2026 editionSouthPop. 23,462,518Capital Tallahassee27th state, admitted 1845Cook PVI R+5
Is Florida a Good Place to Live? Florida Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
Florida ranks #21 of 50 with a composite score of 59.9 and a B grade, strongest in fiscal health (#10) and weakest in transportation (#39). The median household earns $77,735 (4% below the national median), homes typically cost $375,470 (2% above the national average), and violent crime is 275 per 100,000 (16% below the national average).
Florida is a tax bargain the insurance bill can undo: no income tax, a total burden of 6.49% (#6 lowest), and arriving households reporting an average $122,539, the highest anywhere. The price is a median household income of $77,735 against a cost index of 103.4, 3% above the national average, plus windstorm and flood premiums no index counts.
Florida by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with Florida's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the Florida overview
Florida scores above the national average in 5 of 11 categories and ranks #2 of 14 states in the South, behind 1 regional neighbor. Its biggest edge over the country is total tax burden (6.49%, 2.3 points below the national average); its biggest shortfall is median household income ($77,735, 4% below the national median). With 1 top-10 finish and no bottom-10 category, its weaknesses are relative, not absolute.
Where does Florida rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Florida is top 10 in 1 and bottom 10 in 0.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 45.0 | #27 of 50 | C+ | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 3.9% and median household income is $77,735. |
| Safety | 73.1 | #23 of 50 | B | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 275.2 violent crimes and 1,401.8 property crimes per 100,000 residents (the prior year's estimate, because the latest year is based on limited data). |
| Health | 60.5 | #19 of 50 | B | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 77.9 years, 29.6% of adults have obesity, and 10.9% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 61.1 | #23 of 50 | B | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 267 in NAEP math and 253 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 87.3%. |
| Affordability | 61.9 | #31 of 50 | C+ | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $375,470 (4.8x median income); cost of living index 103.4 (100 = US); center-based infant care $14,230 a year. |
| Fiscal Health | 70.2 | #10 of 50 | A | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $1,960 of debt per resident, has 82% of pensions funded, and holds a AAA credit rating. |
| Growth | 44.9 | #20 of 50 | B | 7% | 38.8 | Population grew 0.85% last year; Census net domestic migration is +1 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 43.6 | #39 of 50 | C | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 28.9 minutes, 1.3% of workers use public transit, and 15.5% work from home. |
| Livability | 26.9 | #36 of 50 | C | 7% | 34.3 | It has 1.671 restaurants and 0.034 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.078 bars and 0.047 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 27.8 | #24 of 50 | B | 6% | 29.4 | 26.3% of its land is public, with 1.82 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 34.0 | #36 of 50 | C | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 41, 10% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 22.5. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
Florida's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Florida bulges toward fiscal health and dips at transportation.
How expensive is Florida?
Florida's cost of living index is 103.4 against a national baseline of 100, 3% above the national average and #40 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $375,470 (2% above the national average); buying it takes an income of about $108,280, $30,545 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, The Villages is cheapest (index 85.4) and Tamiami priciest (114.2).
Housing market snapshot · August
Warm marketRanked #23 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #39 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $30,545 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full Florida housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | Florida | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | −$10,486 | −$11,758 | #24 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$33,384 | +$31,418 | #22 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$36,999 | +$35,970 | #24 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in Florida?
Florida has no state income tax; instead it leans on with property and sales taxes in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 6.49% of income, 2.3 points below the national average (#6 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.82% of home value (#23), and combined sales tax averages 6.98% (#24).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 70.2 out of 100, #10 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is Florida safe?
Florida reports 275 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 16% below the national average and #23 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,402 per 100,000, 9% below the national average (#20 of 50). The safety score is 73.1 out of 100, #23 of 50; among tracked cities, Pembroke Pines has the lowest violent crime rate.
Florida vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida's figures are the FBI's prior-year estimate because its latest year is based on limited data.
Safest tracked cities in Florida
| City | Population | Violent / 100K | Property / 100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Pines | 173,194 | 42 | 686 |
| Palm Beach Gardens | 60,959 | 72 | 1,149 |
| Doral | 79,216 | 79 | 867 |
| Wellington | 62,146 | 90 | 743 |
| North Port | 84,605 | 102 | 447 |
Lowest violent crime among the 80 Florida cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.
What is the job market like in Florida?
Florida's unemployment rate is 3.9%, 0.1 points below the national average and #24 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $77,735, 4% below the national median. Real GDP grew +3.5% in the latest year (#4 of 50) and GDP per capita is $60,655, 6% below the national average. The population is growing 0.85% a year, 0.3 points above the national average. The economy score is 45 out of 100, #27 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in Florida, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $213,282 | $219,680 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach |
| Lawyers | $147,977 | $152,416 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach |
| Software Developers | $126,859 | $130,665 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $107,205 | $110,421 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach |
| General & Operations Managers | $102,658 | $105,738 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are Florida's schools and healthcare?
Florida's education score is 61.1 out of 100, #23 of 50. Eighth graders average 267 in NAEP math (#41 of 50) and 253 in reading (#43 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 87.3%, 1.7 points above the national average (#19 of 50).
Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate
| City | Grad rate | Students / teacher | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | 95% | 16.9 | $10,243 |
| Tallahassee | 94.2% | 17.2 | $10,979 |
| Port St. Lucie | 93.2% | 20.2 | $12,177 |
NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.
Florida is #19 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 77.9 years, 1.0 years above the national average. 29.6% of adults have obesity (#8 of 50) and 10.9% of residents have no health insurance (#45 of 50). The health score is 60.5 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to Florida, and who is leaving?
Florida gained a net 55,349 households from other states in the latest IRS release: 354,112 moved in and 298,763 moved out, +2.4 per 1,000 residents (#9 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $122,539 against $76,134 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +67.6K people (573.9K in, 506.2K out, ±34.0K), consistent with the IRS direction.
Where they come from
- 1New York43,187 · $133,218
- 2Georgia23,475 · $91,345
- 3California20,241 · $130,398
- 4New Jersey20,113 · $147,067
- 5Texas20,050 · $91,708
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where they go
- 1Georgia28,263 · $65,134
- 2Texas24,196 · $70,034
- 3New York22,011 · $89,835
- 4North Carolina20,553 · $77,338
- 5California14,113 · $94,113
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in Florida?
By composite score, the best of the 80 Florida cities we track are Palm Beach Gardens (64.8), Horizon West (64), and Jupiter (62.6). The Villages is the cheapest (cost index 85.4), Weston the richest ($139,825), and St. Cloud the fastest growing (+5.7% a year). City ranks are among the 80 Florida cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in Florida
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safest | Pembroke Pines | 42 violent crimes per 100K |
| Cheapest | The Villages | cost of living index 85.4 |
| Most walkable | Westchester | walkability 15.3 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Port St. Lucie | median AQI 34 (county) |
| Best schools | Sanford | 95% graduation rate |
| Richest | Weston | $139,825 |
Among the 80 Florida cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of Florida
The Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm strip: the priciest housing in the state, bilingual, dense by Florida standards, with a real transit line and a real traffic problem.
Tampa, St. Pete, Orlando and the towns between them; mid-priced and sprawling, where most of the state's new jobs land; traffic and hurricane surge planning shape daily life.
Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples country: retiree-heavy, canal-lot suburbs, cheaper than the Atlantic side, where direct hurricane hits set insurance rates for everyone.
Port St. Lucie and Palm Bay: fast-growing tracked cities, newer subdivisions on former ranch land, cheaper than South Florida, with Brevard's launch and aerospace jobs nearby.
The Florida that feels like Georgia: Jacksonville, the capital and the university town, pine woods between them, cooler winters, the lowest costs in the state and a slower pace.
All 80 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Beach Gardens | A | 64.8 | 60,959 | $106,947 | 72 | 114.2 |
| 2 | Horizon West | A | 64.0 | 67,416 | $127,335 | — | 101.4 |
| 3 | Jupiter | B+ | 62.6 | 61,883 | $110,240 | 126 | 114.2 |
| 4 | Doral | B+ | 61.5 | 79,216 | $94,164 | 79 | 114.2 |
| 5 | North Port | B+ | 61.2 | 84,605 | $84,049 | 102 | 102.4 |
| 6 | Wellington | B+ | 61.1 | 62,146 | $115,632 | 90 | 114.2 |
| 7 | Boca Raton | B+ | 61.0 | 100,234 | $106,273 | 113 | 114.2 |
| 8 | Apopka | B+ | 59.4 | 58,232 | $96,884 | 408 | 101.4 |
| 9 | St. Cloud | B+ | 58.8 | 65,130 | $83,174 | 141 | 101.4 |
| 10 | Delray Beach | B | 58.5 | 67,979 | $82,041 | 292 | 114.2 |
| 11 | Miramar | B | 58.3 | 138,600 | $89,125 | 121 | 114.2 |
| 12 | Port St. Lucie | B | 58.2 | 232,491 | $80,648 | 128 | 100.2 |
| 13 | Plantation | B | 58.2 | 96,293 | $92,541 | 166 | 114.2 |
| 14 | Weston | B | 58.2 | 68,837 | $139,825 | — | 114.2 |
| 15 | Coral Springs | B | 57.9 | 136,103 | $93,602 | 119 | 114.2 |
| 16 | Pembroke Pines | B | 57.6 | 173,194 | $85,104 | 42 | 114.2 |
| 17 | Alafaya | B | 57.0 | 92,449 | $100,950 | — | 101.4 |
| 18 | Boynton Beach | B | 57.0 | 81,435 | $70,074 | 176 | 114.2 |
| 19 | Palm Bay | B | 56.9 | 130,132 | $72,614 | 275 | 100 |
| 20 | Sarasota | B | 56.9 | 56,970 | $72,105 | 380 | 102.4 |
| 21 | Wesley Chapel | B | 56.3 | 76,011 | $107,504 | — | 100.9 |
| 22 | Clearwater | B | 56.2 | 117,247 | $66,381 | 254 | 100.9 |
| 23 | St. Petersburg | B | 56.1 | 262,732 | $75,192 | 492 | 100.9 |
| 24 | Miami Beach | B | 56.0 | 82,031 | $72,856 | — | 114.2 |
| 25 | Tampa | B | 55.8 | 401,618 | $75,475 | 334 | 100.9 |
| 26 | Largo | C+ | 55.5 | 82,617 | $62,096 | 254 | 100.9 |
| 27 | Miami | C+ | 55.3 | 459,745 | $62,462 | 358 | 114.2 |
| 28 | The Villages | C+ | 55.3 | 83,498 | $77,622 | — | 85.4 |
| 29 | Sanford | C+ | 55.0 | 63,730 | $66,891 | 530 | 101.4 |
| 30 | Pinellas Park | C+ | 54.8 | 53,560 | $63,432 | 247 | 100.9 |
| 31 | West Palm Beach | C+ | 54.4 | 122,290 | $73,446 | 493 | 114.2 |
| 32 | Bonita Springs | C+ | 53.6 | 55,904 | $95,210 | — | 102.3 |
| 33 | Orlando | C+ | 53.4 | 319,758 | $72,336 | — | 101.4 |
| 34 | Hialeah | C+ | 53.4 | 226,165 | $55,594 | 173 | 114.2 |
| 35 | Riverview | C+ | 53.3 | 113,697 | $100,438 | — | 100.9 |
| 36 | Kendall | C+ | 53.2 | 79,562 | $87,325 | — | 114.2 |
| 37 | Palm Coast | C+ | 52.8 | 98,258 | $77,350 | — | 99.4 |
| 38 | Pensacola | C+ | 52.7 | 54,036 | $74,212 | — | 97.7 |
| 39 | Palm Harbor | C+ | 52.6 | 61,512 | $78,935 | — | 100.9 |
| 40 | Lakeland | C+ | 52.5 | 119,961 | $64,185 | 370 | 97.1 |
| 41 | Melbourne | C | 52.2 | 86,576 | $66,991 | 452 | 100 |
| 42 | Davie | C | 51.6 | 108,346 | $87,250 | — | 114.2 |
| 43 | Fort Myers | C | 51.5 | 95,051 | $63,732 | 444 | 102.3 |
| 44 | Homestead | C | 51.4 | 82,807 | $65,423 | 442 | 114.2 |
| 45 | Port Orange | C | 51.4 | 64,767 | $74,426 | — | 99.4 |
| 46 | Bradenton | C | 51.4 | 57,014 | $60,822 | 400 | 102.4 |
| 47 | Fort Lauderdale | C | 51.2 | 185,604 | $83,130 | 673 | 114.2 |
| 48 | Winter Haven | C | 51.2 | 55,200 | $59,648 | 269 | 97.1 |
| 49 | Sunrise | C | 51.0 | 97,918 | $77,652 | — | 114.2 |
| 50 | Jacksonville | C | 50.9 | 977,670 | $69,872 | 519 | 99.5 |
| 51 | Coconut Creek | C | 50.9 | 58,330 | $75,014 | — | 114.2 |
| 52 | Ocala | C | 50.7 | 66,584 | $56,376 | 393 | 95.2 |
| 53 | Cape Coral | C | 50.6 | 215,536 | $78,104 | — | 102.3 |
| 54 | Miami Gardens | C | 50.3 | 113,177 | $63,627 | 359 | 114.2 |
| 55 | Hollywood | C | 50.1 | 155,082 | $67,203 | — | 114.2 |
| 56 | Tallahassee | C | 49.9 | 201,875 | $57,409 | 629 | 93.9 |
| 57 | The Hammocks | C | 49.7 | 58,838 | $85,628 | — | 114.2 |
| 58 | Deltona | C | 49.6 | 97,334 | $76,924 | — | 99.4 |
| 59 | Pompano Beach | C | 49.5 | 114,147 | $67,195 | — | 114.2 |
| 60 | Brandon | C | 49.4 | 119,767 | $79,685 | — | 100.9 |
| 61 | Margate | C | 49.3 | 59,198 | $62,450 | — | 114.2 |
| 62 | Gainesville | D | 48.6 | 145,702 | $46,195 | 634 | 96.7 |
| 63 | Westchester | D | 48.6 | 52,032 | $72,262 | — | 114.2 |
| 64 | Town 'n' Country | D | 48.5 | 85,928 | $73,538 | — | 100.9 |
| 65 | Kissimmee | D | 48.5 | 81,479 | $53,758 | 449 | 101.4 |
| 66 | Tamiami | D | 48.3 | 49,752 | $78,353 | — | 114.2 |
| 67 | Deerfield Beach | D | 48.0 | 88,093 | $59,730 | — | 114.2 |
| 68 | Tamarac | D | 47.9 | 73,019 | $61,718 | — | 114.2 |
| 69 | Daytona Beach | D | 47.6 | 78,992 | $52,058 | — | 99.4 |
| 70 | Kendale Lakes | D | 47.1 | 52,622 | $71,621 | — | 114.2 |
| 71 | Country Club | D | 46.8 | 51,296 | $75,212 | — | 114.2 |
| 72 | North Miami | D | 46.5 | 60,344 | $57,188 | — | 114.2 |
| 73 | Four Corners | D | 46.2 | 65,048 | $72,879 | — | 101.4 |
| 74 | Fountainebleau | D | 46.0 | 55,665 | $64,908 | — | 114.2 |
| 75 | Spring Hill | D | 45.6 | 119,983 | $68,432 | — | 100.9 |
| 76 | Port Charlotte | D | 44.3 | 66,133 | $63,844 | — | 100.5 |
| 77 | Lauderhill | F | 42.3 | 74,896 | $51,165 | — | 114.2 |
| 78 | Poinciana | F | 39.4 | 75,068 | $68,015 | — | 97.1 |
| 79 | Lehigh Acres | F | 39.2 | 132,353 | $66,890 | — | 102.3 |
| 80 | Pine Hills | F | 39.0 | 80,105 | $58,673 | — | 101.4 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 80 Florida cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Best cities in Florida for…
| # | City | Score | Education | Safety | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Beach Gardens | 60.2 | 60.2 | 93.9 | 34.6 |
| 2 | Doral | 60.2 | 49.6 | 95.5 | 33.4 |
| 3 | Horizon West | 59.9 | — | — | 43.4 |
| 4 | Wellington | 59.9 | 54.6 | 95.7 | 33.1 |
| 5 | Jupiter | 59.4 | 56.6 | 94.4 | 34.9 |
Who is Florida best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Florida cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does Florida compare with its neighbors?
Florida ranks #21. Among its bordering states, Georgia ranks highest (#26) and Alabama lowest (#37). Georgia is the most similar on the composite score and Alabama the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | #21 | 59.9 | $77,735 | $375,470 | 103.4 | 275 | 6.49% | |
| Georgia | #26 | 55.4 | $79,991 | $330,817 | 96.3 | 297 | 8.47% | Compare → |
| Alabama | #37 | 48.5 | $66,659 | $241,613 | 88.8 | 348 | 7.99% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 80 Florida city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the Florida numbers say when read together.
Fiscal Health is Florida's strongest suit
Florida is a #21 state overall but #10 of 50 for fiscal health, 11 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 70.2 against a national average of 58.1. Health (#19) is next. Fiscal health carries 8% of the composite.
Transportation is where Florida falls furthest behind
Florida ranks #39 of 50 for transportation, 18 places below its overall #21, with a score of 43.6 against a national average of 49.8. At 7% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Total tax burden is 2.3 points below the national average
Florida's total tax burden is 6.49%, 2.3 points below the national average of 8.74%, #6 of 50 (1 = lowest). The largest gap in the other direction is median household income: $77,735, 4% below the national median. Source: WalletHub tax burden study, latest release.
More households arrive than leave
Florida ranks #9 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (+2.4). The households arriving report $46,405 more in average income than those leaving ($122,539 against $76,134), so the state is trading up on income even as the headcount grows. The largest source is New York; the largest destination is Georgia.
A middle income is squeezed less here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $10,486 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#24 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $33,384 surplus; a retiree couple at a $36,999 surplus. Infant childcare runs $14,230 a year, 9% below the national average.
Florida outranks every bordering state
None of Florida's 2 bordering states ranks above its #21; the closest match on the composite is Georgia. Median income among them runs from $66,659 in Alabama to $79,991 in Georgia; Florida is at $77,735.
Frequently asked questions about living in Florida
Is Florida a good place to live?
Florida ranks #21 of 50 with a B grade, #2 of 14 in the South. It is top 10 in fiscal health. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 3 of 6 (violent crime, unemployment, and tax burden) and trails on income, home prices, and cost of living. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does Florida rank among US states?
Florida ranks #21 of 50 overall with a composite score of 59.9 (grade B), and #2 of 14 states in the South. Its best category rank is #10 (fiscal health) and its worst #39 (transportation). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so B means rank 19–26.
Is it expensive to live in Florida?
At #40 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Florida is 3% above the national average: its index is 103.4 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $375,470 (2% above the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $108,280 against a median household income of $77,735. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $10,486 shortfall after all costs, #24 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does Florida have a state income tax?
No. Florida levies no state income tax on wages. Its total state and local tax burden is 6.49% of income (#6 of 50, 1 = lowest), 2.3 points below the national average. Property tax is 0.82% of home value and combined sales tax 6.98%.
What is the crime rate in Florida?
Florida reports 275 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 16% below the national average and #23 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,402 property crimes per 100,000, 9% below the national average (#20). Its safety score is 73.1 out of 100, #23 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release; for Florida they are the prior year's estimate because the FBI flags the latest year as based on limited data.
Does Florida have good schools?
Florida is #23 of 50 for education (score 61.1 out of 100). Its public school students average 267 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#41) and 253 in eighth-grade reading (#43), and the high school graduation rate is 87.3%, 1.7 points above the national average (#19). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Sanford has the highest graduation rate at 95%.
Why are people moving to Florida?
Florida gained a net 55,349 households in the latest IRS release: 354,112 moved in and 298,763 moved out, +2.4 per 1,000 residents (#9 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is New York (43,187 households) and the most common destination is Georgia (28,263). Arriving households report an average income of $122,539 against $76,134 for those leaving, so movers in earn more than movers out. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is Florida a red or blue state?
Florida leans red: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is R+5, meaning it votes about 5 points more Republican than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
What are the downsides of living in Florida?
The insurance bill, first. Premiums on the coasts have become a second mortgage payment for some owners, flood coverage is separate, and the wage scale lags the cost. The cost index is 103.4 (3% above the national average) while median income is $77,735 (4% below the national median). Transportation ranks #39; 10.9% are uninsured. Add hurricane season, condo assessments and half a year of humidity, and the no-income-tax headline looks smaller.
Is Florida a good place to retire?
Depends on whether you own outright. The tax side is as good as it gets: no income tax, no estate tax, a homestead exemption and an assessment cap. Still, the persona rank is #18: a retiree couple at $75,000 ends the year at a $36,999 surplus, $1,029 above the national median, once insurance and HOA fees are in. Paid-off house inland: excellent. Mortgage plus condo plus coastal insurance: run the numbers.
Does Florida get hurricanes?
Yes, every part of it, and the FEMA risk index of 22.5 understates what a direct hit does to a budget. Both coasts, Panhandle to Naples and the Keys to Jacksonville, have taken major storms; inland Orlando gets wind and flooding without surge. Season runs June through November, peaking in September. Check evacuation zones, elevation certificates and insurance availability before an offer.
Why is housing so expensive in Florida?
Because demand arrived faster than construction, and insurance made every house cost more to own. Price to income is 4.8x, 4% above the national average, and buying the typical home takes $108,280 against a median of $77,735. Arrivals averaging $122,539 outbid locals earning the median. The interior and North Florida remain cheaper than the coasts, and the typical value moved -1.5% over the year as listings piled up.
Is Florida good for remote workers?
Good, not great: the persona ranks #27. The positives: no income tax on an out-of-state salary, broadband subscriptions in 94.3% of households (#9), and 15.5% of workers already remote. The negatives are the 103.4 cost index where remote workers want to live and a summer spent indoors. Cheapest good option: Jacksonville or Tallahassee. Most expensive: South Florida within sight of the water.
Is Florida cheaper than Georgia?
No, unless you count only the paycheck. Florida's cost index is 103.4, 3% above the national average, while Georgia's sits at the national figure, and Miami rents run above Atlanta's. Florida wins on tax: none on income against Georgia's top rate, and a total burden of 6.49%. A high earner renting or buying inland still comes out ahead; a median household buying near the coast does better in Georgia.
All the numbers
Every metric behind Florida's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.