Lakewood Ranch today
What this means
Values in Lakewood Ranch are down 2.4% over the past year, now 16.8% below the Aug 2022 peak.
A specific house can rent above or below these figures, so pull rental comps for the address. Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| Lakewood Ranch | vs Manatee County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,945 (Census survey) | ||
| Median home value | $678,200 | 73% higher | 89% higher |
| Median gross rent | $2,299 | 38% higher | 38% higher |
| Median household income | $122,925 | 57% higher | 65% higher |
| Owner occupied homes | 80% | +5.7 pts | +12.4 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 30.8% | +2.3 pts | +9.5 pts |
| Average commute (minutes) | 28 | 2% higher | about the same |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 68.4% | +46.0 pts | +54.2 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $6,908 | 127% higher | 153% higher |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in Lakewood Ranch
Planned community in southeast Manatee and northeast Sarasota counties on the old Schroeder Manatee Ranch, first neighborhood completed in 1995.
There is no city hall here: Lakewood Ranch is a Census designated place, and Manatee County, Sarasota County sets the rules.
The Census place spans 2 counties: Manatee County, Sarasota County. Taxes, rules and insurance averages depend on which side of the line a home sits.
Known for: Lakewood Ranch Main Street; Braden River; Out of Door Academy
Getting around and growth: Bounded by Interstate 75 on the west and State Road 64 on the north; one of the largest planned communities in the state.
Compared with Manatee County as a whole, housing is newer (68.4% built since 2010 vs 22.4%); the median value of $678,200 is above the county's $391,400; household incomes are higher ($122,925 vs $78,457) and the Census median rent is $2,299, above the county's $1,671.
Cities with similar prices and rents: Madeira Beach ($722,800, $2,326), Miramar Beach ($733,000, $2,250), Jupiter ($608,600, $2,381).
Growth and housing
The Census does not publish yearly estimates for unincorporated places, so growth here is read from housing age and the county trend. Manatee County grew 17.1% from 2020 to 2025.
68.4% of homes are 2010 or newer, so HOA dues and CDD assessments are common. CDD fees
Half the homes are older than 2014. Most housing is single family (68.3%). Households average 2.45 people.
9.3% of residents moved in from another state in the past year (county 4.4%).
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $3,181 a year |
| Coastal county | check flood zone and elevation per address |
Flood, storms and jobs
As an unincorporated area, Lakewood Ranch uses Manatee County flood rules (CRS class 5, 25% off high risk premiums). For county flood claims, disaster history and jobs, see the Manatee County guide (22.9% of homes there are in high risk zones).
Buying a home in Lakewood Ranch
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $547,400 |
| Conforming, one unit | $832,750 |
| Median home value here | $678,200 |
Price to income: 5.5x, compared with 5.0x for the county.
- Conventional: the most common loan in Manatee County.
- VA: veterans are 7.4% of adults.
- Jumbo: many homes here run near or past the $832,750 conforming limit.
Investing in Lakewood Ranch
Long term rentals
| Lakewood Ranch | vs Manatee County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 20% | -5.7 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 15.3% | +1.2 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 36.7% | +1.1 pts |
Short term rentals
8% of homes are held for seasonal or vacation use (Manatee County 12.4%).
| Short term rental taxes | Rate |
|---|---|
| County tourist development tax | 6% |
| State sales tax | 6% plus any county surtax |
Rules vary street by street; verify zoning and HOA limits early. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 68.3% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 19.8% |
| Manufactured homes | 0.1% |
Nearby
Other Florida markets
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5 year estimates. 2020 to 2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Vintage 2025. July 1, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual. 2025.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, originated loans. 2025 and 2024.
- LendingTree: 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida by county (HUD figures). 2026.
- Florida Realtors: FHFA sets 2026 conforming loan limits. 2026.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research: 2026 local option tourist tax rates. 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, July 2026 Insurance Stability Unit report (average homeowners premium with wind, as of March 31, 2026). March 31, 2026.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. week of October 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia: List of counties in Florida. checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file. 2024.
- Wikipedia county article and statewide lists (colleges, teams, airports); Florida Defense Support Task Force installation map. checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia article for this place (history, setting, roads). checked October 2026.
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. September 2026.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (county annual, metro and state quarterly, all transactions). through Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, January to September 2026 and 2025. September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. as of August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (2000 to 2026). as of September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book (Community Rating System class). August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries (2000 to 2026). October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. 2023.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024, median gross rent by bedrooms (B25031). 2020 to 2024.
- Hurricane landfalls: Wikipedia, List of Florida hurricanes (2000 to present). checked October 2026.
Estimates from public data; they change over time. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice, and not a loan offer. Methods and assumptions.