The Town FilesLongboat Key, Florida
Town in Sarasota County · population 7,505 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $1,022,100
- Household income
- $158,030
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 71
- Median age
- 71.2
Longboat Key is a town of 7,505 people in Sarasota County, Florida. The median home is worth $1,022,100, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 95% of Florida towns.
- #7 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Florida
- #18 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
- #20 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Most Remote Workers
- #24 in 50 Places in America With the Most Remote Workers
- #43 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
- #45 in The 50 Most Tornado-Prone Small Towns in America
How Longboat Key ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Longboat Key is worth $1,022,100, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 6.5 times the median household income of $158,030, which is more affordable than 12% of Florida towns. Median rent is $3,501 a month. 93.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Longboat Key | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,022,100 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $158,030 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 93.6% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 49.6% | — |
Who lives in Longboat Key
| People | Longboat Key | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 71.2 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 68.4% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 0.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.3% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.6% | — |
| Work from home | 45.6% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 92.4% |
Weather in Longboat Key
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 52.3°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
71 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Longboat Key since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 31, 1958 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 8, 2007.
Severe weather in Sarasota County since 1996
Sarasota County has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Sarasota County
Sarasota County had 190,078 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,133 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Longboat Key itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Longboat Key
- Bayshore Gardens, FL4.6 mi · 19,904 people · home $181,400
- Whitfield, FL4.8 mi · 2,989 people · home $470,500
- Cortez, FL4.9 mi · 4,121 people · home $392,200
- South Bradenton, FL5.5 mi · 26,858 people · home $167,200
- West Bradenton, FL7.2 mi · 4,247 people · home $425,100
- West Samoset, FL7.3 mi · 6,482 people · home $212,800
- Bradenton, FL7.4 mi · 55,698 people · home $309,400
- Sarasota, FL7.5 mi · 54,842 people · home $463,000
Longboat Key questions
Is Longboat Key, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Longboat Key scores better for retirees than 95% of Florida towns and quieter than 95%. 68.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 71.2).
How much does a house cost in Longboat Key?
The median owner-occupied home in Longboat Key is valued at $1,022,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $158,030, so homes cost about 6.5 times income. Median rent is $3,501 a month.
What is the weather like in Longboat Key?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 52.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Longboat Key get tornadoes?
71 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Longboat Key since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 31, 1958. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)