State comparison
Florida vs Washington: which state is better to live in?
Florida costs a median household about $2,100 a year less in state and local taxes than Washington, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $3,196 a year against $4,788 in Washington.
Florida
Low tax burden · COL index 103
Wins 7 categories
Washington
Moderate tax burden · COL index 117
Wins 7 categories
Taxes: Florida vs Washington
Neither Florida nor Washington 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 0.84% in Washington (Tax Foundation, 2023); on each state's median home that is $3,196 against $4,788, so Florida has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.02% in Florida and 9.38% in Washington; 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, $6,887 in Washington. Florida is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Florida's cost of living index is 103 and Washington's is 117, where 100 is the national average; Florida is about 14% cheaper day to day.
The median home costs $415K in Florida and $570K in Washington (Zillow, 2024), a $155K gap in Florida's favor. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,900 a month in Florida and $2,000 in Washington.
Home insurance averages $3,500 a year in Florida and $900 in Washington, so Washington is cheaper to insure.
Safety
Violent crime runs 387 incidents per 100,000 residents in Florida and 347 in Washington (FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023); Washington is the safer state by that measure, with a rate 12% lower. Property crime is 1,882 per 100,000 in Florida against 3,187 in Washington, again favoring Florida.
Health
Life expectancy is 77.3 years in Florida and 79.3 in Washington (County Health Rankings, 2024), a 2.0-year edge for Washington. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Florida's health system 40th of 50 and Washington's 10th, so Washington scores better on care.
13.2% of Florida residents have no health insurance against 6.5% in Washington, which favors Washington. Washington expanded Medicaid and Florida did not.
Schools
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Florida's K-12 schools 19th in the country and Washington's 7th, 12 places apart in Washington's favor. Florida runs a school-choice voucher program; Washington does not.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Florida went to Trump by 13 points and Washington went to Harris by 16 points.
Florida has permitless carry and a Giffords gun-law grade of F; Washington has shall-issue carry permits and a grade of A, so Washington regulates guns more tightly and Florida is the friendlier state for gun owners.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions in Florida and protected by state law in Washington, and marijuana is medical only in Florida and legal for adults in Washington as of 2026. The minimum wage is $13.00 an hour in Florida and $16.28 in Washington.
Climate and risk
Natural disaster risk is very high in Florida (hurricane, flood, tornado) and high in Washington (wildfire, earthquake, flood), so Washington is the lower-risk state. Annual average air quality index is 28 in Florida and 40 in Washington (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
7
Washington
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Florida or Washington better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. Florida on taxes ($4,766 a year for a median household against $6,887); Florida on everyday costs (index 103 against 117); Washington on safety (347 violent crimes per 100,000 against 387); Washington on schools (ranked 7th against 19th).
Which is cheaper, Florida or Washington?
Florida is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 103 against 117. The median home is $415K in Florida and $570K in Washington (2024). On state and local taxes Florida saves a median household about $2,100 a year.
Does Florida or Washington 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 $6,887 in Washington ($0 income tax, $4,788 property tax on the median home and $2,099 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Which is safer, Florida or Washington?
Washington, on the FBI's 2023 figures. Violent crime is 387 per 100,000 residents in Florida and 347 in Washington; property crime is 1,882 against 3,187.
Which has better schools, Florida or Washington?
Washington. Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Florida 19th of 50 for K-12 and Washington 7th. Florida also offers school-choice vouchers.
Is Florida or Washington better for retirees?
Florida is friendlier to retirees on paper. Florida does not tax Social Security, exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; Washington does not tax Social Security, exempts pensions and has an estate tax. Property tax on a median home is $3,196 a year in Florida and $4,788 in Washington.