The draw: Thirty-five breathtaking miles of white-sand beaches. Its own opera, ballet, and symphony. Lots of opportunities to meet that significant other. Yes, when it comes to potentially desirable mates, Sarasota is one of the few counties that sits among the top ten in America when you screen for singles (of both sexes) ages 55 to 74 who have an income of more than $200,000, according to Robert Katz of EASI Demographics, who crunched the numbers for FORTUNE.

Resident bonus: Countless activities and clubs geared toward singles and organized around interests from wine tasting to ballroom dancing. The endless parade of black-tie events means lots of opportunities for a night on the town with your date.

Person to know: Sarasota writer and adman George Blake, author of Single Again and Married Again. He writes a local column called For Singles Only and has organized over 1,400 singles events since 1980.

Hotly anticipated new amenity: A $20 million renovation of the Sarasota Opera House, completed in 2008.

Off-hours activity: Tailgating with champagne and ceviche in one of 64 spots at the Sarasota Polo Club (Sundays, December to April).

Most-wanted real estate: Longboat Key, just north of the city. Prices range from $550,000 to $12 million. Westway Drive on Lido Key also attracts the well-heeled. Adrienne Vittadini recently designed and sold two homes there, one for $8.9 million.

Typical Friday night: Dinner for two at an award winning Fodor's rated top restaurant.

You probably didn't know: Sarasota is a circus haven, thanks to John Ringling's decision to move his winter quarters there from Bridgeport, Conn., in 1927. Today the city has its own one-ring circus, and seven circuses spend their winter months there every year.

Sarasota's Population: 60,000 (off season)

Average daily temperature: 73 degrees

Highlights: Big-city culture, vibrant singles scene.