Moving to Florida?

Excellent choice! From the beaches of Miami and the Gulf Coast to the rolling hills of the central region, Florida has a lot to offer.

If you’re moving to Florida to spend your days on the beach or hitting the Disney parks, you may want to rethink that plan. While you’ll probably spend some time soaking up rays or splashing in the waves, most Floridians don’t spend their days at South Beach or the Magic Kingdom. But that’s OK -- there’s plenty more to do in besides hitting the sand and surf or riding Space Mountain. With its growing foodie scene, vibrant arts communities, beautiful art deco architecture, and multicultural vibe, you’ll never be bored in the Sunshine State.

All that comes at a price, though. Florida is expensive. You’ll save money by moving to smaller communities rather than the major cities, but be prepared to spend more than the national average on many things. While the median household income in Florida is lower than the national median, housing prices are well above the national median. And this holds true for both homebuyers and renters. Expect to pay about $170 per square foot to purchase a house, and at least $1.50-$2 per square foot to rent. Be aware that houses in cities like Miami can sell for over $400 per square foot! Florida’s housing market is HOT.

Demographics

Median Age: 42 years

Median Household Income: $52, 594

Diversity (approximate): 75.9% White (including White Hispanic), 25.6% Hispanic, 16.9% Black of African American, 2.9% Asian

Weather

Annual High Temperature: 79.5F

Annual Low Temperature: 55.5F

Average Temperature: 67.6F

Annual average precipitation -- rainfall: 59.2 in

Days per year without precipitation: 128 days

Housing

Median property value: $233,700

Home owners: 65.2%

Renters: 34.8%

Top cities: Orlando, Miami, Talahassee, Tampa, Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Ft. Lauderdale

Jobs and Commutes

Major industries: Tourism, media, health care and health care administration, education

Largest employers: Disney World, Publix Supermarkets, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and other public school districts, state and local governments, Adventist Health System,  Baptist Health South Florida, American Airlines, Jackson Health System

Average commute: 27 minutes

Main roadways: SR 112 (Airport Expressway), Interstate 95, US Route 1

Public transportation: Metro, light rail, buses, Metrorail (heavy rail), Tri-Rail (commuter rail). These are only available in some cities; most Floridians commute by driving

Things to Do

Go to the beach

Visit the art museums

Tour the art deco architecture

Attend Art Basel

Explore the many multicultural neighborhoods

Attend a basketball, baseball, or football game

Check out the diverse food scene

FloridaMoving Resources

Florida Power and Light

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer

Miami-Dade Public Library System

Comcast

AT&T Internet and Direct TV

Florida Housing Prices and Values

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Miami-Dade County Voter Registration

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Handy Links

13 Thing to Know Before Moving to Miami

Your Official Miami and Beach Guide

US News Best Places to Live

Miami-Dade County Services and Information

Wikipedia

50 Essential Moving Hacks

How to Move with Pets

How to Organize Your Closet