Business Insider: Why People Move to Florida—and Then Move Out - SFBW (2024)

FAQs

Why do most people move out of 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.”

There are various reasons why people are moving to Florida. The most common ones include warm weather, affordable cost of living, and job opportunities. Additionally, many people are reevaluating their living situations and considering moving to areas with more space and outdoor activities.

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.

A lot has changed in 2022, but one thing stayed the same: Americans kept moving to Florida in large numbers. Some of them, however, are likely to regret it. From July 2021 to July 2022, Florida's population grew to over 22 million people, according to new Census Bureau data.

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.

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.

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.

What States Are Americans Moving To? The most popular state people moved to in 2022 was Florida, while the state people most often moved from was California. Texas was the second-most popular state for Americans on the move, while North Carolina came in third.

One of the most popular states to move to in 2023 is Texas, and for good reason. This state boasts an impressive job market since it is home to many tech companies, startups, and artistic hubs.

Is it smart to move to Florida? ›

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.

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.

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.

Florida residents can expect to live 78.9 years, according to the data. That's slightly more than the average American life expectancy. Americans, on average, are expected to live to 78.7 years old.

Study Suggests Over 30% of People Who Moved to Florida Regret It.

Change in population, 2020 to 2022

Idaho, Montana and Florida saw the most population growth, while New York, Illinois and Louisiana saw the most decline.

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.

No state income tax in Florida, cheaper real estate and the weather are the top reasons broker Melissa Cantway said people are still moving here.

The richest city in Florida is Palm Beach. The median household income in Palm Beach is $169,500. It's also the Florida city with the most billionaires, with an estimated 30 billionaires living in Palm Beach as of 2022.

Are more people moving to Florida from than from any other state? ›

From July 2021 to July 2022, about 319,000 more people moved into Florida than left — the largest net population gain of any state in the country. For context, Texas had the second-largest net inflow: about 231,000 people. But Texas' population is about 8 million larger than Florida.

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.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Florida was the third fastest-growing state in the nation from 2010 to 2020, with an estimated population increase of more than 2.7 million people during that time period.

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.

Since at least 2016, the Empire State has topped the list for sending its residents to the Sunshine State, data from the Census Bureau shows. During the coronavirus pandemic, many New Yorkers who could work remotely and were looking for warmer climes and more affordable housing options left the city in droves.

A 2020 National Association of Realtors analysis shows 28% of the people who moved to Florida came from Texas, nearly 15% relocated from New York, and over 6% from California.

Which state is growing the fastest? ›

Utah experienced the nation's fastest growth in housing units, with an increase of 3.3% between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, followed by Idaho (2.8%) and Texas (2.3%). Rhode Island (0.2%), New Jersey (0.2%), Illinois (0.2%) and Connecticut (0.3%) had the slowest rates of housing growth.

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.

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.

Every day, the Sunshine State attracts hundreds of newcomers to its sandy shores – and it's not hard to see why. No state income tax, sunny weather, its diverse population, delectable food and exciting attractions make it a particularly interesting place to live.

The feud has sparked a couple politicians to make innuendos to Disney that it should pick up and leave Florida for a friendlier environment in their state. However, despite the current hostile situation in Florida, Disney World is not going anywhere according to an expert on the entertainment giant.

Jacksonville added more than 14,400 residents; Port St. Lucie added nearly 14,000 and Cap Coral added over 13,000, according to the analysis. The Villages metro area was the fastest-growing U.S. metro area between 2021 and 2022, increasing by 7.5%, according to the report.

At the highest estimate, Florida's population is projected to increase by 6 million people for a total population of nearly 26 million by 2030.

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.

1 state for a long, healthy life: Hawaii. It's not surprising that Hawaii landed the number one spot as the best state for longevity. The Aloha State's life expectancy at birth is 80.7 years, which exceeds all other states and is three years longer than the national average.

Overall, life expectancy at birth in Hawaii, Washington, California, and New York (state) are among the longest in the nation, while life expectancy at birth in Mississippi, American Samoa, and West Virginia are among the shortest in the nation.

What is the best climate for longevity? ›

From a longevity standpoint, a cold environment has been shown to be optimal vs. a warmer environment in terms of median and maximal lifespan in a variety of species.

A 2021 study on Occupation-Based Life Expectancy found that people working in non-skilled general, technical and transport domains lived on average 3.5 years less than those in academic professions. Those working in the transport sector had the shortest life expectancy, and teachers had the longest.

The Sunshine State saw a massive influx of residents over 60 in 2021, according to a recent SmartAsset study. Over 78,000 seniors moved to Florida from other states during that time — more than to any other state, and more than three times as many as Arizona, which ranked second on the list.

In the 2022 study, 38% of United Van Lines movers to Florida relocated for retirement. The second highest reason? Lifestyle change at 28%. These were the top two reasons in 2021 as well.

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 Miami metro area experienced the largest inbound gains from movers compared with prepandemic levels, with moves increasing by nearly 60 percent in 2022 compared with 2019.

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.

One of the most popular states to move to in 2023 is Texas, and for good reason. This state boasts an impressive job market since it is home to many tech companies, startups, and artistic hubs.

What is the #1 city to move to in the US? ›

Here's how editors said the magazine determined its picks: Analyzing the 150 most populous metropolitan areas and evaluating several factors including job prospects, affordability, growth and quality of life. Topping the 2023-24 list: Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The only debate worth having is which side of Florida has the best beaches. The Atlantic coast has plenty to offer in the way of water sports. They get the better waves and, thus, some greater action. Florida's Gulf Coast, however, is responsible for those visions of smooth, sandy beaches and crystal, clear water.

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.

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