$100k a year, no longer in Grand Rapids

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Sarasota, FL cityscape

swapping out of grand rapids

Sarasota

fl · metro 262k

photo: Jeffrey Eisen / pexels

a dispatch from

sarasota

FL

27.34°N

82.54°W

Sarasota is the home of the Ringling Brothers Circus (the museum is wild, and yes, there's a vintage clown college history), and Siesta Key's beach is regularly named the best in America for its pure quartz sand. The cultural scene is heavy for a Florida city of its size (theater, opera, art museum). Gulf sunsets here are the brochure shot. The food scene has caught up to the city's wealth and the retirees' time.

metro262k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$147

the monthly cost of moving past Grand Rapids

A small premium for Sarasota. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
landable, recorded on the sarasota entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,121/mo

31% more expensive than Grand Rapids(vs $1,620/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$354/mo less in state tax than Grand Rapids

vs 4.25% in Grand Rapids

03after rent

$6,212/mo

$147 less than Grand Rapids

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$423k

20% more expensive than Grand Rapids

vs $353k in Grand Rapids

05metro size

262k

vs 1.2M in Grand Rapids

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in sarasota.

Grand Rapids only manages 151 of those.

Lighter on events: Grand Rapids packs 23.0× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

59/100

5% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 56/100 in Grand Rapids

Closest outdoor draw: Myakka River State Park, 15.9 mi.

·walk score®

96/100

1% lower than Grand Rapids

vs 97/100 in Grand Rapids

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

6

70% fewer than Grand Rapids

vs 20 nonstops in Grand Rapids

04 · see also

if sarasota appeals, also worth a look:

see also

myrtle beach

more flight options

turn the page

see also

wilmington

$71/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

pensacola

$369/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare sarasota with:

Myrtle BeachWilmingtonPensacola