The word has definitely spread, with several Florida cities ranking on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Places to Live, including Sarasota, ranked #11 as the best place to live in the United States I’m in.
This is the second week in a row that the southwest Florida city has been ranked among the top in the nation. On November 18, Sarasota was ranked #4 among the best places to retire by U.S. News & World Report.
For its 2025-26 Best Places to Live rankings, U.S. News & World Report selected 150 major cities to find the best places to live. “To be at the top of the list, a location had to be a good value, a desirable place to live, with a strong job market and a high quality of life.”
Sarasota ranks 11th best place to live in the U.S.
U.S. News & World Report says of Sarasota:
“Sarasota has a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from Florida’s more coastal cities, with its own vibrant arts scene, beachy atmosphere, and burgeoning food culture.
“Those who choose Sarasota to call home are generally drawn to its unique charm.The city of over 55,000 people is home to the famous Opera House, numerous rooftop bars, and nearby popular Siesta Key Beach. There is.
“What makes this area so special is its duality. Downtown Sarasota is full of resorts and fine dining, but strolling through Siesta Key Village and St. Armands Circle offers a more intimate seaside atmosphere. You can enjoy it.”
Previous coverage: Sarasota makes a comeback to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Retire rankings
“There was a time when Sarasota was looked down upon as a retirement playground, but that reputation is slowly changing as more young professionals make Sarasota their own.
“One of the city’s hottest neighborhoods is the Rosemary District, where eclectic murals adorn storefronts and modern condos and hotels sit near casual breakfast cafes.”
Top 10 Best Places to Live in the United States
Ranked by US News & World Report:
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Greenville, South Carolina
charlotte, north carolina
More Florida cities ranked in the top 150 best places to live
More Florida cities ranked in the top 150 best places to live
Methods used to rank best places to live
“U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live rankings are designed to help our readers make the most informed decisions when choosing where to settle down. Cities in the ranking are evaluated based on the following criteria:
Quality of Life: Measures how satisfied residents in each ranked city are with their daily lives. This includes crime rates, quality of education, welfare, commuting index, healthcare, air quality and national risk index.
Value Index: The Value Index measures how comfortably the average resident of each city can live within their income. This includes housing affordability and housing costs.
Desirability Index: Measures whether people want to live in a particular city. This includes preference surveys, net immigration, number of warm days, and facility to population ratio.
Job Market Index: Measures the strength of each city’s job market using the unemployment rate and median household income.
Which cities are in the top 10 best places to retire?
charlotte, north carolina
Which other Florida cities made the “Best Places to Retire” list?
Contributions: CA Bridges, USA TODAY Network-Florida, Derek Gilliam, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
This article originally appeared in the Sarasota Herald Tribune Where does Sarasota rank on the latest “Best Places to Live in America” list?
