2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Sarasota, FL vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Sarasota?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 9.9 years younger than in Sarasota.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Sarasota?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 235.9% more expensive than Sarasota housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Sarasota?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 3.2 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Sarasota.

Things to do in Sarasota?
Sarasota, Florida is a vibrant and inviting city located on the west coast of the Sunshine State. With its beautiful beaches and palm trees, Sarasota offers plenty of opportunities to relax and soak up some sun. Visitors can explore the area's unique culture with a visit to one of its many local attractions, while outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a hike or bike ride through one of the many trails or parks around town. Plus, with its convenient location close to major cities like Tampa and St. Petersburg, visitors have easy access for a day trip if desired. With so much to offer, it's no wonder why Sarasota remains a popular destination year-round!

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Sarasota, FLSanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$62,615  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$454,200  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time20.38  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Sarasota    105 Reviews

Sarasota is my home from birth but those of us who have lived here long enough to have seen the devolution of what was once an easy to navigate, clean, low crime beach  More

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Starting to love Sarasota: Wife and I moved to Osprey- a small suburb between Sarasota and Venice. We're about 13 miles to downtown Sarasota, so not "city dwellers".   More

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As always, anyone considering moving to anyplace new, including Sarasota, needs to come down and spend a month or two before actually moving here. The city is overrun  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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