City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Sanibel, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sanibel - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

6,402
Residents
$122,730
Median income
$912,200
Median home
$1,961
Median rent (state)

Sanibel - the verdict

Nationally, Sanibel sits in the 88th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

88th
percentile, household income
96th
percentile, home value
82nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sanibel, FL

Florida's Sanibel is a small town, with 6,402 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Sanibel households earn a median of $122,730 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 5.2%. Home values in Sanibel run a median of $912,200, and the median resident age is 68.2 years. Educational attainment runs 61.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 32.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 46 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 171% from five years earlier.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Florida at 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,961 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Florida run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

6,402 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$122,730 /yr

Poverty 5.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Sanibel compare to other US cities?

Sanibel measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 88% higher than other cities
Home value 96% pricier than other cities
Median rent 82% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Sanibel against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Sanibel's strongest outlier among Florida cities

Among the 894 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Sanibel ranks #28 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sanibel only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#67 of 903
93rd percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#396 of 930
53rd percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#28 of 894
97th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#612 of 930
34th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#45 of 930
95th percentile in Florida

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Florida only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

88thIncome percentile

88th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sanibel's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$912,200 4th percentile more affordable than 4% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sanibel $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sanibel, FL Sanibel, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sanibel, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sanibel, FL median $122,730/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sanibel, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sanibel, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 61.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 32.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
6,402
Median Income
$122,730
Median Home Value
$912,200
Median Age
68.2
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Labor force participation
32.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
61.6%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,200 residents6,300 residents6,400 residents6,500 residents6,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,388 residents 6,303 residents ▼ -1.3%
Sanibel's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
46
housing units authorized
Single-Family
46
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 17
2020 18
2021 12
2022 20
2023 28
2024 46

Permit volume increased 171% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
53.7%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
7.0%
Work from Home
29.9%

Based on 1,935 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sanibel sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,961/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

High Springs
6,396 people
River Park
6,415 people
Ocean
6,480 people
Gulf Breeze
6,519 people
DeFuniak Springs
6,284 people
Kathleen
6,527 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sanibel's 6,402 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Braddock, VA
6,404 people
Douglas, WY
6,400 people
Fruitland, ID
6,405 people
Johnson Lane, NV
6,405 people
Volo, IL
6,398 people
Dillon, SC
6,406 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sanibel's $122,730 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Huxley, IA
$122,716 median income
West Point, IN
$122,689 median income
Laguna Hills, CA
$122,778 median income
Conicville, VA
$122,656 median income
Shorewood, IL
$122,648 median income
East Oakdale, CA
$122,647 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sanibel, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sanibel, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.8% White 95.3% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 2.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sanibel compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sanibel (this city) 6,402 $122,730
High Springs 6,396 $80,973
River Park 6,415 $57,370
Ocean 6,480 $56,160
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sanibel, FL?

What is the population of Sanibel, FL? +

Sanibel, FL has a population of 6,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sanibel, FL? +

In Sanibel, the typical household earns $122,730 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sanibel? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sanibel; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sanibel, FL? +

A typical home in Sanibel is worth $912,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.