Manatee County Growth Outpaces Infrastructure

Manatee County has absorbed nearly 60,000 new residents since 2020, a surge that officials say is outpacing the development of local infrastructure and housing.

An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Pioneer Institute indicates the population increase averaged roughly 32 new neighbors per day over five years. Adults aged 75 and older comprised about one-third of this growth, a rate that exceeded the 23% increase among new residents aged 20 to 34. The county gained more people from other Florida counties than from out of state, with Sarasota providing the largest net gain and Hillsborough showing the largest net loss.

The influx has altered the economic makeup of the region. Between 2013 and 2019, incoming residents earned an average of nearly $118,000, while outgoing residents earned just under $86,000, according to IRS tax return data. In 2024, households earning between $100,000 and $150,000 accounted for the largest share of growth at 19%. Conversely, the number of households earning between $25,000 and $50,000 declined by more than 1,700.

Shanna Hendricks, a 38-year-old behavioral technician at Centerstone, recently moved into the Nest Apartments in Bradenton. The 182-unit complex provides non-subsidized workforce housing developed by One Stop Housing. Hendricks said this affordable option is essential for her to live near her job downtown. "If it wasn't for a place like this, I wouldn't be able to survive out here in Manatee County," she said. She noted that many acquaintances have left the area and have not returned.

Brody Brilling, who moved to Bradenton last year after visiting for nearly a decade, faces similar pressures. She reported that construction noise is constant near her apartment. Brilling said long-term residents are frustrated by traffic and rising prices. Despite her recent move, she expects to be priced out of her current housing in the coming years.

Commissioner George Kruse described the situation as a balancing act between limiting growth and accommodating new arrivals. He cited the Live Local Act and the rollback of home rule as factors that reduce county planning powers while incentivizing development. Kruse said local governments often feel forced to react to new construction. "You keep promising people. Don't worry, I'm going to widen your road next," he said. "Just hold tight. I'm going to widen your road, and then all of a sudden a bunch of homes pop up, and you're like, wait, I have to at least build the road to get there."

Kruse argued that managing this tension requires planning that benefits both new and existing residents. He stated that while road expansion is necessary, it alone will not keep teachers, police officers, and hospital workers living in the county.