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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.

Sanibel, FL
Real Estate & Demographic Data






Sanibel profile


Living in Sanibel



Sanibel is a somewhat small coastal city (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of Florida. With a population of 6,482 people and three associated neighborhoods, Sanibel is the 258th largest community in Florida.

Sanibel home prices are not only among the most expensive in Florida, but Sanibel real estate also consistently ranks among the most expensive in America.

Of important note, Sanibel is also a city of artists. Sanibel has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Sanibel’s character.

Telecommuters are a relatively large percentage of the workforce: 31.87% of people work from home. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce it is high relative to the nation. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Another notable thing is that Sanibel is a major vacation destination. Much of the city’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Sanibel’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live.

Residents will find that the city is relatively quiet. This is because it is not over-populated, and it has fewer college students, renters, and young children - all of whom can be noisy at times. So, if you're looking for a relatively peaceful place to live, Sanibel is worth considering.

Sanibel is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Quite often, nautical areas such as these attract visitors and locals who come to enjoy the scenery and various waterfront activities.

Do you have a 4-year college degree or graduate degree? If so, you may feel right at home in Sanibel. 59.16% of adults here have a 4-year degree or graduate degree, whereas the national average for all cities and towns is just 21.84%.

The per capita income in Sanibel in 2018 was $114,484, which is wealthy relative to Florida and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $457,936 for a family of four. However, Sanibel contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

The people who call Sanibel home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Sanibel residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Sanibel include Irish, German, English, Italian, and Polish.

The most common language spoken in Sanibel is English. Other important languages spoken here include German/Yiddish and Spanish.


Zip Codes in Sanibel, FL