Updated May 2026 · Redfin
Fort Lauderdale vs Sarasota: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Fort Lauderdale, FL and Sarasota, FL for May 2026: Fort Lauderdale at a $579K median versus $675K in Sarasota, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sarasota, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $579K ▲ +15.5% | $675K ▲ +35.1% |
| Days on market | 98 ▼ -1.0% | 87 ▲ +3.6% |
| Homes for sale | 2,360 ▲ +62.6% | 739 ▼ -14.9% |
| Sale-to-list | 94.1% ▼ -0.8% | 94.9% ▲ +1.1% |
| Months of supply | 7.3 ▼ -44.7% | 7.5 ▼ -21.9% |
| Homes sold | 323 ▲ +193.6% | 99 ▲ +10.0% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Fort Lauderdale is the more affordable of the two at a $579,000 median sale price, about 14% below Sarasota ($675,000). Sarasota is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 87 days versus 98 in Fort Lauderdale.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, Sarasota offers a little more breathing room, with 7.5 months of supply against 7.3 in Fort Lauderdale, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, Fort Lauderdale is the tighter market, with a 94.1% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, Sarasota is appreciating faster (+35.1% vs +15.5% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Fort Lauderdale's and Sarasota's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $579K median in Fort Lauderdale and a $675K median in Sarasota, against roughly $501K a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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Full Fort Lauderdale and Sarasota market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Fort Lauderdale or Sarasota more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Fort Lauderdale is the more affordable market at a $579,000 median sale price, about 14% below Sarasota ($675,000), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, Fort Lauderdale or Sarasota?
- Sarasota moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 87 days, versus 98 days in Fort Lauderdale (May 2026).
- Is Fort Lauderdale or Sarasota better for buyers right now?
- Sarasota gives buyers a little more room, with 7.5 months of supply versus 7.3 in Fort Lauderdale. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these Fort Lauderdale and Sarasota numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
More Fort Lauderdale comparisons
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.