Floridano income tax, 22nd lowest property tax, median home $415K
R+13 · Low tax burden · COL index 103
0%
Income Tax
387
Violent Crime / 100K
77.3
Life Expectancy
$415K
Median Home
$1,000
Childcare / Mo
Florida in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Florida
Florida has no income tax and no estate tax, and its Save Our Homes cap limits assessed-value growth to 3% a year for homesteaded owners. The trade-off is insurance: home, wind and flood premiums are the highest in the country and several national carriers have left the market. The state has added more residents than any other since 2020.
What Florida taxes, and what it doesn't
Florida has no state income tax. Wages, retirement withdrawals and investment income are untouched at the state level, which puts it in a group of 9 states with Alaska, Nevada, New Hampshire and 5 others.
Property tax runs 0.77% of home value a year, roughly $3,196 on the state's median home of $415K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Florida has the 22nd lowest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.02%, the 23rd highest in the country (the state portion is 6%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.
Housing and the cost of living in Florida
Florida's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average; that is the 17th most expensive of the 50 states.
The median home costs $415K, 37% above the national figure and the 17th highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,900 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $3,500 a year, flood coverage adds about $3,200 where it is needed, car insurance runs $3,180.
Budget $155 a month for electricity and gas, $510 a month in groceries for two, $1,000 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 387 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, above the median state (387); Florida is the 25th most violent of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 1,882 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 77.3 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 13.2% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has not expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Florida's health system 40th of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 19th in the country, and the state runs a school-choice voucher program.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Florida is a solidly Republican state that went to Trump by 13 points in 2024.
On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions. Marijuana is medical only. Florida is a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $13.00 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is very high. The main hazards are hurricane, flood, tornado. Annual average air quality index is 28 (under 50 is good).
Florida has a major hub airport, with about 165 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Florida
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
▾
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$3,196/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Near US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Well above national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
High flood risk area. Verify with local insurer
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
HOAs dominate the housing stock (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
More restrictive than most states (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
State limits local bans/duration rules; DBPR vacation-rental license required.
Warning: Insurance Market Stress
Insurer insolvencies and exits; heavy reliance on state-run Citizens Property Insurance (insurer of last resort). Get an insurance quote before you buy here.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
▾
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Moderate homelessness rate; 54% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Florida
Healthcare#40 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Bottom tier
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Above national avg (~9%)
EducationK-12 #19 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Above national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$1,000/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs$155/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Near US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel165+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle91% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Highly urban, big city feel
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
1.9/100K residents: Growing
Craft Distilleries
Strong spirits scene
Live Music
Miami, Tampa, Orlando; Ultra Music Festival, Gasparilla Music Fest; rum heritage
Transportation$3,180/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,600)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$13/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
6-week ban (before most women know they're pregnant)
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
Seminole Tribe controls Hard Rock casinos. Hard Rock Bet operational under tribal compact, upheld by federal courts June 2024.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Haulover Beach (Miami) · Blind Creek Beach (Fort Pierce) · Playalinda Beach (Cape Canaveral) · Cypress Cove Nudist Resort
Environment & ClimateAQI 28▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Excellent (national avg ~38)
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsR+13 · gun law grade F▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
Prohibited in bars/portions primarily devoted to alcohol; restaurant dining areas allowed.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy3.2% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+2.6% job growth · 3.2% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Below-average union presence (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#4 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)
Daily Life$3.18/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.12 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Legal statewide; must sign waiver acknowledging agricultural use
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required under 21 (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks92°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 72°F
Summer Heat
Hot summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards73/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Armadillo Leprosy Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits100/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
9.2% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
100% disabled: full property tax exempt
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Florida counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Florida
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.