Places › Florida › Bradenton

Living in Bradenton, FL

Small city in Florida

Bradenton is a small city in Florida, home to about 56,000 people, with 1.2 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Bradenton a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.78% property tax
  • Easy flying: SRQ is 7 mi away
  • Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places

👎 Cons

  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Fewer graduates: 28% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Hot summers: highs around 92°F
  • Smaller job market: about 1.2 million people live within 31 mi

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Bradenton ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
56,000
1.2 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
74°F / 92°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$403k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,540/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
102
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 0.78% property tax
Safety
1.6× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
17 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly hurricanes, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
28%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
SRQ
7 mi away

Living in Bradenton: common questions

What is the cost of living in Bradenton?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $403k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,540 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 102, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Bradenton?

Florida has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.78% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Bradenton safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.6× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Bradenton?

Bradenton is warm all year: winter days average around 74°F and summer days around 92°F.

Does Bradenton get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes: 17 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.63 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Bradenton?

The nearest major airport is SRQ, about 7 mi away.

How Bradenton scores

Each bar compares Bradenton with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Warm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Moderate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Average
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Average
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Average
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Average
☀️Sunny Good
🌤️Mild summers Below average
✈️Airport Excellent

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Is Bradenton right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.