Offshore you can install bigger turbines, because sea transportation of turbine components is not size-limited like rail/road transport. Taller turbines help to reach wind resources that are stronger and steadier. Also, even at the same height, offshore wind resources are often better than they are a few km inland. Finally, offshore wind can supply power to densely populated coastal areas when there isn't room to build turbines on land.

The disadvantages are higher construction and maintenance costs; waves and salt water are much more challenging to materials than the ordinary conditions onshore turbine towers experience.

Perfect answer. Another reason, which kind of joins with the density of the population is the significant noise pollution of larger wind farms.

Great, thank you!

Most cities are on the coast, so offshore offers generation near where it's needed. Doing offshore does not mean ignoring on-shore.

In some cases offshore winds are strong enough that on-shore turbines are less cost effective. That's true for some of the east coast of the US.

"Is the wind not as strong on land?"

Yup !

The turbines are anchored to the sea bed. The wind has a boundary condition against the ground. If the ground is the sea, then the sea current wrt to the sea bed adds to the wind speed wrt to the sea bed.

Therefore, the turbines have zero wind speed only if the wind is blowing exactly against the sea current. Which is hard and rare.

Because the land boundary condition is different, the further away offshore you are, the better the effect is. Also, you might as well pick spots with known stable sea currents.

Fewer issues re land owners. Wind tends to be more steady at sea.

No people complaining about noise, moving shadows and bad aesthetics there.