At a glance
| Population (Apr 2025) | 23,379,261 |
|---|---|
| State income tax | None |
| Typical home value | $375,470 |
| Avg homeowners premium | $2,677 (2022) |
| Hurricane season | June 1 to November 30 |
Is Florida a good place to live? The short answer
Florida's strongest points are financial and seasonal: no state income tax, winters that average from the low 50s in the north to the upper 60s in the south, and home prices below most of the states people move from. The weak points are also financial and seasonal: the country's highest homeowners insurance premiums, a six-month hurricane season, and the most humid climate in the nation. Which side wins depends on your income, the home you buy and the part of the state you choose.
Four numbers frame the decision. Zillow's typical Florida home value was $375,470 in August 2026. The average homeowners premium was $2,677 in 2022, the highest of any state. The state added an estimated 1,841,074 residents between 2020 and 2025. And a single adult needs about $50,117 a year before tax to cover basic costs, according to MIT.
Pros of living in Florida
1. No state income tax
Article VII, Section 5 of the Florida Constitution bars a state tax on residents' income beyond the amount federal law allows as a credit. Wages, pensions, Social Security and investment income are not taxed by the state, and there is no state estate or inheritance tax on the same terms. For a household moving from a high-tax state, that is often the single biggest saving.
2. Mild winters
NOAA's state climate summary puts average January temperatures (1991 to 2020 normals) in the lower 50s °F in North Florida and the upper 60s in South Florida. For many buyers from colder states, that means no snow removal, a short, mild heating season and a garden that grows year-round.
3. Beaches on two coasts
Florida has 825 miles of sandy coastline facing the Atlantic, the Gulf and the Straits of Florida, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. Beach access, parking and erosion vary by county, so check the nearest public access point if it matters to you.
4. Homes cost less than in the Northeast and California
Zillow's August 2026 typical home values put Florida at $375,470, against $526,714 in New York, $580,353 in New Jersey, $661,896 in Massachusetts and $764,158 in California. Buyers selling in those states can often buy a comparable or larger home here and keep equity in reserve.
5. A wide range of places and prices
County typical values run from $176,870 in Calhoun County to $959,844 in the Keys. Around each big city you can choose between older urban neighborhoods and newer suburban communities, trading price against commute. Our best places to live in Florida guide compares them.
6. Population and job growth
Florida's population reached an estimated 23,379,261 in April 2025, up 8.5% since 2020, according to the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research. All of that growth came from people moving in. Net migration of 1,942,163 people over five years has kept demand for housing, services and workers high.
7. Plenty of new homes to choose from
Florida permitted 111,173 new single-family homes in 2025, second only to Texas, according to the Census Bureau. Homes built to the current Florida Building Code can qualify for the windstorm credits that section 627.0629 of the Florida Statutes requires insurers to offer. See new construction homes in Florida.
8. Property tax protections for full-time residents
A permanent resident who files for homestead gets an exemption from part of the home's value and a cap on how fast the assessed value can rise each year. The longer you stay, the more the cap is worth. Details are in Florida property tax.
Cons of living in Florida
1. The highest homeowners insurance costs in the US
Florida's average homeowners premium was $2,677 in 2022, first among the states in NAIC data published by the Insurance Information Institute. Premiums on older coastal homes can be far higher, and flood insurance is a separate policy. Get a quote on the exact address before you commit; see Florida homeowners insurance.
2. Hurricanes
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. NOAA notes that the number of Florida landfalls varies a lot from year to year and that hurricane rainfall rates are projected to rise. Living here means a hurricane plan, shutters or impact glass, and a deductible you can afford.
3. Heat and humidity
July averages are in the low 80s °F statewide, and NOAA describes Florida as the most humid state in the nation. Nights have warmed markedly: the number of very warm nights from 2015 to 2020 was more than double the mid-20th-century level. Air conditioning is a year-round cost, not a summer one.
4. Flooding and rising seas
NOAA's summary cites a likely global sea level rise of 1 to 4 feet by 2100, which would bring more frequent nuisance flooding along the coast. Check a home's flood zone and elevation, not just its distance from the water. Our Florida flood zones guide shows how.
5. Wages lag behind costs
MIT's living wage for a single adult in Florida is $24.09 an hour, while the state minimum wage in January 2026 was $14.00. Typical annual pay in many service jobs, such as food preparation ($36,070) and personal care ($36,740), is well below the $50,117 a single adult needs.
6. Home values have been falling
Zillow's typical Florida value fell 1.5% over the year to August 2026 and is about 7% below its May 2024 peak. In Charlotte County a typical home is worth only +0.9% more than five years ago. That is good news for buyers but a real risk if you need to sell within a few years.
7. Older condos can bring big bills
Condo and co-op buildings three stories or taller must have a milestone structural inspection by the end of the year they turn 30, and every 10 years after that, under section 553.899 of the Florida Statutes. Repairs and reserve funding flow through to owners as assessments. Read the Florida condo law guide before buying in an older building.
8. Everyday costs have risen
Regular gas averaged $4.42 a gallon in late September 2026, according to AAA, against $3.02 a year earlier. Add insurance, association fees and higher mortgage rates, and the savings from no income tax can shrink quickly for middle-income households.
How the trade-offs vary by region
Coastal counties carry the highest prices and insurance costs; inland and northern counties are cheaper but further from the beach and the big job centers. The table uses Zillow's August 2026 figures for a sample of counties in each region.
| Region | County | Typical home value | 5-year change | 1-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keys | Monroe County | $959,844 | +27.4% | +1.1% |
| Southeast coast | Miami-Dade County | $521,012 | +36.2% | 0.0% |
| Southeast coast | Palm Beach County | $474,416 | +27.5% | +1.2% |
| Southwest Gulf coast | Collier County | $550,723 | +22.9% | -2.4% |
| Southwest Gulf coast | Lee County | $335,409 | +8.4% | -4.4% |
| Southwest Gulf coast | Charlotte County | $297,268 | +0.9% | -4.9% |
| Tampa Bay | Hillsborough County | $377,121 | +20.3% | -1.4% |
| Tampa Bay | Pinellas County | $370,534 | +14.1% | -0.8% |
| Central | Orange County | $400,602 | +23.3% | -1.2% |
| Central | Polk County | $295,824 | +17.8% | -2.4% |
| Central | Sumter County | $388,138 | +20.3% | -0.8% |
| Northeast | St. Johns County | $488,938 | +17.7% | -1.5% |
| Northeast | Duval County | $294,579 | +16.6% | -0.7% |
| North Central | Alachua County | $304,012 | +17.5% | -1.2% |
| North Central | Marion County | $269,197 | +22.6% | -2.3% |
| Panhandle | Walton County | $654,948 | +12.0% | +0.4% |
| Panhandle | Escambia County | $281,804 | +19.2% | +1.4% |
| Panhandle | Leon County | $294,604 | +18.5% | +1.4% |
The Southwest Gulf coast shows the risk side: Lee and Charlotte counties have posted the weakest five-year gains in the sample. Sumter County, home to The Villages, and the Northeast suburbs in St. Johns show the steadier side. City-level pros and cons are on our local pages, for example is Tampa a good place to live and is Orlando a good place to live.
Questions people ask before moving to Florida
What is the downside to living in Florida?
For most people it comes down to three costs: insurance, heat and storms. Insurance is the most expensive in the country on average, summers are long and humid, and hurricane season lasts half the year. Wages in many jobs are also low relative to living costs.
Why do people leave Florida after moving there?
There is no official survey of reasons. The numbers show far more people arriving than leaving: net migration added 1,942,163 people between 2020 and 2025. Individual reasons vary, but the cons above, especially insurance and housing costs, summer heat and storm preparation, are the trade-offs most likely to change someone's mind. Visiting in August and pricing insurance before buying are the best ways to test your own tolerance.
What is the 6 month rule in Florida?
Florida law has no single six-month rule. The phrase usually refers to spending more than half the year in Florida so that your former state can't treat you as a resident for its income tax; each state sets its own test, so check with a tax adviser there. To show Florida is your permanent home, you can file a sworn declaration of domicile with the clerk of the circuit court under section 222.17 of the Florida Statutes. For the homestead exemption, the property appraiser weighs factors such as that declaration, a Florida driver license, voter registration and where you work, under section 196.015.
Can I live in Florida on $3,000 a month?
Only on a tight budget: MIT's after-tax figure for one adult is about $3,560 a month. The breakdown is in our Florida cost of living guide.
Should you move to Florida? A checklist
Work through these before you decide. None of them has a right answer, but each one changes the math.
- Taxes: how much state income tax do you pay now, and how much would a Florida property tax bill be on the home you want?
- Insurance: have you had a homeowners and flood quote on a real address, with the deductible you would choose?
- Climate: have you spent time here in July or August, not just in winter?
- Income: will your pay be set by your current employer, or by a Florida employer in your field?
- Home type: a newer house, an older house or a condo each carry different insurance and association risks.
- Region: coast or inland, north or south, city or suburb.
- Residency: are you ready to change your license, registration and voter registration and file for homestead?
Our moving guides compare Florida with specific states, for example moving from New York to Florida, and the Florida housing market guide covers current conditions.
Common questions
What are the biggest pros of living in Florida?+
No state income tax, mild winters and access to 825 miles of sandy beaches are the most cited. Housing is also cheaper than in the Northeast and California: Zillow's typical Florida home value was $375,470 in August 2026, against $526,714 in New York and $764,158 in California. Full-time residents get homestead property tax protections.
What are the biggest cons of living in Florida?+
High homeowners insurance (Florida's average premium of $2,677 in 2022 was the highest in the US), a hurricane season from June 1 to November 30, long humid summers and flood risk. Wages in many service jobs are also low relative to costs, and home values have dipped about 7% from their 2024 peak.
Is it worth moving to Florida in 2026?+
It can be, if the numbers work for your situation. Compare your current state income tax with Florida property tax and insurance on the home you want, check that your income will hold up, and visit in summer. Buyers have more negotiating room than in recent years, but mortgage rates are near 7%.
Why is Florida so expensive now?+
Home values rose 20.3% in five years on Zillow's index, and insurance premiums are the highest in the country. Mortgage rates near 7% raise monthly costs, and gas was $4.42 a gallon in late September 2026. Florida is still cheaper than many Northeastern states for housing, and has no income tax.
What part of Florida is best to live in?+
It depends on your priorities. The Keys, the Southeast coast, Naples and the Emerald Coast cost the most; Northeast Florida and the Tampa and Orlando suburbs sit in the middle; North Central Florida and the Panhandle interior cost the least. Compare typical values, insurance and commute for each area rather than relying on a single ranking.
How do I become a Florida resident?+
Move into a home you intend to keep as your permanent residence, then switch your driver license, vehicle registration and voter registration to Florida. You can also file a declaration of domicile with the county clerk under section 222.17 of the Florida Statutes. File for the homestead exemption with the property appraiser by March 1.
Sources
- Florida Senate: Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 5
- NOAA NCEI / NCICS: Florida State Climate Summary 2022
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Beaches
- Zillow Research: Home Value Index (ZHVI) data, August 2026
- Zillow Research: State ZHVI time series (CSV)
- University of Florida BEBR: Florida Estimates of Population 2025
- U.S. Census Bureau: Building Permits Survey, annual state data 2025
- Insurance Information Institute: Facts + Statistics, homeowners and renters insurance (NAIC 2022 data)
- NOAA AOML Hurricane Research Division: Hurricane FAQ
- MIT Living Wage Calculator: Florida (updated 15 February 2026)
- AAA: Florida average gas prices
- Florida Statutes s. 627.0629: Residential property insurance; rate filings (windstorm mitigation discounts)
- Florida Statutes s. 553.899: Mandatory structural inspections for condominium and cooperative buildings
- Florida Statutes s. 222.17: Manifesting and evidencing domicile in Florida
- Florida Statutes s. 196.015: Permanent residency; factual determination by property appraiser