ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s a paradise.
It’s expensive.
Your health problems could get better.
You may have trouble getting health care.
Alligators are everywhere.
Alligators were here before you.
And most important of all — don’t expect Florida to be like where you’re from.
On Thursday, News 6 shared new U.S. Census data that showed Florida was the fastest-growing state from 2020 to 2024, with the state now up to almost 23.4 million residents.
With more people moving to Florida every day, we asked our viewers and readers to offer up their advice to anyone considering a move to the Sunshine State.
We went through all the responses from our web story and on social media. Here is a sample. Click on the links to see more, and don’t forget to weigh in yourself in the comments below!
From the original article on ClickOrlando.com:
Right now I would say Move to another state-FL is not for families any more we have eye watering Homeowners/car insurances/rents -that affects near everyone over 18 here
a far right regime that has banned books, telling teachers what they can/cant teach/ we can shoot bears, but there is around 10 million here with no healthcare and Tallahassee has done nothing.
its not the FL i moved to back in 1995 and we are getting out. and IF you are a teacher -you will be about the lowest paid in the nation. on top of all the Fed govt cuts its going to be awful.
llcoolcal, ClickOrlando commenter
We live in Indiana. Unpredictable weather & increasing property & income taxes drove us here. To know: car insurance is more expensive because they make you carry personal accident insurance to cover personal injury. Transferring license plates is more expensive than buying a new one & they make you convert your title to a FL title. Homeowners insurance in Central FL was a little less per year than IN. 5g mobile access is spotty (Verizon). The traffic is NUTS! The weather is nice which helps mood and energy. Not every insurer operates in FL, do your homework. No state income tax will be awesome. Lots of restaurants to choose from. Mostly nice people.
News 6 reader
They need to know that they should not bring the beliefs with them that ruined the place they are fleeing from.
Vladamir Untruksur, ClickOrlando commenter
Old folks and young adults tend to drive with the same idiosyncrasies for different reasons. The older drivers are cautious because their reflexes aren’t as sharp. The youngsters are distracted by their phones.
Robert Ball, ClickOrlando reader
From Facebook:
Don’t expect it to be like your state. A lot of people here hate transplants too so don’t expect a warm welcome either (speaking from experience)
Brandon Thomas
Sunshine isn’t cheap. Neither is gasoline, food, insurance, taxes.
Beverly Morgan
I feel better than before. The excruciating fibro pain and arthritis up north while shoveling snow and freezing was unbearable. Pain levels are at a minimum now and I have some life back.
Billang Xoxo
It’s HOT and HUMID! Don’t come and complain about the heat! It’s Sunshine State!! If it’s so much better ”back home” GO THERE!!
Bonnie Cuthbert Hunt
Best Governor ever! Not as expensive as the northeast or Cali. People are nice here. Slower paced lifestyle. But it is getting populated so you may consider the Carolinas instead.
LuAnn Buccino-Pieros
If you have special needs kiddos you will NOT get services that you are expecting even with an IEP. And as special needs adults, you will not automatically get services. My son with Down Syndrome was on the APD Medwaiver wait list for 21 years even when writing several crisis letters. He finally got services at 36 year old because in our county there is a pilot program.
Everyone waits to get new patient appointments with good doctors for at least 3 months.
Florida has become so crowded it’s insane. Traffic everywhere is atrocious. I would love to go back to 1994 when we moved here because of the military.
I’m not sure we would have stayed if it was like this in the 90s. We stay because of the consistency for our son.
Barbara Greb Konrad
Stay clear of condominiums and/or properties with a HOA
Marian O Leary
Unless you are transferring an inflated pay you make from another state and keeping that salary. You wont really come out ahead.
Way more expensive then ppl let on
If you are a professional starting fresh, your pay will likely go down significantly. Enough to question if taxes were really that bad in another “more expensive” state
Mike Strahl
It’s not Disney World 24/7 even if you work for Disney. It’s crowded, hot, there’s mosquitoes so big they could screw a cow flat footed. You have the worst of every part of the United States moving here and some parts of the world - all crowding into one location trying to utilize all the same resources at the same time. If you buy a house get ready for massive sticker shock; what you’re going to pay in homeowners insurance - providing you can get it during active hurricane season is going to be three times your mortgage payment. and that’s not even talking about sinkholes!
Wait until you experience your first CAT 3+ hurricane and then get back to me
Veronica Dee
There is an alligator in my back yard.
Danny Chiappone
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From Instagram:
You know the movie Jumanji? It’s like that but with hurricanes too
g_moneyfla
Research cost of insurance. Car, rental, home. Shocked is an understatement. Wasn’t prepared for that in my budget when I relocated here 12 years ago.
stlkris10
As a fifth generation Floridian here why I wouldn’t move to Florida: 1) it really hot that why we are known as the sunshine state. 2)we are known for our lightning strikes which kills people’s starts fires and burn homes 3) our beach are infested with sharks that like to eat people 4) traffic is extremely bad 5) people are rude; 6) cost of living is high; 7) and you not wanted here.
vlhangel
Insurance cost, job seeking, and getting a doctor’s appointment without referral and medical records from previous doctors is almost impossible!
vmanzur140
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