Signals
Laurel
Sarasota
Opportunity
61 · Top 39%
vs55 · Bottom 48%
Climate
81 · Top 14%
vs81 · Top 14%
Physical resilience
6 · Bottom 2%
vs6 · Bottom 2%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 43%
vs47 · Bottom 8%
Access
94 · Top 42%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 19%
vs30 · Bottom 7%
Measured values
| Metric | Laurel | Sarasota | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,741 | 56,970 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $92,340 | $72,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $61,451 | $60,995 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,293/sq mi | 3,875/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $478,900 | $463,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,323 | $1,684 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 91.4% | 57.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2% | 41.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 15.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 52°F | 52°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.0" | 49.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 63.7 | 48.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 1 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.42 | 15.97 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 36.1% | 55.5% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Laurel
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Sarasota
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Laurel, FL · Sarasota, FL · How this is calculated: methodology