Sarasota, A Luxury Destination

According to Kiplingers.com, Sarasota ranks number 8 in it’s top ten list of city with the highest concentrations of wealthiest U.S. households.   In fact, Florida has three places on the list.  Other Florida cities include Naples and Vero Beach.  The list was compiled without regard for homes values but rather the net worth of individuals.  The cities that made the list are those with the highest percentage of residents have a net worth or 1 million or more.   It is no surprise that Sarasota would be included in such a list.  Our town has always been a playground for the uber rich.  One only need to go to the Sarasota airport and watch all the private jets come and go to know that Sarasota is place that attracts wealthy residents.   In 1910, Bertha Palmer, a wealthy socialite from Chicago settled in Sarasota.  Several of her wealthy friends followed and built mansions of their own on Sarasota Bay.  One of those John Ringling, who made Sarasota the winter headquarters for his famous circus and helped build Sarasota into Florida’s cultural capital.   He more than anyone is responsible for the tone of Sarasota and it’s arts and cultural leanings.  Today about one in every eight Sarasota households falls in the millionaire ranks.

 The complete list is as follows:

1. Los Alamos, NM
2. Naples/Marco Island, FL
3. Bridgeport, CT
4. Vero Beach, FL
5. Hilton Head, S.C.
6. San Jose, CA
7. Easton, MD
8. Sarasota, FL
9. Washington DC
10. Honolulu