Living in Sarasota, FL
Small city in Florida
Sarasota is a small city in Florida, home to about 56,000 people, with 950,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: Gulf beaches, the arts and year-round warmth at an easy pace. Hurricane risk and an older population.
Is Sarasota 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, 0.71% property tax
- Easy flying: SRQ is 4 mi away
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Few dog parks: 6 within 9 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Sarasota ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Sarasota: common questions
What is the cost of living in Sarasota?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $440k, 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 Sarasota?
Florida has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.71% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Sarasota safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Sarasota?
Sarasota is warm all year: winter days average around 74°F and summer days around 91°F.
Does Sarasota get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes and flooding: 18 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.41 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Sarasota?
The nearest major airport is SRQ, about 4 mi away.
How Sarasota scores
Each bar compares Sarasota 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).
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Is Sarasota right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.