Florida and North Carolina side by side
The same measures for both states, from the same publishers. Zillow supplies home values; the Census Bureau supplies population, rent, income and commute figures; the BLS supplies jobs; and each state's revenue department supplies the tax rules.
| Florida | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Zillow typical home value (Aug 2026) | $375,470 | $334,773 |
| 1-year change in value | -1.5% | 0.0% |
| Median gross rent (ACS 2020-24) | $1,669/mo | $1,228/mo |
| State income tax | None (Florida Constitution, Art. VII, s. 5) | 4.25% flat (2025); 3.99% from 2026 |
| Sales tax | 6% state + county surtax of 0% to 2% | 4.75% state + local sales taxes |
| Property tax system | County and city millage on assessed value; homestead exemption up to $51,411 (2026); Save Our Homes cap of 2.7% for 2026 | County plus city or district rate per $100 of appraised value |
| Insurance context: average homeowners premium (NAIC, 2022) | $2,677 (rank 1 of 51) | $1,621 (rank 19 of 51) |
| Population (Census, July 2025) | 23,462,518 | 11,197,968 |
| Median household income (ACS 2020-24) | $74,568 | $72,388 |
| Average commute (ACS 2020-24) | 28.0 min | 25.1 min |
| Jobs | 9,994,700 nonfarm jobs (Aug 2026), +0.6% on the year; unemployment 4.5% | 5,126,800 nonfarm jobs (Aug 2026), +1.2% on the year; unemployment 3.5% |
North Carolina stretches from its Atlantic coast inland to Raleigh and Charlotte and west to Asheville, and the climate table below shows how much cooler the west is, so conditions vary more across the state than they do in Florida. Compare the part of each state you would actually live in.
Florida vs North Carolina on each factor
Buying a home
North Carolina is cheaper at the typical level. Zillow's typical home value in August 2026 was $334,773 in North Carolina and $375,470 in Florida, a difference of about $40,697. North Carolina values were flat over the year while Florida's fell 1.5%; over five years North Carolina rose 23.2% and Florida 20.3%.
Renting
The Census median gross rent for 2020 to 2024 was $1,228 a month in North Carolina and $1,669 in Florida. Florida's large metros run higher again; Zillow's August 2026 typical rent was $1,957 in Tampa and $1,601 in Jacksonville.
Income tax
Florida levies no state income tax on individuals, under Article VII, Section 5 of its constitution. North Carolina has a single flat rate: 4.25% for 2025 and 3.99% for 2026 and later years, with further cuts possible from 2027 if revenue triggers are met. At 3.99%, $80,000 of North Carolina taxable income costs about $3,192 a year and $50,000 about $1,995. For a household that owns the same home in either state, this is often the largest single tax difference.
Sales tax
North Carolina's general state rate is 4.75%, with county and in some places transit taxes on top; Mecklenburg County, for example, added a 1% local sales tax from July 1, 2026. Florida's state rate is 6%, plus a county surtax of 0% to 2%. Combined rates are broadly similar, so check the county.
Property tax
North Carolina counties appraise property at market value and levy a county rate plus any city or district rate per $100 of value. The state's own worked example: a $200,000 home with a combined rate of 0.865 per $100 pays $1,730. Florida applies county and city millage to assessed value, but a homestead exemption of up to $51,411 for 2026 comes off first, and Save Our Homes limits yearly increases in a homestead's assessed value to 3% or inflation, whichever is lower (2.7% for 2026). The details for nine Florida counties are in our Florida property tax guide.
Homeowners insurance
NAIC data for 2022 put Florida's average homeowners premium at $2,677, the highest of any state, against $1,621 in North Carolina and $1,569 nationally. Florida's state-backed insurer, Citizens, reported an average of $3,506 on its multi-peril homeowners policies in force at April 30, 2025. Coastal North Carolina carries hurricane risk too, and inland areas of both states can flood, so check the FEMA flood map and get quotes on specific homes.
Jobs and economy
Florida had about 9,994,700 nonfarm jobs in August 2026 and North Carolina about 5,126,800. North Carolina added jobs faster over the year (+1.2% against +0.6%) and had the lower seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, 3.5% against 4.5%. The Charlotte area is the country's largest banking center after New York, and the Raleigh-Durham area is home to Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the US.
Commutes
Census data puts the average commute at 28.0 minutes in Florida and 25.1 in North Carolina. Both states rely mostly on cars outside their largest downtowns.
Climate
The main difference is winter. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals:
| Station | January high / low | July high | Days at 90°F+ | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | 71.3°F / 52.8°F | 91.0°F | 94 | 49.48 in |
| Jacksonville | 65.5°F / 42.9°F | 91.9°F | 80 | 53.4 in |
| Miami | 76.2°F / 61.0°F | 90.6°F | 91 | 67.41 in |
| Charlotte, NC | 52.3°F / 31.8°F | 90.3°F | 49 | 43.6 in |
| Raleigh-Durham, NC | 51.9°F / 31.8°F | 90.8°F | 52 | 46.07 in |
| Asheville, NC | 48.9°F / 28.6°F | 85.3°F | 9 | 49.59 in |
Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham see January lows around 32°F, while Florida's stations sit in the 40s to 60s. Asheville, in the western mountains, is cooler all year and logs only about 9 days a year at 90°F or more, against 80 to 94 at the Florida stations listed.
Population and growth
Florida had an estimated 23,462,518 residents in July 2025 and North Carolina 11,197,968. Florida grew slightly faster since 2020 (about 8.9% against 7.2%), but North Carolina grew faster in the latest year (1.32% against 0.85%). Median household income for 2020 to 2024 was $74,568 in Florida and $72,388 in North Carolina.
Where do most Floridians move to?
Among people who left Florida for another state, the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates the largest flows went to:
| Destination state | Movers from Florida (2024 ACS) | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 52,371 | 8,290 |
| Texas | 52,219 | 8,571 |
| North Carolina | 33,591 | 4,724 |
| New York | 28,080 | 4,963 |
| Pennsylvania | 25,048 | 7,963 |
About 25,865 people moved the other way, from North Carolina to Florida, in the same survey year. Across all states, roughly 514,700 people moved out of Florida to elsewhere in the US and about 581,400 moved in from other states and Puerto Rico, so domestic moves still added to Florida's population on net.
Are retirees leaving Florida?
The migration table above does not break movers out by age or retirement status, so it cannot say how many retirees leave. What it does show is that more people moved into Florida from other states than moved out in 2024. For anyone weighing a move at any age, the measurable cost pressures in Florida are homeowners insurance, the highest average premium of any state in NAIC data, and hurricane and flood exposure. Against those sit no state income tax and the homestead exemption. Our guide to downsizing in Florida covers selling and buying later in life.
Where is the nicest but cheapest place to live in Florida?
"Nicest" is personal, but "cheapest" can be measured. Among the 42 Florida cities in Zillow's 400 largest US cities, the lowest typical home values in August 2026 were Ocala ($265,333), Pensacola ($266,727), Winter Haven ($272,484), Lehigh Acres ($279,720) and Jacksonville ($285,103). Pair a low price with the things you value, such as a short commute, lower insurance quotes or being near family, and visit before you commit. Bright covers Jacksonville, Lakeland and Gainesville in depth.
Florida or North Carolina: which fits your priorities
- Lower typical home price: North Carolina, by about $40,697.
- Lower rent: North Carolina, by about $441 a month (Census median).
- No state income tax: Florida.
- Lower average homeowners insurance: North Carolina.
- Homestead exemption and assessment cap: Florida.
- Lower unemployment and faster job growth last year: North Carolina.
- Warm winters: Florida; four seasons and mountains: North Carolina.
- Shorter average commute: North Carolina.
Price the same kind of home in both states, including insurance and tax, and weigh it against your income. For Florida cities, the Tampa vs Orlando and Orlando vs Jacksonville guides use the same data, and we can introduce you to a local agent.
Common questions
Is it better to live in North Carolina or Florida?+
Neither is better for everyone. North Carolina has lower typical home values ($334,773 against $375,470), lower insurance premiums on average, lower unemployment and four seasons. Florida has no state income tax, a homestead exemption and warm winters. Compare the full cost of a real home in each, including tax and insurance.
Where is the nicest but cheapest place to live in Florida?+
On Zillow's August 2026 typical values, the lowest-priced large Florida cities were Ocala ($265,333), Pensacola ($266,727), Winter Haven ($272,484), Lehigh Acres ($279,720) and Jacksonville ($285,103). Which is nicest depends on what you value, so visit and compare commute, insurance quotes and flood zones for each.
Where do most Floridians move to?+
Georgia and Texas. The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 52,371 people moved from Florida to Georgia and 52,219 to Texas in one year, followed by North Carolina at 33,591. These are survey estimates with margins of error of several thousand.
Why are so many retirees leaving Florida?+
The Census migration data does not separate retirees, so there is no official count of retirees leaving. Overall, more people moved to Florida from other states than left in 2024. Costs that people cite are measurable: Florida had the highest average homeowners premium of any state in NAIC data, and hurricane risk affects insurance and repairs.
Does North Carolina have a state income tax?+
Yes. North Carolina taxes individual income at a flat 4.25% for 2025 and 3.99% for 2026 and later, according to the NC Department of Revenue, with possible further cuts from 2027. Florida's constitution bars a state income tax on individuals.
Is homeowners insurance cheaper in North Carolina than in Florida?+
On average, yes. NAIC figures for 2022 show an average homeowners premium of $1,621 in North Carolina and $2,677 in Florida. Coastal homes in North Carolina can still cost far more than the state average, so get quotes on the actual address.
Sources
- Zillow Research: ZHVI state data, August 2026
- US Census Bureau: Population estimates, Vintage 2025
- Census Reporter: ACS 2020-2024 state median household income, gross rent and home value
- Census Reporter: ACS 2020-2024 travel time to work (B08013, B08303)
- US Census Bureau: State-to-state migration flows, 2024 ACS 1-year
- BLS: Florida unemployment rate (LAUS, seasonally adjusted)
- BLS: Florida nonfarm employment (CES)
- BLS: North Carolina unemployment rate (LAUS, seasonally adjusted)
- BLS: North Carolina nonfarm employment (CES)
- NOAA NCEI: 1991-2020 climate normals (annual and monthly)
- Insurance Information Institute: Average homeowners premiums by state, 2022 (NAIC data)
- Citizens Property Insurance: 2026 recommended rate filing (statewide HO-3 average)
- Florida Senate: Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 5
- Florida Department of Revenue: Sales and use tax
- Florida Department of Revenue: Discretionary sales surtax rates, 2026 (DR-15DSS)
- Florida Department of Revenue: Additional homestead exemption CPI adjustment
- Florida Department of Revenue: Save Our Homes assessment limitation
- North Carolina Department of Revenue: Tax rate schedules (individual income tax)
- North Carolina Department of Revenue: Sales and use tax rates
- North Carolina Department of Revenue: How to calculate a property tax bill
- Zillow Research: city ZHVI and ZORI (Florida cities), August 2026
- Wikipedia: North Carolina (Charlotte banking, Research Triangle Park)
- Wikipedia: Research Triangle