Despite being less than a hundred miles from one another on Florida’s southwest gulf coast, Naples and Sarasota are both quite unique from one another. If you’re looking into Florida real estate for sale and trying to decide between the two, you’ll be one step closer to making that choice between Naples Vs. Sarasota. Let’s break down what sets these two cities apart and see how they compare in six specific categories.
Cityscape and Geography In Naples Vs. Sarasota
Both cities sit by the ocean, and that’s where their geographical similarities end. Naples is right on the coast, with a long narrow bay cutting the city’s southern half from the Florida mainland. When storms roll through, the city is completely exposed to the open ocean. On the other hand, Sarasota,, is shielded from the sea by several large banks and low islands that block the higher storm-generated waves. The tradeoff is that it’s a bit more difficult to get to the beach from Sarasota than it is from Naples. When the weather is good, you’ll want to be in Naples, and when there’s wind and rain, you’ll want the protection of Sarasota.
Head inland from Sarasota and you’ll be met with moderately populated rural farms, wide open plains with a few shade trees, and sandy soil. The hinterland east of Naples is utterly devoid of settlement. Out there you’ll find Big Cypress National Preserve as well as the Florida Everglades. If you like to take a turn about settled countryside to get a break from the beach, Sarasota is your best bet. If you want to get lost in the wilderness, move to Naples.
Finally, let’s compare the cities themselves. Sarasota is much larger and broader than Naples, with a well-developed modernized downtown and residential neighborhoods encircling downtown high rises. Even the barrier islands are settled with houses. Not only that, Sarasota is closely connected with other major centers of Florida real estate in cities like Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Naples on the other hand, is smaller and longer, barely two miles wide and nearly ten miles long. There are no high-rise buildings downtown. The only truly tall buildings are the seaside condos in the extreme north of the city. The Naples main strip feels much more like a resort city than the more generalized downtown area in Sarasota. Naples architecture is more Spanish in style, Cuban even, while Sarasota is thoroughly modern American.
Population In Naples Vs. Sarasota
Sarasota far outranks Naples in terms of population. According to the 2020 census, Sarasota has a population of 54K while Naples’ population is only 19K. We should point out, however, that Naples swells with winter tourists, with over a million people visiting each year.
Interestingly enough, the populations of both Sarasota and Naples have hardly changed since the 90s, Naples being slightly more stable than Sarasota. It seems as if both cities have reached a point of population equilibrium, which is good news for anyone looking to move to a city that isn’t likely to explode in population in the near future.
Around half of the resident population in Naples, FL, is over the age of 65, making Naples one of the best retirement cities in Florida real estate. Sarasota has a more balanced population age-wise. In terms of crime, Naples is safer than Sarasota.
Things To Do In Naples Vs. Sarasota
It’s safe to say that whether you live in Sarasota or Naples, you’ll be heading to the beach pretty frequently. If you like fishing in-shore, you’ll probably have a better time fishing around Naples, as its inshore is more extensive than near Sarasota and there isn’t nearly as much farmland run-off to worry about in the water. If you’re going offshore to fish and you want to charter a boat, Sarasota has a much larger harbor and more chartering opportunities.
For things to do in the city, Sarasota is the clear winner. You’ll find a wider variety of restaurants, bars, music venues, and more all year round whereas in Naples you’ll have to work around the off-season. And if you’re itching for any big city excitement, Tampa is less than 50 miles to the north.
Alternatively, if you like the idea of a city emptying out every summer, the off-season in Naples, then you might want to forego Sarasota and live further south. We should also point out that Naples is considered the “Golf Capital of the World,” with nearly 100 golf courses in and around the city limits. Also bear in mind that Naples is close to the Everglades so if you’re looking to explore that breathtaking ecosystem you’ll find Naples to be a convenient base camp.
Climate In Naples Vs. Sarasota
Naples and Sarasota have virtually the same climate. Being just a bit further south, Naples’ climate is slightly more tropical and warmer. Both Naples and Sarasota have a wet and dry season. The wet season is from June-to-September (the off-season in Naples) and the dry season is from November-to-March. While nearly all of Florida real estate is susceptible to being hit by Hurricanes, the southwest coast is just below the northwest in terms of receiving the most storms historically. With no barrier islands to protect it, Naples is more susceptible to flooding and storm surges than Sarasota. Sarasota also has a much higher average elevation than Naples, 16 feet compared to 3 feet above sea level.
Real Estate In Naples Vs. Sarasota
In regards to real estate in Florida, Naples and Sarasota could not be more different. We’ll focus on what they share first. Both cities have excellent real estate markets that have seen appreciation rates of over 5% averaged since 2000. That’s exceptionally high for any real estate market in the U.S.
Naples real estate differs from Sarasota real estate in many ways. Naples real estate has indeed appreciated dramatically over the last five years, with a sudden jump in home prices around the beginning of 2020. In Sarasota, home appreciation has been much more gradual.
The Naples real estate market is in a league of its own compared to Sarasota. Condos dominate Naples while Sarasota has a more well-rounded market. The median listing price in Naples is $725K while in Sarasota it’s $557K. Both markets are strong and healthy when compared to national averages, while Naples is clearly the favored city for luxury homes.
If you’re a first-time home buyer looking for a single-family home, get in touch with a real estate agent in Sarasota. But if you’re looking for a luxury condo right on the ocean, call a Naples real estate agent and you’ll be on your way to a corner condo by the beach in no time.
Job Market In Naples Vs. Sarasota
Most jobs in Naples are in the service industry and revolve around tourism and hospitality. When the beachgoers and snowbirds start arriving in winter, just about every restaurant, bar, hotel, and resort are looking for extra hands. Long-term employment can be had at any of the nearly 100 golf courses around Naples, as well as service and maintenance positions in the condos that make up Naples real estate.
Sarasota has a more well-rounded job market, with industries similar to just about anywhere else in the U.S. Sarasota’s economy is also bolstered by tourism, though not to the same degree as Naples. If you’re looking to specialize in hospitality and tourism, Naples should be the city of your choice, but if you’re looking to work in a more general field, Sarasota is your best bet.
History Of Naples Vs. Sarasota
If you enjoy driving around your city and knowing the story behind this house and that church and even whole neighborhoods, you’ll want to carefully consider the differing histories of Sarasota and Naples.
Prior to contact, two similar but distinct people inhabited the areas of Sarasota and Naples. The Calusa people lived around Naples and their leaders lived in immense two-story homes that reportedly could house up to 2,000 people comfortably. They painted their bodies with brilliant colors and made artful masks. The people around Sarasota also built large mounds, though they no longer exist today.
Only 21 years after Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas, Juan Ponce De Leon (famed seeker of the Fountain Of Youth) would have been one of the first Europeans to see both Naples and Sarasota. He was surveying the Florida coasts at the time. Apparently some of the people living around Sarasota already spoke a little Spanish when Juan Ponce showed up, which makes us wonder just how much they and the Europeans got around in those early years.
Sarasota became settled from the 1500s onwards, as the bay was great for fishing. During the U.S. Civil War the Union Navy easily blockaded the bay, but the locals were able to fish in-shore well enough to be comfortable. In the years after the Civil War, a few old soldiers from Kentucky came down past Sarasota to where Naples is today. They had a look around, saw that it was a beautiful spot, and started to advertise the place as a ripe tourist destination. That was in the 1880s, and soon after hotels and railroads started springing up in Naples.
The twentieth century was colorful and kind overall to both Sarasota and Naples, both of which advertised themselves as tourist towns and became epicenters of real estate in Florida. Circuses, major league baseball teams, and high-rollers all traveled down to Sarasota during the roaring twenties only to be cut short by the Great Depression. It took a while for both Sarasota and Naples to bounce back, but they did! Ever since they have been bastions of Florida real estate, tourism, and the seaside lifestyle.
Naples Vs. Sarasota: Which Is Best?
Maybe you’ve read this article and thought “they’re not so different after all, one is just bigger than the other.” That wouldn’t be far from the truth. Think of Naples and Sarasota as essentially the same place in regards to real estate in Florida, only Naples is a bit more concentrated and hospitality-centric, and you’ll have the essential answer to Naples vs. Sarasota. If you’re unsure about Florida, check two of the pinnacle cities in Texas and answer the age-old question: Dallas vs. Austin, which one is better?
