© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Palmer Ranch.
Palmer Ranch is an unincorporated community in Sarasota County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Palmer Ranch
This is a planned community sandwiched between Sarasota and Osprey that feels more like a retirement destination than a place for younger families—and that's worth knowing upfront. The median age here is 65.5 years, with over half the population at retirement age, which shapes everything from the local culture to the housing market and community vibe. Housing costs are substantial (median home value around $593,000 and median rent at $1,794), though the median household income of $103,682 suggests most residents here have the means to support that; you'll want to be financially comfortable to move here.
Palmer Ranch at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
64.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Foreign-Born
18.0%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Median household income
Demographics18.0% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Palmer Ranch: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palmer Ranch, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (13.0%), and 4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
9.1%
of residents
65 and Older
49.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
13.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.3%
of households
Married Couples
55.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.91
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% above FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Palmer Ranch
In Palmer Ranch, rent runs 7% above the FL average, and home values are 65% above the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,363
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1999
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above FL average
Unemployment in Palmer Ranch
Unemployment in Sarasota County, which includes Palmer Ranch, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Palmer Ranch: Sarasota County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Sarasota County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Palmer Ranch is about 4% of Sarasota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Palmer Ranch Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.9 min avg
How Palmer Ranch residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palmer Ranch, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
Small hub2.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 56 mi
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Major hub12.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 71% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, which covers Palmer Ranch, runs 71% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
95
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
744
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Sarasota County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Sarasota County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Sarasota County, which includes Palmer Ranch, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.8M |
| 2023 | 3 | Tropical Storm | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Tornado | $2001.1M |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $252,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Tornado | None reported |
| 2019 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $90,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Sarasota County, county-wide
Palmer Ranch is about 4% of Sarasota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Sarasota County, which includes Palmer Ranch, is typically good — 236 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
236
per year
Moderate Days
129
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Sarasota County, county-wide
Palmer Ranch is about 4% of Sarasota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate91°F summers, 54°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palmer Ranch has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and warm winters (avg low 54°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
83°/63°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
85°/67°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
74°/54°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
120
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72°F | 52°F | 2.68" |
| Feb | 75°F | 54°F | 2.00" |
| Mar | 78°F | 58°F | 2.97" |
| Apr | 83°F | 63°F | 2.47" |
| May | 87°F | 68°F | 3.25" |
| Jun | 90°F | 73°F | 7.81" |
| Jul | 92°F | 74°F | 7.39" |
| Aug | 92°F | 75°F | 8.34" |
| Sep | 90°F | 73°F | 7.16" |
| Oct | 86°F | 68°F | 3.35" |
| Nov | 80°F | 60°F | 1.54" |
| Dec | 75°F | 55°F | 2.31" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palmer Ranch
Uninsured
6.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Palmer Ranch's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Venice
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · North Venice
HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Sarasota
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.2 mi away · Sarasota
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education56.4% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in Palmer Ranch
Public Schools
0
none inside city limits; students attend nearby district schools
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
56.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Palmer Ranch (within 15 miles)
Ringling College of Art and Design
14.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,662 students · in-state tuition $60,170 · 74% graduate · median earnings $55,053 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Sarasota
11.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 574 students · in-state tuition $18,790 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: De Soto National Memorial, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palmer Ranch
Palmer Ranch has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being De Soto National Memorial (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
27 mi awayCities Near Palmer Ranch
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palmer Ranch?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palmer Ranch FAQ
Is Palmer Ranch, Florida affordable?⌄
Palmer Ranch's median rent is $1,794/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $102,838/year. Median home value is $592,900.
Is Palmer Ranch, Florida safe?⌄
Palmer Ranch is policed by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 95 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 744 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palmer Ranch, Florida?⌄
Sarasota County, which includes Palmer Ranch, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palmer Ranch, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Palmer Ranch is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,794/month and median household income is $102,838/year. The median home value is $592,900. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palmer Ranch, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Palmer Ranch is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from