Sarasota has long been a desired vacation location, but now it is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. An ideal climate and rich cultural landscape has more and more people moving here each year. Have you been considering a move to Sarasota, Florida from another state? Here are 4 reasons why the move might make sense for you.

Sarasota = Tropical Beach Life

With an average temperature of 73 degrees, it doesn’t get much finer than Sarasota. Living in tropics comes with not only idyllic temperatures, but also miles and miles of beaches right of the Gulf of Mexico. Just in Sarasota, we have over 35 miles of beaches, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, such as former #1 beach in the USA, Siesta Key Beach.

Low Taxes & Cost of Living

Florida has zero income tax and business-friendly revenue codes, which makes us especially desirable to those coming from northeast states. Recent tax hikes–such as in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, where state income taxes have risen upwards of 13%–have made people consider moving elsewhere.

Northeasterners who move to Sarasota, FL also enjoy a lower cost of living than their northern counterparts. The cost of living here is approximately:

• 30% lower than New York, NY
• 20% lower than Boston, MA
• 12% lower than Bridgeport, CT

Top Notch Entertainment & Cultural Amenities

Sarasota has unparalleled access to the arts, considering the size of our city. From small, intimate theater venues like Florida Studio Theatre, Urbanite Black Box Theatre and West Coast Black Theatre Troupe to the big stages of the Asolo and the Van Wezel, where we get massive productions such as Les Miserables and The Lion King as well as touring productions like Sweeney Todd and The Sound of Music, there is a wealth of access to the performing arts.

The visual arts are also on the forefront of Sarasota’s cultural stage, with the extensive collection at The Ringling all the way to the most natural version at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Small art galleries dot the streets of downtown, St. Armands Circle, the keys, and Lakewood Ranch.

Let’s not forget the Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Ballet, and Sarasota Orchestra! As you can see, our access to the arts is extensive and seemingly un-exhaustive.

High-Quality Dining & Shopping

No matter which corner of Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch/Venice area you live, fantastic restaurants are everywhere. From the comfortable booths of Yoder’s Amish Village in central Sarasota (often featured on Food Network, thanks to its exquisite pies and mouth-watering comfort foods) to downtown’s rooftop bars and upscale restaurants to the beachy-vibed restaurants of Siesta Key Village, food is something we do incredibly well.

Another strength in our area is the shopping. Vacationers for years have known the fun of an afternoon spent perusing St. Armands Circle. Grab a beer or an ice cream after a day of popping in and out of the eclectic group of shoppes. The shopping district at University Town Center now offers absolutely everything you could imagine, and downtown remains a fun place to check out locally-owned boutiques.