Although Bradenton’s official city population is similar to Sarasota, Bradenton lives more like a small town than Sarasota. Housing tends to be more reasonably priced in Bradenton than Sarasota, but prices have been rising steadily for the past 3 years in both cities. Bradenton’s oldest section is located near the downtown, the city has been working to revitalize the downtown area over the past few years. The downtown area is now host to a number of small bars, restaurants and shops. Riverwalk, a large park with a skateboard park, walking trails, benches, play areas and an amphitheater, which runs along the river in downtown Bradenton has become very popular since it opened last year. It is the site of local events, concerts, etc just about every weekend throughout the winter months. 

 

Bradenton does have access to several nice public beaches on Anna Maria Island. Anna Maria Island is also popular with visitors looking for good local restaurants offering seafood & other styles of cooking.

 

West and south Bradenton are made up of a number of neighborhoods of a variety of price ranges, although generally the further west you get (closer to the beaches) the more expensive it gets. Bradenton has quite a few smaller, older condo communities at reasonable prices, you’ll also find a number of 55+ mobile home parks in Bradenton, mostly off of 53rd St just east of 14th St W or along Cortez Rd. You’ll find little newer construction homes in west or south Bradenton, most newer construction is east of US301, running both west and east of I75. There has been quite a building boom of late in the area closer to University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch, with a number of deed restricted communities with amenities being built. I can name 6 new construction neighborhoods within 10 miles of my home, not counting Lakewood Ranch. So there is quite a variety when it comes to housing in this area.