What are the pros and cons of living in Florida?

What Florida offers. The Florida Department of Revenue says Florida does not impose a personal income tax. A home you own and make your permanent residence by January 1 may qualify for a homestead exemption worth as much as $51,411 off its assessed value in 2026. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, and the second part, $26,411 in 2026, applies to taxes other than school taxes. You apply with your county property appraiser by March 1.

The Census Bureau estimates Florida had 23,462,518 residents on July 1, 2025, up 8.9 percent since April 1, 2020. The Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research says all of that growth comes from more people moving in than moving out.

What to plan for. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Florida Department of Financial Services says insurers must offer hurricane deductibles of $500, 2 percent, 5 percent or 10 percent of the dwelling limits ($500 need not be offered on a home insured for $250,000 or more), and that deductible applies to all covered hurricane losses in a calendar year. Its insurance helpline, 1-877-693-5236, helps with policies sold in Florida, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.

Hurricane coverage does not include flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says homeowners and renters policies do not typically cover flood damage, and most flood policies take 30 days to start. The National Flood Insurance Program referral line is 800-427-4661.

For housing, the Census Bureau's latest five-year figures put the median Florida home value at $359,000, median monthly owner costs with a mortgage at $1,959 and median gross rent at $1,669.

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