Sarasota County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
Sarasota County, Florida had an estimated 476,604 residents on July 1, 2024, up 9.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 434,008, across 556 square miles. County output reached $35.89 bn in 2024, 15,989 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 706 7(a) approvals worth $448.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Sarasota County
How many people live in Sarasota County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024459,547
- Households212,204
- Average household size2.17
- Median household income$83,416
- Median age57.4
- Median gross rent$1,818 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$411,800
- Home value to household income4.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income26.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher40.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree17.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over369,342
- Population under 1864,325
- Share under 1814.0 percent
- Population 65 and over172,362
- Share 65 and over37.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64222,860
- Civilian labor force197,073
- Unemployment rate3.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over49.9 percent
- Rank by population among Florida counties14th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included158th of 3,222
Sarasota County is the 14th largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 4.9 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 37.5 percent against 14.0 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Sarasota County
Is Sarasota County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024476,604
- Census 2020 base population434,008
- Population change since the 2020 census base9.81 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20244,525
- Births, 20242,960
- Deaths, 20246,559
- Natural change, 2024-3,599
- Net domestic migration, 20244,434
- Net international migration, 20243,745
- Total net migration, 20248,179
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202446,688
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents154th of 3,144
The county has grown 9.81 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Sarasota County
Where are people moving to Sarasota County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving20,481
- People arriving, from those returns35,515
- Tax returns filed by households leaving15,129
- Net household movement5,352
- Adjusted gross income arriving$3.94 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$2.59 bn
- Average income of an arriving household$192,550
- Average income of a leaving household$89,296
- Largest single originManatee County (2,439 households)
- Largest single destinationManatee County (2,983 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manatee County | 2,439 | 4,024 | $271.6 m |
| Charlotte County | 1,278 | 2,132 | $107.7 m |
| Hillsborough County | 524 | 850 | $60.0 m |
| Lee County | 392 | 596 | $45.3 m |
| Pinellas County | 373 | 552 | $30.0 m |
| Cook County | 335 | 588 | $109.1 m |
| Miami-Dade County | 253 | 411 | $20.5 m |
| Broward County | 223 | 361 | $22.3 m |
Households arriving report $103,254 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Manatee County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Sarasota County
What is the Sarasota County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$35.89 bn
- County GDP, 2023$33.51 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.1 percent
- GDP change over five years49.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Florida areas BEA publishes12th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes168th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$78,101
Output grew 7.1 percent in the latest year and 49.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Sarasota County
Employment by industry in Sarasota County
- Covered employment, annual average190,078
- Establishments reporting21,213
- Average annual pay$65,133
- Average weekly wage$1,253
- Health care and social assistance, employment36,752
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$67,214
- Retail trade, employment24,927
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,604
- Accommodation and food services, employment21,788
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$33,490
- Construction, employment18,479
- Construction, average annual pay$68,459
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment13,403
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment11,271
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 36,752 | 2,169 | $67,214 |
| Retail trade | 24,927 | 1,920 | $43,604 |
| Accommodation and food services | 21,788 | 1,194 | $33,490 |
| Construction | 18,479 | 2,576 | $68,459 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 13,403 | 3,519 | $101,488 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 11,271 | 1,791 | $55,151 |
| Manufacturing | 8,855 | 647 | $73,321 |
| Other services, except public administration | 7,123 | 1,590 | $47,142 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 36,752 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Sarasota County
How many businesses are in Sarasota County?
- Establishments, all industries15,989
- Employment at those establishments162,310
- Annual payroll$9.05 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents34.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Sarasota County
Building permits in Sarasota County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20247,466
- Declared construction value permitted$2.73 bn
- Single family units authorized5,259
- Multifamily units authorized2,207
- Multifamily share of units29.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$365,485
- Units authorized per 1,000 households35.2
Single-family homes are 70.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Sarasota County
SBA loans in Sarasota County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded706
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$448.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$635,838
- Median 7(a) approval$329,250
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,634,500
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)7,772
- Jobs per approval11.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active112
- Distinct industries receiving approvals224
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms98
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter541
- Franchise loans124
- Franchise share of approvals17.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (25)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (83)
- 504 approvals recorded257
- 504 gross approval dollars$204.4 m
- Average 504 approval$795,362
- Median 504 approval$441,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval8.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.3
- Most active CDCFlorida Business Development Corporation (117)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$653.3 m
The average approval of $635,838 sits well above the median of $329,250, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 13.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Sarasota County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Sarasota County
Do SBA loans in Sarasota County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded127
- Paid in full115
- Charged off12
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans9.4 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure447
- Status: Paid in full115
- Status: Cancelled96
- Status: Charged off12
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed36
Of the 127 loans that have reached a final outcome, 9.4 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Sarasota County
SBA lending by place in Sarasota County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending15
- Sarasota, approvals457
- Venice, approvals117
- North Port, approvals55
- Nokomis, approvals23
- Englewood, approvals18
- Osprey, approvals18
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Sarasota | 457 | $291,325,600 |
| Venice | 117 | $82,026,600 |
| North Port | 55 | $18,875,800 |
| Nokomis | 23 | $15,334,200 |
| Englewood | 18 | $12,116,500 |
| Osprey | 18 | $11,931,300 |
| Lakewood Ranch | 7 | $8,380,200 |
| North Venice | 3 | $5,830,000 |
| 7 other borrower cities | 8 | $3,081,100 |
Sarasota accounts for 457 approvals against 117 in Venice. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Sarasota County
How large is Sarasota County?
- Land area556 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Florida counties52nd of 67
- Width, east to west36.1 mi
- Height, north to south30.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land827
- Establishments per square mile28.76
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Sarasota County
Flood risk in Sarasota County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Sarasota County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 125144
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 5
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class5
- Radon levels in Sarasota County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Sarasota County (community 125144), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 5, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Sarasota County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Sarasota County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Sarasota County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024459,547
- Households212,204
- Average household size2.17
- Median household income$83,416
- Median age57.4
Common questions
Sarasota County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Sarasota County, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates 476,604 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 459,547, in 212,204 households, ranking 14th of 67 Florida counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Sarasota County's population growing?
The population has grown 9.81 percent since the 2020 census base of 434,008, to 476,604 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,960 births against 6,559 deaths, with net migration of 8,179. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Sarasota County?
$83,416. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $411,800, which is 4.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,818 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Sarasota County?
15,989 establishments, employing 162,310 people with an annual payroll of $9.05 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Sarasota County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 36,752 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 190,078 jobs at an average annual pay of $65,133, or $1,253 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Sarasota County?
706 7(a) approvals totaling $448.9 m since FY2020, across 112 lenders, with a median approval of $329,250, plus 257 504 approvals worth $204.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Sarasota County get paid back?
Of the 127 loans that have reached a final outcome, 115 were paid in full and 12 charged off, a charge-off rate of 9.4 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Sarasota County?
7,466 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $2.73 bn. Multifamily was 29.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Sarasota County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Sarasota County come from?
The largest single origin is Manatee County, with 2,439 households. Arriving households report an average income of $192,550 against $89,296 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Sarasota County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Sarasota County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Sarasota County
Cities and places in Sarasota.
32 Census places lie wholly or partly in Sarasota County. All 32 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Port | city | 84,605 | 55 | Wholly in this county |
| Sarasota | city | 56,970 | 457 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakewood Ranch | CDP | 43,945 | 7 | 25.4 percent here, 74.6 percent Manatee County |
| Venice | city | 27,479 | 117 | Wholly in this county |
| Englewood | CDP | 20,091 | 18 | 78.4 percent here, 21.6 percent Charlotte County |
| South Venice | CDP | 17,484 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Palmer Ranch | CDP | 16,867 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fruitville | CDP | 15,172 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sarasota Springs | CDP | 12,611 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Laurel | CDP | 11,741 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bee Ridge | CDP | 10,334 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gulf Gate | CDP | 7,998 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Longboat Key | town | 7,539 | 1 | 47.4 percent here, 52.6 percent Manatee County |
| Osprey | CDP | 5,943 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Southgate | CDP | 5,772 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Siesta Key | CDP | 5,525 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| The Meadows | CDP | 5,492 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ridge Wood Heights | CDP | 5,366 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| South Gate Ridge | CDP | 5,310 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| South Sarasota | CDP | 4,837 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Plantation | CDP | 4,531 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Warm Mineral Springs | CDP | 4,470 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kensington Park | CDP | 3,916 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Sarasota | CDP | 3,595 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nokomis | CDP | 3,452 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Venice Gardens | CDP | 3,280 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Vamo | CDP | 2,936 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| North Sarasota | CDP | 2,824 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Old Miakka | CDP | 1,818 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Desoto Lakes | CDP | 1,735 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Desoto Acres | CDP | 641 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pinecraft | CDP | 305 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 9 of the county's 706 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Sarasota County, the largest being North Venice (3), Bradenton (2), Palmetto (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby