Sarasota County, Florida Demographics 2026
Sarasota County, Florida has a population of 459,547, the 14th most populous county in Florida. The median household income is $83,416 and the median home value is $411,800. The poverty rate is 8.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Sarasota County Quick Facts
How Sarasota County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 449,011 | 459,547 | +2.3% |
| Median household income | $80,633 | $83,416 | +3.5% |
| Median home value | $373,100 | $411,800 | +10.4% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Sarasota County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Port | 84,605 | $84,049 | 6.7% | $362,500 |
| Sarasota | 56,970 | $72,105 | 15.0% | $463,000 |
| Lakewood Ranch | 43,945 | $122,925 | 7.4% | $678,200 |
| Venice | 27,479 | $76,755 | 9.2% | $434,700 |
| Englewood | 20,091 | $69,222 | 8.5% | $339,900 |
| South Venice | 17,484 | $77,097 | 12.5% | $337,300 |
| Palmer Ranch | 16,867 | $102,838 | 6.9% | $592,900 |
| Fruitville | 15,172 | $82,246 | 8.6% | $412,500 |
| Sarasota Springs | 12,611 | $95,688 | 12.7% | $349,100 |
| Laurel | 11,741 | $92,340 | 5.6% | $478,900 |
| Bee Ridge | 10,334 | $75,906 | 7.2% | $412,400 |
| Gulf Gate | 7,998 | $61,379 | 13.4% | $357,500 |
| Longboat Key | 7,539 | $158,030 | 5.1% | $1,022,100 |
| Osprey | 5,943 | $103,516 | 8.1% | $750,000 |
| Southgate | 5,772 | $80,133 | 4.8% | $422,000 |
| Siesta Key | 5,525 | $115,854 | 7.2% | $985,800 |
| The Meadows | 5,492 | $69,774 | 11.9% | $382,400 |
| Ridge Wood Heights | 5,366 | $69,894 | 8.4% | $370,700 |
| South Gate Ridge | 5,310 | $70,469 | 7.5% | $444,800 |
| South Sarasota | 4,837 | $92,933 | 9.5% | $780,200 |
| Plantation | 4,531 | $78,404 | 5.6% | $417,700 |
| Warm Mineral Springs | 4,470 | $53,668 | 14.7% | $188,300 |
| Kensington Park | 3,916 | $90,000 | 9.3% | $328,600 |
| Lake Sarasota | 3,595 | $92,429 | 10.0% | $381,000 |
| Nokomis | 3,452 | $41,916 | 11.9% | $231,800 |
| Venice Gardens | 3,280 | $70,811 | 9.8% | $347,200 |
| Vamo | 2,936 | $88,025 | 2.0% | $364,400 |
| North Sarasota | 2,824 | $85,179 | 8.1% | $241,600 |
| Old Miakka | 1,818 | $136,510 | 2.0% | $726,100 |
| Desoto Lakes | 1,735 | $76,417 | 28.1% | $357,700 |
| Desoto Acres | 641 | $120,982 | 11.5% | $585,800 |
| Pinecraft | 305 | $36,160 | 9.5% | $354,000 |
Explore Florida Rankings
Population Overview
Sarasota County is located in Florida with a total population of 459,547. It is the 14th most populous county out of 67 in Florida. The county encompasses 32 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Sarasota County is 57.4 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. Only 14.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Sarasota County is $83,416. This is 12% higher than the state median of $74,568. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 32% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $411,800. Housing costs are 15% higher than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x. 76.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Sarasota County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (80.0% vs 50.4%). The Black or African American population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (10.7%) is well below the state average of 27.4%.
Education
40.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Sarasota County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.8%. Notably, 17.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Sarasota County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Florida and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Sarasota County, Florida?
Sarasota County has a population of 459,547, making it the 14th most populous county in Florida.
What is the median income in Sarasota County?
The median household income in Sarasota County is $83,416 with a poverty rate of 8.6%.
How many cities are in Sarasota County, Florida?
Sarasota County contains 32 Census-designated places.