New Jersey to Florida
About 22,600 people made this move in a single year, and most of them are glad they did. Here is what actually changes on paper, with every number sourced so you can check it for yourself.
New Jersey sends more residents to Florida than to almost anywhere else. In 2024, Florida was one of the three largest destinations for people leaving the state, behind Pennsylvania and New York.
Most people on this route are not chasing weather alone. They are looking at a property tax bill that has crossed five figures, a state income tax that keeps applying in retirement, and a house they bought decades ago that is now worth considerably more than they paid for it. Those three things together open up options that were not there ten years ago.
The good news is that this move usually does what people hope it will do. Florida removes some costs entirely, and the ones it adds are manageable once you know they are coming. Below are the numbers on both sides, so nothing on your closing statement is a surprise.
| What you pay | New Jersey | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | Seven brackets, 1.4% to 10.75% | None |
| Tax on $150,000 taxable income, single filer | About $7,429 | $0 |
| Tax on $150,000 taxable income, married filing jointly | About $5,513 | $0 |
| Tax on Social Security benefits | Not taxed | Not taxed |
| Average residential property tax bill | $10,570 statewide, 2025 | Varies by county, see below |
| Average insurance, single family home | Roughly $1,800 | $1,600 inland to $7,800 in the Keys |
| Average insurance, condo | Around $500 to $800 | Roughly $1,000 to $1,800 |
| Sales tax | 6.625% | 6% plus county surtax |
| Estate or inheritance tax | No estate tax. Inheritance tax, with spouses, children, parents and grandchildren exempt | None |
Insurance figures are 2026 published state averages. Both figures are calculated from the New Jersey Tax Rate Schedules, Table A for single filers and Table B for married filing jointly. They are state income tax only, before federal tax and FICA, and assume taxable income after deductions and exemptions.
| 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. The New Jersey figure above is an average bill reported by the state. Averages sit higher than medians, so the two are not a like for like measure. Both are shown as published.
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 New Jersey Division of Taxation, New Jersey's income tax rates run from 1.4% to 10.75%.
Calculated from the New Jersey Division of Taxation's tax rate schedules, a single filer with $150,000 of taxable income owes about $7,429 in New Jersey income tax, and a married couple filing jointly owes about $5,513. These figures are state income tax only, before federal tax.
According to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the average residential property tax bill in New Jersey was $10,570 in 2025. According to the Tax Foundation, using 2024 American Community Survey five year estimates, the median bill was $3,744 in Miami-Dade, $3,890 in Broward and $3,858 in Palm Beach. An average and a median are not the same measure, so both are shown as published.
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.
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 New Jersey Division of Taxation, New Jersey lists Social Security benefits as income that is not subject to its tax.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Florida's estate tax was eliminated for deaths after December 31, 2004. According to the New Jersey Division of Taxation, New Jersey's estate tax no longer applies to deaths on or after January 1, 2018, while its inheritance tax still does. According to the Morris County Surrogate's Court, spouses, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents and grandparents are not subject to it.
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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