Should I Move To
Sarasota, Florida is home to about 55,508 people. On cost of living, it lands in the moderate band — 9% above the national average. The median renter pays around $1,417 a month against a typical household income of $68,870. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 68 out of 100 (grade B-), putting it at #30 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sarasota's composite cost-of-living index lands at 109 (100 = US average), which puts it in the moderate band. At $1,417/mo against $68,870 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 25% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $372,000.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is warm year-round — summer averages around 91°F, winter averages around 55°F. Precipitation totals about 49 inches a year. A walker's paradise by US standards. Many people here genuinely skip car ownership. AQI runs about 41 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Sarasota reads as a moderate fit for families. The profile-weighted score is 64/100 — a C+. Its standout dimension is walkability (97/100); the soft spot is affordability (43/100).
Sarasota reads as a moderate fit for retirees. The profile-weighted score is 69/100 — a B-. Its standout dimension is walkability (97/100); the soft spot is affordability (43/100).
Sarasota reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 63/100 — a C+. Its standout dimension is walkability (97/100); the soft spot is affordability (43/100).
Sarasota reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 70/100 — a B. Its standout dimension is walkability (97/100); the soft spot is affordability (43/100).
Our overall score for Sarasota is 68/100 — a B-, sitting at #30 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Sarasota sits at 109 — moderate, 9% above the national average. Median renter pays around $1,417 a month.
Sarasota runs warm year-round on the weather. Summer's near 91°F, winter's near 55°F; 49 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 97/100. A walker's paradise by US standards. Many people here genuinely skip car ownership.
Roughly 55,508 people live here, with 41% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 50.
Drop Sarasota into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Sarasota with other Florida cities scored on UrbRank.
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