A "multi-generational lifestyle community" with almost 70,000 residents
Lakewood Ranch is one of the premier master-planned communities in the United States. In fact, more than 50 percent of its residents come from outside of Florida. Technically a census-designated place with a population approaching 70,000, Lakewood Ranch has become a mini-metropolis. It features dozens of amenities-filled neighborhoods spread across more than 50 square miles that bridge two counties. The community has its own hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, multiple town centers, and a variety of educational options, both public and private. “It just offers something for everyone,” says Tami Cashi, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Lakewood Ranch. “It’s a multi-generational lifestyle community. It has amazing schools and tons of golf. They’re working on a third Main Street, and they all have activities at no additional cost. It offers the best of the downtown areas of Sarasota and Bradenton in a more suburban environment.”
Lakewood Ranch is a vibrant and master-planned community known for its picturesque landscapes.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center serves the Lakewood Ranch community.
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Waterside is the newest section of this ever-expanding community
Lakewood Ranch is made up of more than 30 neighborhoods, which are called villages. The largest villages, including The Country Club and Country Club East, are built around golf courses and lakes. Most villages are developed by a single builder, which helps maintain a standard aesthetic. Luxury villages are the exception. Sought-after destinations such as The Isles, The Lake Club and Wild Blue feature large, custom homes in exclusive settings. Wild Blue, which is part of the Waterside section that expanded the community’s boundaries outside Manatee County and into Sarasota County, was developed by five builders. “The concept is to make it more walkable, bikeable and community-oriented,” Cashi says. All villages have HOA fees that vary depending on amenities and CDD fees that pay for the upkeep of roadways and other infrastructure. The median home price is slightly more than $600,000. That includes condos and townhouses that typically range from the high $200,000s to around $900,000. Most single-family housing ranges from the low $300,000s to around $1 million. Custom luxury homes range from $1 million-plus to nearly $5 million. “If you go to Bradenton or Sarasota, you’ll find homes built in the ‘60s, maybe the ‘80s, but in Lakewood Ranch, everything is relatively new,” Cashi says. “It’s also more affordable because you’re away from the water. Buyers will look at homes near the water and then come here, see what they can get for the same price, and say, ‘That’s amazing!’” The community is far enough inland that flooding is not an issue. However, it’s close enough to the Gulf Coast that wind damage can be a major factor during hurricane season, and insurance rates are likely to reflect this.
The Lake Club homes reside in the pristine Lakewood Ranch neighborhood.
Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch is a pristine area lined with retailers and restaurants.
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Lakewood Ranch High School, Out-of-Door Academy are top-rated options
Lakewood Ranch is part of the Manatee County School District, which earns a B-plus from Niche. Lakewood Ranch High, rated A-minus by Niche, is the anchor school of the community. It offers dual enrollment courses in conjunction with several area colleges. The school's softball and golf teams regularly compete for state titles. To keep up with growth, a new community school, Lake Manatee K-8, will open for elementary students in 2025 and middle school students in 2026. There are also plans to open a second high school in 2027. Out-of-Door Academy Middle & Upper School is a featured private option. Beyond the Spectrum is a small private school that serves special needs students in kindergarten through seventh grade.
Lakewood Ranch High School is known for its commitment to academic excellence.
The Out-Of-Door Academy is an option for Lakewood Ranch students.
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Lakewood Ranch Country Club has three golf courses; largest villages have lifestyle directors
Amenities are spread throughout the community. Each village has its own recreational features, and the largest villages have lifestyle directors. There’s athletic courts, pools and playgrounds. Walking paths, nature preserves and lakes. Each village’s amenities are for residents only, but Lakewood Ranch offers plenty of public spaces. Lakewood Ranch Country Club is the highlight of the community’s resort-style offerings. Two of its three public courses were designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer. In all, there are nine courses that offer public, private and semi-private options. Greenbrook Adventure Park, which features an inline skating rink, and Premier Sports Campus, which is home to more than 20 multi-purpose fields, are popular community destinations. The Sarasota Polo Club and Nathan Benderson Park are Sarasota attractions located just outside the community. Sarasota’s Gulf beaches are about 30 minutes from the community’s south side, and Manatee County’s barrier island beaches are about 45 minutes away from the north side.
Practice your swing at the golf course at Lakewood Ranch.
Greenbrook Adventure Park - Inline Skate Park offers fun in Lakewood Ranch.
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Main Street, Waterside Place are centers of commerce, activity
The community’s three town centers are Main Street, The Green and Waterside Place. Main Street is an attractive European-style shopping district that features outdoor cafes and restaurants that serve up international flavors. The Green offers a more laidback commercial setting anchored by grocers such as Publix and Fresh Market. Several villages have their own Publix. Waterside Place was designed as a luxury shopping and dining destination to serve the community’s newest villages. A water taxi provides transportation between Waterside’s commercial center and its villages. “The community is really growing,” Cashi says. “They just brought a Tommy Bahama’s to the south side. Owens Fish Camp and Ruth’s Chris are here, and Fleming’s is coming. All the big names you would find in downtown Bradenton or Sarasota are moving into Lakewood Ranch.” Two of the town centers host several of the community’s regular events. Music on Main Street is a long-running event that takes place on the first Friday of each month. The block party-style celebration features food trucks and children’s rides. Ranch Night Wednesdays is a similar seasonal event at Waterside Place. But its signature event is the Sunday Farmer’s Market, where vendors sell fresh goods amid live music and children’s entertainment. University Town Center is a sprawling contemporary mall just south of the community. Downtown Sarasota is known for its cultural attractions, which include museums and performing arts venues near the waterfront.
Sunday's Farmers Market at Waterside Place is a popular outing for locals in Lakewood Ranch.
A fountain with dolphins adorns the point of Bayfront Park in Downtown Sarasota.
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Car-dependent community with access to I-75
Lakewood Ranch is car-dependent. Sarasota International Airport is a 10-mile drive down University Parkway, the main road on the community’s south side. Interstate 75 forms the community’s west side and provides access to regional points of interest, including St. Pete and Tampa to the north.
Low crime rates in Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch is a mix of gated communities with private entrances and non-gated communities with general access. Its overall Cap Index score of 2-out-of-10 signifies low crime rates.
Written By
Matt Pallister
Photography Contributed By
Leila Sally
Video By
Grace Kim
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Lakewood Ranch, FL sell after 117 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Lakewood Ranch, FL over the last 12 months is $700,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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