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 6,328 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.

A relatively large number of people in Sanibel telecommute to their jobs. Overall, about 29.92% of the workforce works from home. While this may seem like a small number, as a fraction of the total workforce it ranks among the highest in the country. 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.

It is a fairly quiet city because there are relatively few of those groups of people who have a tendency to be noisy. (Children, for example, often can't help themselves from being noisy, and being parents ourselves, we know!) Sanibel has relatively few families with children living at home, and is quieter because of it. Renters and college students, for their own reasons, can also be noisy. Sanibel has few renters and college students. But the biggest reason it is quieter in Sanibel than in most places in America, is that there are just simply fewer people living here. If you think trees make good neighbors, Sanibel may be for you.

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. Such areas are often places that visitors and locals go for waterfront activities or taking in the scenery.

Do you have a 4-year college degree or graduate degree? If so, you may feel right at home in Sanibel. 61.62% 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 2022 was $119,917, which is wealthy relative to Florida and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $479,668 for a family of four.

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 European.

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