Top 10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Move to Florida (2024)

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Top 10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Move to Florida? ›

The other reasons that people leave the state after moving here are varied: “A nearly 14,000-member Facebook group for people moving out of Florida has cited severe weather, low wages, crowded beaches, changing politics, and steep housing prices as reasons people left.”

The other reasons that people leave the state after moving here are varied: “A nearly 14,000-member Facebook group for people moving out of Florida has cited severe weather, low wages, crowded beaches, changing politics, and steep housing prices as reasons people left.”

If you are looking for a place to spend your golden years, look no further. Florida was ranked the second-best state to retire to in 2022, due primarily to low taxes and great weather.

The state's now home to the least affordable places to live in the U.S., according to multiple studies covering rental costs, home prices and income. Rent.com reported Tampa's average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was $1,682, up 32.4% since the year before. In St. Petersburg, it's $1,890 or 19.6% higher than 2021.

All in all, Florida is a great place to buy a house due to its favorable climate, low cost of living, and Florida's affordable real estate market. Florida property taxes are also among the lowest in America. Residents have no shortage of things to do, from theme parks to world-famous beaches.

And their findings revealed Florida came in at #10 on the happiest states list, jumping into that spot from traditionally low or middle rankings. "Florida residents report a higher well-being in the purpose, community, social relationships, and physical health elements than a majority of states," they write.

24 after more than 60 metrics across seven broad quality-of-life categories were put into consideration. Florida ranked 31st in health care, 29th in education, 37th in crime and corrections, 11th in infrastructure, 43rd in opportunity, seventh in economy and ninth in government.

Many folks choose to retire in Florida for tax reasons alone. There are no state taxes on social security, pension funds, IRAs, 401(k)s, or other retirement incomes, which makes the state specifically attractive to folks over the age of 65.

Where do most Floridians move to? ›

Top states residents are leaving

The annual 2022 United Van Lines National Movers study is out! But it wasn't good news for New Jersey or New York. A similar report from United Van Lines showed New Jersey as the top outbound state, followed by Illinois, New York, Michigan, and Wyoming.

Over 70 percent believe Florida's overcrowding and overpopulation is a major problem. Nearly 60 percent believe that adding another five million people to Florida's population is a serious problem. Forty percent say Florida has become a less comfortable place to live over the past five years.

The US Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality create a ranking of the 50 states according to healthcare quality. In this ranking, Florida comes out 36 out of 50 states.

A good salary — one that allows for necessities, fun, and savings — might start at $60,000 for a single, childless renter in Florida and $75,000 for a similar homeowner.

From July 2021-July 2022, nearly 444,500 people moved to Florida, which compared to the previous year was a gain of 185,000, the largest year-over-year impact of residents moving. Florida also ranked #1 in domestic migration, #2 in international migration, and #1 with the most people moving in per day at 1,218.

Florida is one of the most expensive states for housing, and Miami is the least affordable city in the country, according to a report. High demand, short supply, increased migration trends since the pandemic and exploding mortgage rates, make for a pricey combination.

Hawaii is the state with the highest cost of living in the US, with a cost of living index of 184. The state's high cost of living is mainly due to the high cost of housing, which is among the highest in the nation.

According to several studies on cost of living, Hawaii is the most expensive U.S. state to live in. Prices are typically double in Hawaii compared to those on the mainland, and the continued rise in inflation is making costs ranging from housing to health care much more expensive.

Why are so many people moving to Florida? ›

Top Reasons to Move to Florida

The Sunshine State is known for its warm weather and sunny days, which can be attractive to those looking to escape colder climates. Florida is a popular destination for retirees due to its warm climate, low taxes, and affordable cost of living.

celebrates Florida's ranking as number one in education by U.S. News & World Report. Under Governor Ron DeSantis' leadership, Florida continues to be the national leader in education.

Naples, Florida has been making it into the "happiest and healthiest city" rankings for many years in a row. Thousands of people choose this city to become their home for hundreds of reasons.

Across the various states, Florida proved an outlier when it came to average life expectancies, the only southern state with a life expectancy around 77, rather than the range of about 72 to 76.8 from North Carolina to New Mexico.

Cities across the United States vary greatly in their environment, income, citizens' overall well-being and community. For 2023, California dominated the list of the happiest cities in America, while Fremont, California, topped the list for the second year in a row.

Naples. This smaller metro area on the Gulf Coast is the No. 1 spot out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for its low rates of property crime, violent crime and murder. Naples also ranks sixth for desirability, making it the most desirable Florida metro area for 2022-2023.

In 2021, there were only six violent crimes in Satellite Beach, easily making it the safest place to live in Florida. Property crime rates in Satellite Beach are also 76% lower than the statewide average. Besides security, residents enjoy the town's sandy beaches and beautiful ocean views.

Florida is ranked the seventh best state to live in a study by Wallet Hub that compared the 50 states based on 52 key indicators of livability from housing costs and income growth to education rate and quality of hospitals.

“In addition to inflation, housing prices and increasing costs of living in Florida, retirees are also leaving for other reasons,” says Dutch Mendenhall, Founder of RAD Diversified REIT. “Higher auto and home insurance along with a 7% sales tax on already high-inflation goods can put a strain on retirement income.”

For example, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs defines a senior citizen as someone who is 60 years of age or older.

Can you retire on $3,000 a month? ›

If you have a low living cost and can supplement your income with a part-time job or a generous pension, then retiring on $3,000 a month is certainly possible.

Based on migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are moving to Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. The most moved-to cities are based on percentage increases in population since 2010.

And secondly, they are also states where housing is more affordable and available than in parts of the country that lost residents. The states that attracted the most new residents in 2022 are Florida, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, followed by other states in the South and West.

What to know. Disney announced Thursday that the company has pulled the plug in Florida on its $1 billion investment that was expected to bring a new office complex and relocate a California division that would have brought 2,000 jobs to the Orlando area.

The most common destinations for California migrants were Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. Texas had the most California transplants from 2020 to 2021: 105,000. Arizona (with 63,000 California transplants) and Nevada (55,000) were next highest.

More people moved to Florida than any other state in the country in 2022, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors. The Sunshine State saw the highest net domestic migration gains last year, with its population growing by 1.9 percent.

The report, “Florida Climate Outlook: Assessing Physical and Economic Impacts Through 2040,” projects increased flooding, a statewide rise in average temperatures, and an increase in the statewide average number of days with highs above 95°F – in the next 20 years.

Florida's imbalanced tax system, with its heavy reliance on sales and excise taxes, is pushing the state's impoverished taxpayers deeper into poverty.

Change in Florida population, 2020 to 2022

Idaho, Montana and Florida saw the most population growth, while New York, Illinois and Louisiana saw the most decline. Among major metro areas, the population of Dallas increased by 17% and San Francisco decreased by 7%.

What is the number one health threat to Florida's future? ›

Healthiest Weight Initiative

The number one public health threat to Florida's future is unhealthy weight.

$11.87 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers. $23.94 is the 75th percentile.

Can You Afford the Average Cost of Living in Florida? Yes, you can afford the average cost of living in Florida. If you receive a salary in excess of $50,000 per year, you will have enough to cover your expenses.

With few exceptions, employers in these states must pay each employee a minimum of $7.25 per hour.

If you are looking for a place to spend your golden years, look no further. Florida was ranked the second-best state to retire to in 2022, due primarily to low taxes and great weather.

Today's new and part-time Floridians are drawn by the same factors that have lured settlers and snowbirds for a century: warm weather and waterfront views, along with lower taxes and fewer regulations than in other parts of the country.

Many folks choose to retire in Florida for tax reasons alone. There are no state taxes on social security, pension funds, IRAs, 401(k)s, or other retirement incomes, which makes the state specifically attractive to folks over the age of 65.

Top Reasons to Move to Florida

The Sunshine State is known for its warm weather and sunny days, which can be attractive to those looking to escape colder climates. Florida is a popular destination for retirees due to its warm climate, low taxes, and affordable cost of living.

Ultra-wealthy people looking for a tax break and an escape from winter have been flocking to Florida for years. More high-earners moved to Florida than to any other state between 2019 and 2020, per an analysis by SmartAsset of IRS data.

Where do the most seniors live in FL? ›

Cape Coral/Fort Myers tops this list for recreation and entertainment, offering a wide spectrum of activities for every retiree. It's home to the most active retirement communities in Florida.

Cape Coral is a popular place to retire because of its laid-back, slow pace of life, beautiful nature, access to the Gulf of Mexico, and many other attractive features. The cost of living in Cape Coral is also lower than most other waterfront communities in Florida.

With its beautiful weather and Gulf of Mexico beaches, Naples and the entire Fort Myers area is one of the best places to live in Florida for retirees. Naples is a quiet area, with many choices in active retirement communities.

Half of the 10 most popular destinations are in Florida: Tampa, Cape Coral, Orlando, and North Port-Sarasota are also on the list. Other popular cities were Sacramento, Phoenix, Dallas, and Las Vegas.

Miami, Florida, which includes the city and the island of Miami Beach came in the number one spot on the list. The Henley and Partner's report stated that during December 2022, there were over 800 centi-millionaires with homes in the Florida city. Miami has also seen a millionaire growth rate of 75% from 2012 to 2022.

Florida is one of the most expensive states for housing, and Miami is the least affordable city in the country, according to a report. High demand, short supply, increased migration trends since the pandemic and exploding mortgage rates, make for a pricey combination.

According to the Move.org report, 65% of the people who moved were between the ages of 25 and 44 and most people moved between August and October of 2020.