What are the schools like in Sarasota, FL?

Sarasota is served primarily by SARASOTA. The district operates 31 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 11 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Sarasota?

The median household income in Sarasota, FL is $68,870 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Sarasota, FL?

Sarasota has an average high temperature of 72.5°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.0 inches.

Sarasota, FL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sarasota, FL affordable or expensive?

Sarasota's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sarasota is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $372,000 and the median rent is $1,417 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sarasota, FL?

Sarasota has a violent crime rate of 549.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1615.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sarasota, FL a Good Place to Live?

Sarasota is a mid-sized city of 55,508 in Florida, with a median household income of $68,870 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Sarasota stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sarasota is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sarasota city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.6

Sarasota's overall cost of living index is 103.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sarasota costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Sarasota, FL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$372,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,417	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,870	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Sarasota's violent crime rate is 549.4 per 100,000 residents — 45% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

549.4 /100k

Property Crime

1615.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sarasota is served primarily by SARASOTA. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sarasota, FL	National Avg
School District	SARASOTA	—
Elementary Schools	31	—
Middle Schools	11	—
High Schools	11	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sarasota sees average highs of 72.5°F in January and 91.1°F in July, with 49.0 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Sarasota, FL
Average High — January	72.5°F
Average High — July	91.1°F
Annual Precipitation	49.0"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Sarasota, FL	National Avg
Population	55,508	—
Median Age	49.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	14.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.4%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	14.4%	22.2%
65 and over	29.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Sarasota, FL 2 mi Pinecraft, FL 3 mi Southgate, FL 3 mi Kensington Park, FL 3 mi Desoto Acres, FL 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Sarasota

Sarasota, FL is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

34237 34236 34234 34239

Sarasota vs Other Cities

Sarasota, FL vs North Sarasota, FL Sarasota, FL vs Pinecraft, FL Sarasota, FL vs Southgate, FL Sarasota, FL vs Kensington Park, FL Sarasota, FL vs Desoto Acres, FL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sarasota, FL affordable or expensive?

Sarasota's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Sarasota roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $372,000 and median rent is $1,417/month.

What is the crime rate in Sarasota, FL?

Sarasota's violent crime rate is 549.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1615.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sarasota?

Public schools in Sarasota are operated by SARASOTA. The district has 31 elementary, 11 middle, and 11 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 40.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sarasota, FL a good place to live?

Sarasota, FL has a population of 55,508, a median household income of $68,870, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Sarasota?

Sarasota averages 72.5°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.0 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sarasota?

Sarasota, FL is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 34237, 34236, 34234, 34239.

What is the population of Sarasota?

The population of Sarasota, Florida is 55,508 with a median age of 49.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sarasota?

Key numbers for living in Sarasota: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $372,000, median household income $68,870, crime index 118 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sarasota side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.