Living in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city in Sarasota County, with about 56,970 people.1 It feels suburban, at 3,875 people per square mile.1,3
Nearest 24-hour emergency room
Sarasota Memorial Hospital, listed in Sarasota.2
Straight-line distance from the town's center; driving is longer. Freestanding ERs and urgent care aren't counted.
Life in Southwest Florida
Gulf beaches, warm dry winters and an older population.
Hazards: Storm surge is the biggest risk: Hurricane Ian came ashore in Lee County as a Category 4 in 2022, and Milton made landfall near Siesta Key in 2024.4,5
Visitor information
Sarasota County's official tourism office: Visit Sarasota County.6 Ask about local events, things to do and a free visitor guide, if they offer one.
Read the free Southwest Florida preview, including the region's state-certified visitor centers.
The full Sarasota town card
Choosing Your Place has the complete card for Sarasota and 779 other places:
- How its home values, rent, age and income compare with the rest of Southwest Florida
- Household income, and how many ER hospitals are within 15 miles
- The nearest airline airport and the nearest big airport
- The full region profile, side-by-side compare and the monthly-cost calculator
Other places in Sarasota County
- North Port · 84,605 people · home value $362,500
- Venice · 27,479 people · home value $434,700
- Englewood · 20,091 people · home value $339,900
- South Venice · 17,484 people · home value $337,300
- Palmer Ranch · 16,867 people · home value $592,900
- Fruitville · 15,172 people · home value $412,500
- Sarasota Springs · 12,611 people · home value $349,100
- Laurel · 11,741 people · home value $478,900
- Bee Ridge · 10,334 people · home value $412,400
- Gulf Gate · 7,998 people · home value $357,500
"Median" means half are above and half below. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau estimates for Sarasota as a Census-defined place; the area a mailing address calls Sarasota can be larger.
Notes
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024
- CMS Hospital General Information (Care Compare)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer files (places)
- Babcock Ranch kept power through Hurricane Ian (WTOP)
- Siesta Beach (Wikipedia)
- County tourism office websites, each opened or confirmed 2026-11-05