Sarasota, FL · standard
ZIP Code 34242
Sarasota County, Florida - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,865
- 957/sq mi High-density area
- $115,967
- Median income Above-median income area
- $1,046,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 67.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Sarasota pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 11%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 2%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 957
- people per sq mi
- 90%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 34242 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 34242 (Sarasota, FL) fell -4.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 411.4 in 2023 to 393.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 34242 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida, home to 8,865 residents across 9.3 square miles, a density of 957 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 34242 skews affluent, with a median household income of $115,967 (50% above the average Florida ZIP), while per-capita income is $124,612. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 6.4% and unemployment is 3.7%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $1,046,100 (179% above the average Florida ZIP), while 90.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,932.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 67.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 65.5, and the average commute is 34 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Sarasota County, so 34242 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 34242
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Sarasota, FL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 34242.
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
73 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
49 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
48 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
37 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
37 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 34242, Sarasota, FL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
8,865
Population
9.3
Area (sq mi)
957
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 34242?
65.5
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
12.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$115,967
Median Household Income
+50% vs state ZIP avg
$124,612
Per Capita Income
6.4%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
33.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 34242 ranks among Florida ZIPs
Sarasota, FL household income vs. every Florida ZIP code
Median household income among 946 reporting Florida ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$115,967 Top 9% higher than 91% of 946 Florida ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Florida ZIPs. 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 · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
10,304housing units
10,304
Total Housing Units
4,014
Occupied Units
6,290
Vacant Units
1.88
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$1,046,100
Median Home Value
+179% vs state ZIP avg
$2,932
Median Rent
1976
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-4.4%
YoY Change (2024)
393
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+293%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 34242 have decreased 4.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +293% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.3% | 224 |
| 2021 | +8.1% | 242 |
| 2022 | +51.5% | 367 |
| 2023 | +12.0% | 411 |
| 2024 | -4.4% | 393 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 337 business establishments in ZIP 34242, employing approximately 2,686 people with a combined annual payroll of $117,111,000.
337
Businesses
2,686
Employees
$117.1M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 73 | 21.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 49 | 14.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 48 | 14.2% |
| Retail trade | 37 | 11.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 37 | 11.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 21 | 6.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 17 | 5.0% |
| Construction | 10 | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 8 | 2.4% |
| Information | 7 | 2.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 2.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 1.8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 1.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 34242 vs 34231 →
ZIP 34242 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 34232
Sarasota (34232)
30,969 residents
- 34231
Sarasota (34231)
30,268 residents
- 34243
Sarasota (34243)
26,115 residents
- 34234
Sarasota (34234)
19,788 residents
- 34238
Sarasota (34238)
17,500 residents
- 34233
Sarasota (34233)
16,653 residents
- 34237
Sarasota (34237)
16,304 residents
- 34239
Sarasota (34239)
15,038 residents
- 34236
Sarasota (34236)
12,394 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 34242 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 34242 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 34242
Sarasota (34242)
$115,967 median income
- 34229
Osprey (34229)
$103,657 median income
- 34238
Sarasota (34238)
$97,926 median income
- 34236
Sarasota (34236)
$95,881 median income
- 34243
Sarasota (34243)
$81,219 median income
- 34239
Sarasota (34239)
$80,923 median income
- 34232
Sarasota (34232)
$80,795 median income
- 34233
Sarasota (34233)
$75,394 median income
- 34231
Sarasota (34231)
$69,925 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 34242 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34231 | Sarasota, FL | 30,268 | 1.5 mi |
| 34239 | Sarasota, FL | 15,038 | 3.5 mi |
| 34236 | Sarasota, FL | 12,394 | 4.5 mi |
| 34233 | Sarasota, FL | 16,653 | 4.4 mi |
| 34237 | Sarasota, FL | 16,304 | 5.4 mi |
| 34238 | Sarasota, FL | 17,500 | 4.9 mi |
| 34234 | Sarasota, FL | 19,788 | 7.3 mi |
| 34229 | Osprey, FL | 7,192 | 6.0 mi |
| 34232 | Sarasota, FL | 30,969 | 6.1 mi |
| 34243 | Sarasota, FL | 26,115 | 9.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 34242, both outside FL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (8,865 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Sarasota County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 34242 in?
ZIP code 34242 (Sarasota) is located in Sarasota County, Florida. Sarasota County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/sarasota-fl.
What is the population of ZIP code 34242?
ZIP code 34242 in Sarasota, FL has a population of 8,865 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 34242?
The median household income in ZIP 34242 is $115,967, which is 52% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 34242?
The median home value in ZIP 34242 is $1,046,100, which is 276% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 34242?
The largest racial group in ZIP 34242 is White at 92.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 34242?
ZIP code 34242 has 337 business establishments employing approximately 2,686 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 34242?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 34242 are: Real estate and rental and leasing (73), Accommodation and food services (49), Professional, scientific, and technical services (48). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 34242?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 34242 decreased by 4.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 293%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 34242?
In ZIP code 34242, 80.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 67.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 34242?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 34242 is 33.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 34242?
In ZIP code 34242, approximately 90.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 9.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 34242?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 34242 is 6.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 34242's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 34242 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Sarasota, FL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.