What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Longboat Key, FL, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Longboat Key is a city in Manatee County, Florida, with an estimated population of 7,463. It anchors the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metro area. The median home value in Longboat Key is $963,904 as of 2026-04, down 8.9% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.9% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 22% below its 5-year peak. Rents in Longboat Key average $7,209 per month. The composite momentum score is 36 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Prices have come off recent highs (-22.1% from peak). Buyers may have more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Reasons people move here
- The data is the data: Longboat Key has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 1-criteria momentum score on this page.
- Data is sourced from public datasets (Zillow, US Census) with full citations on the methodology page.
Things to know first
- Prices actively falling: down 8.9% in the last 12 months — buyer sentiment has flipped. Sellers competing on price.
- 22% off the 5-year peak. That's not a healthy correction — that's a market that ran too far and is still digesting.
- Expensive AND not growing: median home $963,904 with only -8.9% YoY. You're paying premium pricing for a flat trend.
- Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
More about Longboat Key
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.