A lot of people relocated to Florida during the pandemic. Sunshine, low taxes and an open state (no masks, businesses up and running) were the main motivators. That population surge has tapered off, but the state and our region are still growing, just at a slower rate.

8

Florida’s rank as a top 10 state for net domestic migration in 2025, a decline from previous years when the state was ranked at or near the top. Alabama had higher net domestic migration in 2025.

1,300-plus*

Number of new residents to Sarasota from U.S. territories or foreign countries in 2025.

1,426* 

Number of new residents coming to Sarasota from New York, the top domestic source of new people here, in 2025. (New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts were top states of origin for new residents after New York.)

Net domestic migrants added to Florida

318,855

2021-2022

137,567

2022-2023

22,517

2024-2025

Residents added to Sarasota County

16,618

2021-2022

7,947

2023-2024

11,000

2024-2025

Residents added to Manatee County

15,296

2021-2022

8,536

2022-2023

8,400

2024-2025

*The data is based on out-of-state driver license exchanges, which track when new Florida residents obtain a Florida license after moving.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles license exchange data as reported by Florida Realtors and the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee; MyManatee.org