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CITY

Sanibel

Florida · 6,303 residents (2025 est.) · 16.18 sq mi
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Part of the Cape Coral metro area
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Notable rankings
#33Oldest by median ageof 6,82667.3#295Most expensive homesof 6,786$957,300#307Most work-from-homeof 6,82631.1%
The short version

Sanibel is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $108,644. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 61% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $957,300. With a median age of 67.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 67.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
61% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,418
+6%since 2000
from 6,064 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
397 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 375 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
67.3
+11%since 2000
from 60.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,303 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K6K7K8K1990201020202024Sanibel
20246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$108,644
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,044 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$112,881
+69%since 2000
from $66,912 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
64.7%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 58.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.6%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.603
+9%since 2010
from 0.555 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information20.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services12.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade8.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$957,300
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $380,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$811
−56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,016 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
89.9%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 86.5% in 2000
10.1% rent
Vacancy rate
63.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
36.4%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
18.8%
−27.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.8
+83%since 2000
from 4.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
30
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sanibel on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.8%(5,872)
Black0.9%(57)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(84)
Asian0.3%(20)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.5%(397)
2024
White, non-Hispanic94%(6,034)
Black0.7%(46)
Hispanic / Latino2%(127)
Asian0.7%(43)
Other2.6%(168)
Diversity Score14.4%(922)
Diversity Score
14
+119%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
61.0%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 54.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
99.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 96.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
28.7%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 22.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.4 min
+67%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
50.4%
−15.2 ptssince 2009
from 65.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
31.1%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
7.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.4%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
34.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 36.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
6.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
49.3%
−34.7 ptssince 2009
from 84.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
52.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
5.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−41.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.4%
−94.8 ptssince 2013
from 96.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2017
from 89.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2016
from 93.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Sanibel to nearby cities

SANIBEL VS
Iona
Income$66,827−38%
Home value$322,800−66%
Population13,631+116%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANIBEL VS
Cypress Lake
Income$62,590−42%
Home value$258,900−73%
Population13,032+107%
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SANIBEL VS
McGregor
Income$104,788−4%
Home value$467,600−51%
Population8,490+35%
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SANIBEL VS
Cape Coral
Income$78,104−28%
Home value$373,500−61%
Population236,264+3648%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sanibel, Florida?

Sanibel, Florida has about 6,418 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sanibel, Florida?

The typical household in Sanibel, Florida earns about $108,644 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sanibel, Florida expensive?

In Sanibel, Florida, the median home is worth about $957,300, and the typical rent is about $811 a month.

How educated are people in Sanibel, Florida?

About 61.0% of adults age 25 and over in Sanibel, Florida hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sanibel, Florida?

About 11.6% of people in Sanibel, Florida live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sanibel, Florida grown since 1990?

Yes, Sanibel, Florida has grown since 1990. The population has added about 950 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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