Sarasota named among best places to live

Sarasota has made another national list touting the area, as U.S. News & World Report ranked the area No. 14 on its list of the most desirable places to live.

“Warm temperatures year-round, award-winning beaches and a thriving arts and cultural scene have made Sarasota a go-to place for retirees and families,” writes freelance reporter Vanessa Caceres in the article. 

While the magazine ranking scores the region high in its desirability, quality of life and school system, a little red “thumbs down” calls attention the lack of affordable housing. 

“Sarasota offers a lower value than similarly sized cities when you compare housing costs to median household income,” the article states. “Sarasota is relatively affordable compared to larger Florida cities like Miami, though young families are finding it increasingly harder to buy a home at a reasonable cost.”

According to the magazine, annual housing costs $226,000 locally compared to $218,000 in the U.S. And the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show the average annual salary in Sarasota is about $40,000, which is about $7,000 less than the nationwide average.

Despite scoring low on value, Sarasota is the only Florida city to break the top 25 on the list.