As you might expect, the areas of the U.S. with the warmest average temperatures are where you will find the highest percentage of homes with swimming pools. Phoenix, with its average daily mid-summer temperature of 106ᵒ, tops the list, with 32.7% of all homes featuring a pool. Florida claims the next three spots, with Miami at 30.6%, Tampa at 27.7% and Orlando at 25.9%.

It’s not as if the differences between above-ground and an in-ground pools are so subtle that it’s hard to decide between the two. The cost differential alone is enough to steer the decision in one direction or the other.

With a typical price of between $38 to $55k, an in-ground pool can be as much as six to seven times more expensive to install than an above-ground pool, which typically costs between $7,000 and $8,000 to build, according to the home services website, Angi.com.
Other major differences between the two types of pools, as explained by Angi, are these:

• Above-ground pools are semi-permanent and somewhat portable, whereas in-ground pools are built to last. Should you decide to move, you can disassemble most above-ground pools and take them with you.
• Above-ground pools take one to three days to install, versus weeks (if not much longer) for in-ground pools to be contracted for, designed, scheduled for construction, and built. In today’s hot housing market, this may take a while.
• While an in-ground pool will often increase your property’s value and desirability, it may also increase its taxable value. So, expect a higher tax bill after you build one.
• In-ground pools generally offer options for customization, whereas most above-ground pools come as pre-packaged kits.
• Pools do not take care of themselves, and in-ground pools are generally more costly and time-consuming to maintain. Because they typically hold more water, you’ll spend more on electric, water, pool chemicals, filtration, and cleanings. Plus, after about 12 to 15 years, you will likely need to resurface and update the pool, which costs an average of between $1,000 and $6,500 per 1,000 square feet.
• You can install an above-ground pool in a smallish yard, whereas you generally need a larger lot for an in-ground pool.

People who live in neighborhoods subject to deed restrictions must take special care when planning a pool. If yours, like so many Florida communities, is subject to certain restrictions about what you can and cannot do with your property, it is important to make sure there are no constraints against building the type of pool you have in mind.