Median Age
50 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
17%
Over 65
31%
Avg Rent
$1,736
Population
61,007
Renter Mix
44% Rent
Welcome to Sarasota, where coastal beauty meets cultural excellence along Florida's Gulf Coast. This waterfront city offers rental options from downtown apartments to beachfront communities. Current rental trends show average prices ranging from $1,306 for studios to $2,952 for three-bedroom homes, with most areas experiencing modest price adjustments over the past year. The downtown district centers around Main Street and Palm Avenue, while the tree-lined streets of Laurel Park feature historic architecture. Siesta Key and Lido Key complement the mainland with their white-sand beaches and residential communities.
Sarasota's rich cultural heritage shines through the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the historic Sarasota Opera House. The city embraces its circus history as the former winter headquarters of the Ringling Bros. Circus. Nature enthusiasts can explore Marie Selby Botanical Gardens or spend time at numerous public parks and beaches. St. Armands Circle offers shopping and dining options, while the Rosemary District continues to grow with new residential developments. The city is home to several educational institutions, including New College of Florida and Ringling College of Art and Design.
The Chariot Sculpture is located in the Ringling Museum courtyard
The Ringlings built their home, the Ca' d'Zan, in 1924
Median Household Income
$66,550
Average: $95,605
Education
23,410
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
26,257
Workers Employed
Median Age
50 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
17%
Over 65
31%
Housing Distribution
Sarasota has more homeowners than renters.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Sarasota, FL is $1,355 for a studio, $1,736 for one bedroom, $2,128 for two bedrooms, and $2,715 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Sarasota has decreased by -3.4% in the past year.
The cost of living in Sarasota, FL is 4.5% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Sarasota is 13.2% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,355 - $2,715. You can expect to pay 6.9% more for groceries, 4.9% more for utilities, and 2.4% more for transportation.
Compare Cities
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Sarasota, FL is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
Limited Public Transit
Transit
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
Public
Grades PK-5
680 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
617 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
819 Students
Phillippi Shores Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
673 Students
Bay Haven School Of Basics Plus
Public
Grades K-5
520 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,173 Students
Sarasota School Of Arts/Sciences
Public
Grades 6-8
742 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
674 Students
Sarasota Virtual Academy (Virtual Franchise)
Public
Grades K-12
12 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
755 Students
Suncoast Polytechnical High School
Public
Grades 9-12
533 Students
Public
Grades PK & 9-12
2,650 Students
Sarasota Virtual Academy (Virtual Franchise)
Public
Grades K-12
12 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,307 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
944 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.