State comparison
Florida vs Texas: which state is better to live in?
Florida costs a median household about $2,500 a year less in state and local taxes than Texas, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $3,196 a year against $5,440 in Texas, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 103 against 97).
Florida
Low tax burden · COL index 103
Wins 7 categories
Texas
Moderate tax burden · COL index 97
Wins 6 categories
Taxes: Florida vs Texas
Neither Florida nor Texas has a state income tax, so wages are untouched at the state level in both.
Property tax is 0.77% of home value a year in Florida and 1.60% in Texas (Tax Foundation, 2023); on each state's median home that is $3,196 against $5,440, so Florida has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.02% in Florida and 8.19% in Texas; Florida is lower.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $4,766 a year in Florida, $7,272 in Texas. Florida is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Florida's cost of living index is 103 and Texas's is 97, where 100 is the national average; Texas is about 6% cheaper day to day.
The median home costs $415K in Florida and $340K in Texas (Zillow, 2024), a $75K gap in Texas's favor. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,900 a month in Florida and $1,600 in Texas.
Home insurance averages $3,500 a year in Florida and $3,200 in Texas, so Texas is cheaper to insure.
Safety
Violent crime runs 387 incidents per 100,000 residents in Florida and 447 in Texas (FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023); Florida is the safer state by that measure, with a rate 16% lower. Property crime is 1,882 per 100,000 in Florida against 2,478 in Texas, again favoring Florida.
Health
Life expectancy is 77.3 years in Florida and 76.3 in Texas (County Health Rankings, 2024), a 1.0-year edge for Florida. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Florida's health system 40th of 50 and Texas's 36th, so Texas scores better on care.
13.2% of Florida residents have no health insurance against 18.4% in Texas, which favors Florida. Neither state has expanded Medicaid.
Schools
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Florida's K-12 schools 19th in the country and Texas's 36th, 17 places apart in Florida's favor. Both states run school-choice voucher programs.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Florida went to Trump by 13 points and Texas went to Trump by 14 points.
Florida has permitless carry and a Giffords gun-law grade of F; Texas has permitless carry and a grade of F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions in both states, and marijuana is medical only in both as of 2026. The minimum wage is $13.00 an hour in Florida and $7.25 in Texas.
Climate and risk
Natural disaster risk is very high in Florida (hurricane, flood, tornado) and very high in Texas (hurricane, tornado, flood). Annual average air quality index is 28 in Florida and 43 in Texas (under 50 is good), favoring Florida.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
7
Florida
6
Texas
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Florida or Texas better to live in?
Florida wins more of the measures that decide a move. Florida on taxes ($4,766 a year for a median household against $7,272); Texas on everyday costs (index 97 against 103); Florida on safety (387 violent crimes per 100,000 against 447); Florida on schools (ranked 19th against 36th).
Which is cheaper, Florida or Texas?
Texas is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 97 against 103. The median home is $415K in Florida and $340K in Texas (2024). On state and local taxes Florida saves a median household about $2,500 a year.
Does Florida or Texas have lower taxes?
Florida. A household earning $74,580 pays about $4,766 a year in Florida ($0 income tax, $3,196 property tax on the median home and $1,571 in sales tax) and $7,272 in Texas ($0 income tax, $5,440 property tax on the median home and $1,832 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Which is safer, Florida or Texas?
Florida, on the FBI's 2023 figures. Violent crime is 387 per 100,000 residents in Florida and 447 in Texas; property crime is 1,882 against 2,478.
Which has better schools, Florida or Texas?
Florida. Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Florida 19th of 50 for K-12 and Texas 36th.
Is Florida or Texas better for retirees?
Both treat retirement income about the same. Florida does not tax Social Security, exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; Texas does not tax Social Security, exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax. Property tax on a median home is $3,196 a year in Florida and $5,440 in Texas.