Orange County vs Sarasota County: The Numbers, Side by Side
Deciding between Orange County and Sarasota County? Skip the anecdotes — here is every measurable difference between the two counties: home values and list prices, property taxes at each side’s verified millage, insurance, rents, growth, investor yield and migration — each figure from the named source that produced it.
The head-to-head table
| Metric | Orange County | Sarasota County |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value (Zillow) | $404,959 | $399,487 |
| Median list price | $443,723 | $482,450 |
| 1-yr value change | -2.2% | -5.5% |
| 5-yr value change | 4.9% | 2.9% |
| Median days on market | 66 days | 86 days |
| Active listings | 5,473 | 4,677 |
| Listings with a price cut | 21.8% | 18.2% |
| Typical millage (property tax) | 16.67 mills | 13.48 mills |
| Avg Citizens insurance | $1,409/yr | $2,126/yr |
| Typical rent (ZORI) | $1,955/mo | $2,185/mo |
| Modeled monthly cost to own | $2,402/mo | $2,437/mo |
| Gross cap rate | 5.8% | 6.6% |
| Net migration (people/yr) | -9037 | +4764 |
| Residential permits (2025) | 13,140 | 6,627 |
Bold marks the side a cost-or-yield metric favors. Values from Zillow research series, Realtor.com Economic Research, verified county millage, Citizens Property Insurance filings, Zillow Observed Rent Index, IRS SOI migration and Census permits; all change over time.
What the table actually says
On price, Sarasota County is the cheaper market — typical values run about $5,471 lower than Orange County.
On carrying costs, Sarasota County has the lower typical millage and Orange County the lower average Citizens premium; the own-versus-rent gap is narrower in Sarasota County.
On momentum, Orange County shows the stronger 1-year value change (-2.2% vs -5.5%); five-year growth favors Orange County.
For rental investors, Sarasota County carries the higher gross cap rate (6.6% vs 5.8%).
On demand, IRS migration data shows Sarasota County gaining more net residents per year (4,764 vs -9,037).
The costs people forget to compare
Two Florida specifics matter more than the sticker gap. First, property tax RESETS to your purchase price when you buy — compare the two markets at YOUR price with the property tax calculator, not at the sellers’ current bills. Second, insurance varies more by home age, construction and distance-to-coast than by county average — quote the specific home. The buyer closing costs calculator builds both into a real cash-to-close for either market.
Dig deeper on Orange County
Run the numbers in Orange County
- Find the best agent in Orange County
- Get a cash offer in Orange County
- Orange County housing scorecard
- What would selling net you
- Buyer closing costs calculator
Dig deeper on Sarasota County
Run the numbers in Sarasota County
- Find the best agent in Sarasota County
- Get a cash offer in Sarasota County
- Sarasota County housing scorecard
- What would selling net you
- Buyer closing costs calculator
Common questions
Is Orange County or Sarasota County cheaper to buy a home?
Which has lower property taxes, Orange County or Sarasota County?
Which is better for rental investors?
A factual comparison of market data only, from the sources named above as of 2026-06-16; figures change over time and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. It describes markets, not people, and is not advice about where anyone should live. Equal Housing Opportunity.