Living in The Meadows, Sarasota: homes, prices, HOA fees and what to check

At a glance

Is The Meadows a good area to live?

The Meadows suits you if you want a lower entry price than most of Sarasota in an established planned community with golf, trails and lakes. Zillow's typical value was $288,471 in August 2026, well below the city's $409,878, but it fell 8.7% on the year, one of the steeper drops in the area.

Much of the housing is condos and villas built from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, so building age, reserves and special assessments matter. Check the master and neighborhood association budgets, and ask about the former country club site, before you decide.

What The Meadows is known for

The Meadows grew out of the former Newburn Ranch, acquired in 1973 with the involvement of Frank Taylor of the British builder Taylor Woodrow. Sarasota County approved the development in November 1974, and the first home, in the Woodmans Chart neighborhood, sold in February 1977. The association says homes built between 1974 and 1995 included condos, single-family homes and garden homes.

Today The Meadows is a census-designated place of about 2.3 square miles with 5,037 residents at the 2020 census. It is outside the City of Sarasota, and it uses ZIP code 34235.

The association cites 1,650 acres of open space, more than 85 lakes and 14 miles of walking and bike trails, which is what the community is best known for alongside its two golf courses.

Homes and prices in The Meadows

Zillow's typical value for The Meadows was $288,471 in August 2026, down 8.7% on a year, a much steeper fall than the city's 2.7%. ZIP 34235 as a whole fell 5.3% to $311,158, the biggest drop of the 12 Sarasota ZIPs we track. Lower-priced Sarasota neighborhoods fell more than expensive ones over the year.

A falling typical value can mean negotiating room, but it can also reflect costs buyers are pricing in. In a community with many condos, check each building's reserves and any special assessments. Our Sarasota condo guide explains milestone inspections and reserve studies.

The 2020 census counted 3,989 housing units, 26.4% of them vacant on census day, which reflects seasonal ownership.

Condos

Condos give the lowest entry prices. Ask about roofs, reserves and any special assessments, and read 12 months of board minutes.

Garden homes and villas

Attached homes often include exterior maintenance in the neighborhood fee. Ask exactly what is covered, since roofs and painting vary by association.

Single-family homes

Detached homes cost more and usually carry only the master assessment plus any neighborhood fee. Check the age of the roof and the electrical and plumbing systems for insurance.

Living in The Meadows

Amenities and golf

The Meadows Community Association runs a pool, a fitness and wellness facility, a tennis complex and eight pickleball courts. The Meadows Golf Club has two courses, The Meadows and The Groves, managed by Arnold Palmer Golf Management. Residents with the community's Renaissance Access card get discounted rates and priority booking.

The former country club site

The association posted demolition updates for the former country club building through June and July 2026, and it has published material on its purchase of green space from the country club. Ask the association what is planned for the site and whether any assessment is linked to it. The association has also posted notices about Sarasota County's plans to widen Honore Avenue, so ask how the work may affect homes near the road.

Schools lookup

Sarasota County Schools, the public district for the whole county, assigns schools by address. Check the specific address with the district before you rely on a listing or a map, because zoning can change. Magnet and choice programs have their own application rules.

Getting around

The Meadows sits in unincorporated Sarasota County between downtown Sarasota, University Town Center and I-75, so most errands are a short drive. The association has posted notices about the county's plans to widen Honore Avenue, so check how any work affects your route.

Fees and taxes to check

• Master assessment. The Meadows Community Association bills its own assessment. Ask for the current amount and budget.
• Neighborhood or condo fee. Many homes also belong to a neighborhood or condo association. Ask for its budget, reserves and minutes.
• Estoppel letters. The master association issues its own estoppel certificate, separate from your neighborhood association.
• Property tax. As unincorporated county, most parcels paid the countywide 11.4737 mills on the 2025 roll, without the city's extra levy.

See our Sarasota cost of living page for insurance and utilities, and our ZIP code guide for nearby areas.

Pros and cons of living in The Meadows

Pro: lower prices than most of Sarasota

At $288,471, the typical value was about $121,000 below the city's in August 2026.

Pro: open space and trails

Lakes, trails and two golf courses are part of the community, and county taxes apply rather than city taxes.

Con: older buildings and association costs

Many homes date from the 1970s to 1990s, so reserves, roofs and special assessments need checking.

Con: falling values

The typical value fell 8.7% in a year, and ZIP 34235 fell 5.3%. Compare with Palmer Ranch or our Sarasota neighborhoods guide.

Common questions

Sources

• The Meadows Community Association
• The Meadows Community Association: Our history
• The Meadows Community Association: The Meadows golf courses
• The Meadows Community Association: Country club demolition archive 2026
• The Meadows Community Association: Who we are
• The Meadows Community Association: Community information
• Wikipedia: The Meadows, Florida
• Zillow Research: Home Value Index and market data (August 2026)
• Sarasota County Tax Collector: 2025 ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments
• Wikipedia: Sarasota County Public Schools