Gulf Coast Population Boom Carries Opportunity for Sarasota and Beyond

It’s no secret that Sarasota and its surroundings have undergone explosive growth in recent years. In 2020, the most recent U.S. Census reported the county to have 434,006 residents, nearly 55,000 more than the 2010 survey showed. While the Census only occurs every 10 years, the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida has been following population trends in the state since the 1970s. It estimated the 2024 population to be approximately 479,000 residents and projects that number could grow to more than 560,000 by 2030. And these figures do not consider the seasonal swelling of the region.

How the region responds to meeting the needs of this growing population is critical to the long-term economic success of the county, its residents and their businesses. A skilled workforce and affordable housing will continue to be the focal point in a puzzle that also includes rebuilding from recent storms, education, access to quality healthcare, and of course a sustainable infrastructure built to keep the county moving.