Massachusetts to Florida
Florida is the number one destination for people leaving Massachusetts, with about 22,000 making the move in a single year. Here is what actually changes on paper, with every number sourced so you can check it for yourself.
More Massachusetts residents move to Florida each year than to New Hampshire, New York or anywhere else. Massachusetts ranks fifth in the country for out migration, behind only New Jersey, Illinois, New York and California.
The Massachusetts income tax is a flat 5 percent, which is reasonable and worth saying plainly. Where this comparison gets interesting is the estate tax, and it catches people who do not think of themselves as wealthy at all.
Massachusetts taxes estates above $2 million, against a federal exemption of $15 million. A paid off house at the state median, a retirement account and a life insurance policy get there without anyone feeling rich. Florida has no estate tax at all. Below are the numbers on both sides, so nothing on your closing statement is a surprise.
| What you pay | Massachusetts | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | Flat 5%, plus a 4% surtax on income above $1,107,750 | None |
| Tax on $150,000 taxable income | $7,500 | $0 |
| Short term capital gains | 8.5% | None |
| Tax on 401k and IRA withdrawals | Taxed at 5%. State and municipal pensions are exempt | None |
| Tax on Social Security benefits | Not taxed | Not taxed |
| Estate tax | Applies above $2 million, at rates from 0.8% to 16% | None |
| Effective property tax rate | About 1.0% to 1.2% | 0.72% to 0.96% in most counties |
| Median annual property tax bill | Above $6,000 | $2,474 to $3,890 in most major counties |
| Median home price | About $673,000 | $355,100 to $540,700 across major counties |
| Sales tax | 6.25%, with no local add on | 6% plus county surtax |
The income tax figure applies the flat 5% rate to Massachusetts taxable income and is state tax only, before federal tax and FICA. The 4% surtax threshold is adjusted annually and is $1,107,750 for 2026. Property tax figures are published estimates and the effective rate varies by municipality.
| County | Median home value | Median tax bill | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade | $463,000 | $3,744 | 0.81% |
| Broward | $414,600 | $3,890 | 0.96% |
| Palm Beach | $447,300 | $3,858 | 0.82% |
| Orange, Orlando | $390,100 | $2,967 | 0.82% |
| Hillsborough, Tampa | $371,500 | $3,010 | 0.84% |
| Pinellas, St. Petersburg | $355,100 | $2,474 | 0.74% |
| Sarasota | $411,800 | $3,106 | 0.72% |
| Lee, Fort Myers | $362,200 | $2,858 | 0.78% |
Florida figures are median bills from the 2024 American Community Survey five year estimates.
Insurance. Florida is not one insurance market, and a statewide average hides more than it shows. Distance from the coast is the single biggest factor. In 2026, inland counties such as Sumter, Marion, Alachua, Lake and Columbia average roughly $1,600 to $3,600 a year for a single family home, which is close to what many buyers already pay where they live now. The coastal counties sit at the other end of the range: Miami-Dade around $6,000, Broward and Palm Beach a little above that, and Monroe, which is the Keys, near $7,800. Where you land on that map is largely your choice, and it is one of the clearest ways your area shortlist changes your monthly cost.
The timing is also better than it has been in a while. 2026 brought the first meaningful rate reductions in four years, with Citizens cutting an average of 8.7 percent statewide and Broward seeing the largest reduction at roughly 17 percent.
It is worth naming what the premium actually buys. Florida weather produces a wide range of outcomes, and most of what insurers pay for sits at the ordinary end of it: a roof, some windows, water that got where it should not have, a fence. The policy is what turns those into a claim instead of a bill, and it is why a Florida home holds its value through a season rather than becoming something you worry about. Roof age is now the largest single rating factor, so newer construction or documented wind mitigation features can cut the wind portion of a premium considerably. Quoting a real address early is worth doing, and it often tells you more about the difference between two homes than the list price does.
If you are looking at a condo rather than a house, the picture changes again. The association's master policy covers the building itself, so your own policy only has to cover the interior and your belongings, which is why Florida condo premiums run closer to $1,000 to $1,800. That building coverage sits inside your monthly association fee instead, so compare the fee and the premium together when you are weighing a condo against a house. Flood coverage is priced separately in both cases.
Property tax after a purchase. Florida caps how fast the assessed value of a homesteaded property can rise once you claim the homestead exemption, which is why long time owners often pay well below current market value. That cap starts working for you too, and it compounds every year you stay. The one thing to know is that the cap belongs to the owner rather than the house. When a home changes hands it is reassessed at market value on January 1 of the following year, so the seller's bill reflects their years in the home rather than your starting point. Planning for it takes about a minute. Every county property appraiser has a tax estimator on their site that gives you the market value figure, so you budget from the right number and your own cap starts building from there.
No. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Florida does not impose a personal income tax. According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Massachusetts taxes income at 5%, with an additional 4% surtax on income above $1,107,750 for tax year 2026. At 5%, $150,000 of taxable income comes to $7,500.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Florida does not impose a personal income tax, so the state does not tax Social Security benefits. According to the Massachusetts Tax Expenditure Budget, Social Security benefits are excluded from Massachusetts gross income.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Florida's estate tax was eliminated for deaths after December 31, 2004. According to Mass.gov, Massachusetts estate tax applies to decedents dying on or after January 1, 2023 with a gross estate of more than $2,000,000.
According to the Tax Foundation, using 2024 American Community Survey five year estimates, the median property tax bill was $3,744 in Miami-Dade, $3,890 in Broward and $3,858 in Palm Beach. The county table above shows more areas.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, a home that changes owners is reassessed at market value on the following January 1. Once you claim the homestead exemption, the yearly increase in assessed value is limited to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less.
These answers use the sources named in each one. Rates and figures change, so please check each source yourself before you rely on a number.
This page covers the state level picture, and it is where the decision usually gets easier. Once you have two or three Florida areas in mind, the comparison gets a lot more useful at the city and neighborhood level.
Home prices, property tax rates, commute times and household income for the Florida cities on your list, next to each other.
Compare Florida citiesHow Florida schools work, plus a school search for the areas on your list.
Florida schoolsWhat your occupation pays in each Florida metro, based on published federal wage data.
Florida wages by areaIf you do not yet have areas in mind, start with the regional overview and come back once you have a shortlist.
Compare Florida CitiesThe figures on this page are published averages and statewide rates, gathered from the sources listed below. They are here to give you a starting picture, not to describe your own situation. Your tax, insurance and property tax outcome depends on your income, your filing status, the specific address and the year you buy. Please confirm anything you plan to rely on with a licensed tax professional, an insurance agent and the county property appraiser before you make a decision.
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