of 100,000 inhabitants. Also frequently included in the Tampa Bay Area are cities in other Metropolitan Statistical Areas; among these are two of the primary cities in the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

• Clearwater
• St. Petersburg
• Tampa   

Between 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants

• Bradenton ★
• Brandon (unincorporated)
• Largo
• Lakeland ★
• Palm Harbor(unincorporated)
• Sarasota ★
• Spring Hill (unincorporated)
• Town 'n' Country (unincorporated)

Between 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants

• Citrus Park (unincorporated)
• Dunedin
• Egypt Lake-Leto (unincorporated)
• East Lake (unincorporated)
• Greater Carrollwood (unincorporated)
• Holiday
• Homosassa Springs (unincorporated) ★
• Land O' Lakes (unincorporated)
• Lealman (unincorporated)
• Lutz (unincorporated)
• New Port Richey
• Greater Northdale (unincorporated)
• Oldsmar
• Palm River-Clair Mel (unincorporated)
• Palmetto ★
• Pinellas Park
• Plant City
• Safety Harbor
• Seminole
• Greater Sun Center (unincorporated)
• Tarpon Springs
• Temple Terrace
• University (unincorporated)
• Westchase (unincorporated)