Sarasota, FL vs Tampa, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | SarasotaSarasota, FL | TampaTampa, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Moderate | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 2.0 for Sarasota, FL and 2.4 for Tampa, FL, the average household size is 16% larger in Tampa according to 2023 Census figures. The two cities also diverge sharply on median age, with Sarasota at 49.3 years (the 92nd percentile) compared to Tampa's 35.6 years (the 30th percentile), a difference of 13.7 years. Population differs substantially as well, with Tampa's 393,389 residents making it 7.0× larger than Sarasota's 56,218, placing Tampa in the 98th percentile and Sarasota in the 77th.
Commute patterns and crime rates also show notable contrasts. The average commute in Tampa is 24.7 minutes, 3 minutes longer than Sarasota's 21.3 minutes, with Tampa in the 59th percentile and Sarasota in the 36th. Property crime per 100,000 people is 1,414 in Sarasota versus 967 in Tampa, a 46% higher rate for Sarasota, which sits in the 52nd percentile compared to Tampa's 31st. Air quality index values are 44 for Sarasota and 50 for Tampa, making Tampa's AQI 14% higher and placing it in the 80th percentile versus Sarasota's 59th.
In strategic location terms, Sarasota is 43 miles from its nearest large city, while Tampa is 0 miles, a difference that gives Sarasota a higher target proximity grade of C- compared to Tampa's F. Per-capita income is $59,028 in Sarasota, 19% higher than Tampa's $49,513, with Sarasota in the 86th percentile and Tampa in the 76th. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 41 in Sarasota and 26 in Tampa, a 57% higher rate for Sarasota, which ranks in the 86th percentile versus Tampa's 71st.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Sarasota, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 13671st pctl | 13470th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $409,70073rd pctl | $375,30068th pctl | Median home value: Sarasota, FL $409,700; Tampa, FL $375,300; Sarasota is 9% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,51471st pctl | $1,56773rd pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $70,06546th pctl | $71,30248th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $79,59774th pctl | $72,91469th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Sarasota, FL $79,597; Tampa, FL $72,914; Sarasota is 9% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $117,00874th pctl | $107,18469th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Sarasota, FL $117,008; Tampa, FL $107,184; Sarasota is 9% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Tampa needs about
$73,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 136 vs 134). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Sarasota, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.7%69th pctl | +1.2%55th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $59,02886th pctl | $49,51376th pctl | Per-capita income: Sarasota, FL $59,028; Tampa, FL $49,513; Sarasota is 19% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.3%63rd pctl | 15.9%70th pctl | Poverty rate: Sarasota, FL 14.3%; Tampa, FL 15.9%; Tampa is 1.6 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 21.3 min36th pctl | 24.7 min59th pctl | Average commute: Sarasota, FL 21.3 min; Tampa, FL 24.7 min; Tampa is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 12.8%61st pctl | 19.3%82nd pctl | Work from home: Sarasota, FL 12.8%; Tampa, FL 19.3%; Tampa is 6.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Sarasota, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 37876th pctl | 31164th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Sarasota, FL 378; Tampa, FL 311; Sarasota is 22% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,41452nd pctl | 96731st pctl | Property crime per 100k: Sarasota, FL 1,414; Tampa, FL 967; Sarasota is 46% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Sarasota, FL F; Tampa, FL C-; Tampa is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Sarasota, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Sweaty | Sweaty | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Sarasota, FL C; Tampa, FL A+; Tampa is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Florida, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Florida →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Sarasota, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 43 mi38th pctl | 0 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Sarasota, FL 43 mi; Tampa, FL 0 mi; Sarasota is 43 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Sarasota, FL C-; Tampa, FL F; Sarasota is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 922 mi93rd pctl | 928 mi94th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 0 mi1st pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Distance to coastline: Sarasota, FL 0 mi; Tampa, FL 0 mi; Sarasota is 3.0 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | High Risk | Strategic location: Sarasota, FL C-; Tampa, FL F; Sarasota is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Sarasota, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,21877th pctl | 393,38998th pctl | Population: Sarasota, FL 56,218; Tampa, FL 393,389; Tampa is 7.0 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,82385th pctl | 3,43782nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Sarasota, FL 3,823; Tampa, FL 3,437; Sarasota is 11% higher. |
| Median age | 49.392nd pctl | 35.630th pctl | Median age: Sarasota, FL 49.3; Tampa, FL 35.6; Sarasota is 13.7 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7%69th pctl | 44.6%73rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Sarasota, FL 41.7%; Tampa, FL 44.6%; Tampa is 2.9 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 26th pctl | 2.438th pctl | Average household size: Sarasota, FL 2; Tampa, FL 2.4; Tampa is 16% larger. |
More about Sarasota's residents · Tampa's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Sarasota and Tampa
- Median rent: $1,514 in Sarasota, $1,567 in Tampa
- Median home value: $409,700 in Sarasota, $375,300 in Tampa
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 136 in Sarasota, 134 in Tampa
- Median household income: $70,065 in Sarasota, $71,302 in Tampa
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $117,008 in Sarasota, $107,184 in Tampa
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Sarasota, 3.4% in Tampa
- Average commute: 21.3 min in Sarasota, 24.7 min in Tampa
- Violent crime per 100k: 378 in Sarasota, 311 in Tampa
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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