South County
Englewood & Manasota Key
A laid-back beach town at the county's south edge.
The feel of Englewood & Manasota Key
Englewood and its barrier island, Manasota Key, sit at the county's southern edge (this covers the Sarasota-County side) with an unhurried, old-Florida beach-town feel. You will find Gulf-front and canal homes on the key and more-attainable inland options on the mainland, plus a walkable Dearborn Street district known for its art and farmers market.
What stands out
- Manasota Key beaches and shark-tooth hunting
- Old-Florida, unhurried pace
- Walkable Dearborn Street arts district
- Gulf-front, canal, and inland options
The honest facts
Price feel
Attainable inland; Gulf-front runs premium
HOA / CDD fees
Key and waterfront homes are often no/low-HOA single-family; some mainland communities carry fees.
Best for
Laid-back beach living · Gulf-front and canal homes · Attainable inland options
Honest trade-off
It is the farthest south in the county — a longer drive to Sarasota — and barrier-island homes carry flood/insurance costs.