Population 429,792 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Manatee County
Household size in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.40 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.60 | 2.42 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.74 | 2.53 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.35 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.04 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Manatee County has 2.50 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in the wider Sarasota area, where it has 2.35 people. Household size has edged down from 2.54 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.4 | 48.6 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.4 | 49.9 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.3 | 51.4 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.3 | 52.0 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +3.4 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
Manatee County skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Still, the population here is younger than in the Sarasota area as a whole, where the median age is 52.0. The median age has climbed from 45.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 9.4% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 9.0% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 8.0% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 7.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Manatee County: 7.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Manatee County has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Florida counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Manatee County
Renters in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.9% | 24.0% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 27.8% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.1% | 26.0% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.7% | 24.4% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +0.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Manatee County own their homes; 25.7% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 45.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 21.0% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 20.3% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.4% | 20.2% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.3% | 16.8% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −4.1 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Manatee County: 17.3% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.8 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1987 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1996 | 1993 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +8 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Manatee County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1996, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,148 | $1,142 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,166 | $1,131 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,355 | $1,399 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,998 | $1,992 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$850 | +$850 | +$724 | +$606 |
Rent in Manatee County runs $1,998 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $850 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 35.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Manatee County
Bachelor's degrees in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 27.4% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.8% | 29.2% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.7% | 32.4% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.2% | 39.7% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +12.4 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Manatee County (39.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 13.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.4% | 88.4% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.3% | 89.8% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.5% | 91.2% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.7% | 93.1% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Manatee County is a bit above the national rate: 91.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Sarasota area. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.3 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Manatee County
| Period | Manatee County | Sarasota area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 9.7% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −4.8 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Manatee County than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Manatee County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manatee County | 2.50 | 49.3 | 7.7% | 25.7% | 17.3% | 1996 | $1,998 | 39.2% | 91.7% | 4.4% |
| Sarasota County | 2.20 | 55.0 | 6.7% | 23.3% | 16.3% | 1990 | $1,986 | 40.3% | 94.6% | 3.8% |
| Pinellas County | 2.29 | 48.7 | 9.0% | 30.5% | 15.7% | 1975 | $1,754 | 36.4% | 92.6% | 4.6% |
| Hillsborough County | 2.66 | 38.8 | 12.1% | 38.5% | 8.0% | 1991 | $1,830 | 37.9% | 89.4% | 4.6% |
| Hardee County | 3.12 | 36.6 | 17.4% | 28.6% | 16.0% | 1988 | $985 | 12.1% | 75.6% | 4.8% |
| Charlotte County | 2.22 | 58.3 | 6.0% | 16.2% | 20.0% | 1992 | $1,573 | 26.9% | 92.7% | 4.9% |
| DeSoto County | 2.64 | 45.3 | 13.3% | 27.5% | 18.2% | 1988 | $918 | 11.7% | 73.9% | 9.7% |
| Pasco County | 2.67 | 44.0 | 9.6% | 24.3% | 11.4% | 1995 | $1,742 | 31.1% | 91.8% | 4.6% |
| Polk County | 2.80 | 40.5 | 13.1% | 29.5% | 14.4% | 1992 | $1,499 | 23.4% | 87.7% | 4.9% |
| Highlands County | 2.28 | 52.1 | 9.0% | 21.4% | 18.3% | 1986 | $1,160 | 20.7% | 86.3% | 6.8% |
| Lee County | 2.59 | 48.5 | 9.5% | 25.7% | 19.9% | 1997 | $1,840 | 31.3% | 90.2% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Albany County, NY · York County, PA · Weld County, CO · Waukesha County, WI · Washtenaw County, MI · Washoe County, NV · Virginia Beach City, VA · Tulare County, CA · Sonoma County, CA · Collier County, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Manatee County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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