Kimberly Jones, a long-time resident of South Florida, made the unexpected decision to leave her home of nearly six decades for a rural town an hour outside Charlotte, North Carolina. At 60, Jones reflected on her life in Plantation, Florida, where she built a notable career in logistics, raised her family, and witnessed the area’s transformation over the decades. “It was not an easy decision,” she remarked, acknowledging that affordability was a significant factor, but also highlighting her desire for a slower pace of life.
Jones described Southern Florida’s rapid population growth and seemingly endless residential development as detrimental to its once-charming character. “If there’s a corner available, they will build a high-rise on it,” she lamented, explaining that the constant construction and traffic had turned her daily commute into a grueling two-and-a-half-hour ordeal.
In recent years, Florida’s appeal as a moving destination has cooled, with net domestic migration figures showing a downward trend. Factors contributing to this shift include rising living costs that have outpaced the state’s tax benefits, making it less attractive for potential newcomers. Housing prices have surged, with the median home-sale price escalating from approximately $298,100 in December 2020 to $412,100 by December 2025. The situation is exacerbated by skyrocketing insurance costs driven by increasingly severe natural disasters.
Debra Pamplin, another resident who left Florida for the Midwest after 11 years, shared similar frustrations about the area’s deteriorating quality of life. After relocating from Missouri to Jacksonville, she found herself grappling with high insurance premiums and oppressive weather conditions. “I’d often have to cut spending in other parts of my life just to cover my high monthly insurance costs,” Pamplin stated, later emphasizing the newfound financial breathing room she enjoys outside Florida.
Despite the slowdown in net migration, experts maintain that Florida remains a sought-after destination, albeit with shifting demographics. Mariya Letdin from Florida State University noted that, while growth may be decelerating, the state continues to attract a diverse range of residents. Michael Martirena, a South Florida real estate agent, identified a notable change in client profiles, indicating that the affluent are now dominating the market, often seeking properties for various reasons, including favorable tax conditions.
Moreover, increased out-migration from Florida has been observed, notably among non-citizens. Census data indicated a rise in the number of non-citizens relocating within the U.S. from Florida, increasing from about 30,000 in 2022 to approximately 53,500 in 2024. Nevertheless, international migration to Florida remains positive, attracting buyers primarily from affluent nations such as Dubai and Madrid, underscoring the complex dynamics of the state’s real estate market.
As Florida’s landscape continues to evolve, both longtime residents and newcomers face the challenge of balancing affordability and quality of life in a state that both attracts and repels in equal measure.
