The Town FilesSarasota, Florida
City in Sarasota County · population 54,842 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $463,000
- Household income
- $72,105
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 68
- Median age
- 48.2
Sarasota is a city of 54,842 people in Sarasota County, Florida. The median home is worth $463,000, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks hipper than 95% of Florida towns, more walkable than 89% of Florida towns, more vibrant than 89% of Florida towns.
How Sarasota ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sarasota is worth $463,000, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $72,105, which is more affordable than 13% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,684 a month. 57.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sarasota | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $463,000 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,684 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $72,105 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 57.5% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.5% | — |
Who lives in Sarasota
| People | Sarasota | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.2% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Sarasota
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 52.3°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sarasota since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on January 17, 2016 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 21, 1999.
Severe weather in Sarasota County since 1996
Sarasota County has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Sarasota County
Sarasota County had 190,078 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,133 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Sarasota itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Sarasota
41 public schools with 25,369 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,681 | 20.5 |
| SARASOTA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,509 | 20.2 |
| BOOKER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,395 | 19.1 |
| SARASOTA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,308 | 17.2 |
| SARASOTA MILITARY ACADEMY (charter) | 6-12 | 1,099 | 14.5 |
| ASHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 982 | 15.1 |
| BOOKER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 961 | 14.8 |
| TATUM RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 833 | 14.4 |
| SARASOTA SUNCOAST ACADEMY (charter) | K-8 | 817 | 16.0 |
| MCINTOSH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 761 | 13.8 |
| SARASOTA SCHOOL OF ARTS/SCIENCES (charter) | 6-8 | 749 | 18.7 |
| FRUITVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 747 | 12.5 |
Towns near Sarasota
- Southgate, FL3.0 mi · 6,287 people · home $422,000
- Kensington Park, FL3.2 mi · 3,697 people · home $328,600
- South Sarasota, FL3.6 mi · 5,133 people · home $780,200
- Ridge Wood Heights, FL4.1 mi · 5,064 people · home $370,700
- Siesta Key, FL4.4 mi · 5,454 people · home $985,800
- The Meadows, FL4.6 mi · 5,037 people · home $382,400
- Sarasota Springs, FL4.6 mi · 12,521 people · home $349,100
- South Gate Ridge, FL4.7 mi · 6,024 people · home $444,800
Sarasota questions
Is Sarasota, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sarasota scores better for retirees than 49% of Florida towns and quieter than 28%. 29.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Sarasota?
The median owner-occupied home in Sarasota is valued at $463,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,105, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,684 a month.
What is the weather like in Sarasota?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 52.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Sarasota get tornadoes?
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sarasota since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on January 17, 2016. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)