Why Are Thousands of New Yorkers Moving to Florida?

By Rick Martin First Posted: Mar 04, 2023 01:06 AM EST

More and more New Yorkers have been moving from New York to the Sunshine State, Florida, since at least 2016, according to data from the Census Bureau.

Data shows that the numbers increased at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic when a lot of New Yorkers, who can work remotely and looking for warmer weather and more affordable housing options, left the Empire State.

Citing data from Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the New York Post reported that almost 65,000 New Yorkers moved to Florida in 2022, breaking a record set in 2021, when around 62,000 New Yorkers left for Florida.

Many believed that fewer taxes and pandemic-era government lockdown policies that opened up the state's economy much sooner than other states also helped Florida, USA Today reported.

Jackie Bild, a real estate agent at Douglas Elliman based in Miami, noted that the state being "more open and lenient on things" at the height of the pandemic was one of the reasons why many people moved to Florida.

Bild told USA Today that around 30% of her buyers in the past 12 months were from New York City.

According to the Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey, Florida gained members of every generation, from millennials to baby boomers, while New York experienced loss across all age groups except Gen Z.

Florida More Restrictive in Terms of Lifestyle Than New York

The exodus of New Yorkers has many New York politicians pointing out many of Florida's flaws, especially with Governor Ron DeSantis' controversial and restrictive culture agenda that many dubbed his "war on woke."

New York City's Democratic Mayor Eric Adams launched billboard ads in five Florida cities soon after the controversial "Don't Say Gay" law was passed.

He denounced the measure and invited Floridians to move to New York, "a city where you can say and be whoever you want."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, another Democrat, blasted New York Republicans like Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and former President Donald Trump, saying they all belonged in Florida, which has become associated with some weird, unusual incidents in the past.

"Just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong, OK? Get out of town. Because you do not represent our values. You are not New Yorkers," the governor said during one of her campaign press conferences last August when she also singled out her rival for the governorship, former New York State Sen. Lee Zeldin.

Florida vs. New York

While many who moved cited that things are cheaper in Florida and the taxes are lower as their reason for going to the state, the State of Florida Living reported that New Yorkers have been moving to Florida even before the tax changes were even implemented.

The report further noted that while the cost of living is lower in Florida than in New York, the Sunshine State has a higher crime rate, according to the FBI.

New York's crime rate is quite low and is placed outside the top 10 states with the lowest overall crime rate. Florida is still in the bottom half of states with higher overall crime rates, though its ranking has improved a bit.

The Empire State also has a better school system, as New York State schools are rated in the top 10 of all states in the United States, while Florida is ranked 29th overall.

However, New York still has one of the highest tax rates as it is one of the most expensive states in the country.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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