Sarasota is a bustling city located along Florida’s Gulf Coast, which means beaches for miles! Beyond the beaches, Sarasota is home to fantastic attractions like Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium and Sarasota Jungle Gardens. Downtown Sarasota is a thriving scene of art galleries, restaurants and fine arts such as a theater and opera house. Sarasota has seen a steady increase in population over the years, currently sitting around 58,000 residents. For those wanting to live near this growing city, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best suburbs.
10. Bradenton
- Population: 59,439
- Median Home Value: $160,700
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 25 minutes
- School Ranking: B-
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,564
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 388
Located along the Manatee River, Bradenton is 13 miles north of Sarasota. Bradenton is home to some great museums and galleries, including Manatee Village Historical Park, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature and Village of the Arts. The thriving downtown scene includes not only restaurants and shops, but also delights such as the Riverwalk, a 1 1/2-mile park that includes trails and an amphitheater. Find your new home in Bradenton!
9. Port Charlotte
- Population: 54,392
- Median Home Value: $150,200
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 23 minutes
- School Ranking: B+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 3,149
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 531
Port Charlotte is 50 miles southeast of Sarasota. This unincorporated community contains more than 165 miles of waterways that link into the Charlotte Harbor. Other highlights include seven golf courses and Tippecanoe Environmental Park, which offers 380 acres of woods. Take a look at the houses available in Port Charlotte!
8. Longboat Key
- Population: 7,323
- Median Home Value: $720,700
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 35 minutes
- School Ranking: A
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 54
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 2
Just across Sarasota Bay, Longboat Key is a town located on the barrier island of the same name. There are beaches galore here — 12 miles of them, in fact. Many who call Longboat Key home are retirees, and residents enjoy an easy, carefree lifestyle while golfing, shopping and playing tennis. With only two violent crimes committed in the past year, Longboat Key is one of the safest communities around. Check out the houses in Longboat Key!
7. North Port
- Population: 68,628
- Median Home Value: $174,600
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 31 minutes
- School Ranking: A
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,186
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 117
North Port is located approximately 34 miles southeast of Sarasota and is a nature enthusiast’s dream. It’s home to the Myakka State Forest and the Warm Mineral Springs Park, so there’s no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy here. In addition, North Port has plenty of parks, kayaking opportunities and golf courses. Your new home in North Port is just around the corner!
6. Gulf Gate Estates
- Population: 10,911
- Median Home Value: $196,800
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 23 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,252
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 380
Gulf Gate Estates is just a seven-mile drive south of downtown Sarasota. This suburb features all of the urban amenities you’d expect, such as parks, shopping centers, good restaurants and a stellar education system. For those looking for outdoor adventures, Little Sarasota Bay is located just on the other side of the highway.
5. South Venice
- Population: 13,949
- Median Home Value: $175,500
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 24 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,232
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 377
Located along the Gulf Coast, South Venice is a census-designated place about 26 miles south of Sarasota. It is home to multiple parks and nature preserves, particularly along Lemon Bay. This densely suburban area is also known for its outstanding public education system.
4. Englewood
- Population: 14,863
- Median Home Value: $162,300
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 24 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,215
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 374
Englewood is also located along Lemon Bay, just south of South Venice. In addition to its beautiful beaches, Englewood encompasses several great parks, including Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center, where you can go on eco-tours. Residents will also love the shopping centers, golf courses and the Artscape Sculpture Garden. Be sure to check out the houses available in Englewood!
3. Sarasota Springs
- Population: 14,395
- Median Home Value: $187,300
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 21 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,372
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 400
Sarasota Springs is a mere 11-minute drive away from downtown Sarasota. Its close proximity has given Sarasota Springs the shortest mean travel time to work, clocking in at 21 minutes. While primarily a residential area, Sarasota Springs has its fair share of restaurants and places of worship, plus a great education system.
2. Fruitville
- Population: 13,224
- Median Home Value: $245,300
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 22 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,708
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 288
Like neighboring Sarasota Springs, Fruitville is primarily residential. Folks here enjoy outdoor activities such as jogging through Colonial Oaks Park and hiking through Circus Hammock, a nature preserve. In addition, Fruitville has the usual clusters of shopping centers were residents can get groceries and a bite to eat.
1. Venice
- Population: 23,376
- Median Home Value: $241,600
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 23 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 323
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 25
At the top of our list is Venice. Located about 20 miles south of Sarasota, Venice has 14 miles of beaches along the Gulf Coast, where you can swim, fish and boat to your heart’s content. Historic downtown Venice features beautiful northern Italian architecture, reminiscent of Italy’s Venice. Local history can also be observed at the 1927 Historic Venice Train Depot and the Venice Museum & Archives. Find your dream home in Venice!
Additional Suburbs
| Suburb | Pop. | Median Home Value | Mean Travel to Work | School Rank | Property Crimes | Violent Crimes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmetto | 13,717 | $122,600 | 25 minutes | B- | 439 | 72 |
| South Bradenton | 22,178 | $71,800 | 23 minutes | C+ | 3,535 | 596 |
| Bayshore Gardens | 16,323 | $87,800 | 22 minutes | C | 3,254 | 549 |
| Holmes Beach | 4,295 | N/A | N/A | B | 46 | 3 |
| Anna Maria | 1,749 | N/A | N/A | B | N/A | N/A |
| Bradenton Beach | 1,278 | N/A | N/A | C+ | 47 | 2 |
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each suburb.
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Sarah graduated from Trinity University in 2012 with a degree in International Relations and Political Science. She writes blogs on new homes, decor, communities, and more for NewHomeSource. When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with her three cats.
