Florida has always been a top vacation destination for spring break. Largely because of the warm weather and beaches along the coast. Over the last couple of years, people stopped purely vacationing and started moving here. Florida, although gorgeous, has some even more attractive attributes.
Because there is no state income tax in Florida, many people are attracted financially. In fact, our state’s constitution prohibits a state income tax. However, during the 2020 pandemic, we saw an influx of migration to the state due to COVID-19 lockdowns. As controversial as it was, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ended lockdown mandates in May, while many other states’ economies suffered, being forced to stay closed. The state has a GDP of $1 trillion. With a booming economy, many were led to leave their home state.
After interviewing some out-of-state FSU students, I found that many people come to Florida State to become Florida residents. This may seem obvious, but many northerners want to get out of the cold. Many people want to be close to the beach. Still, there is warm weather and beaches in other states. Yet, more than 547,000 people changed their address to Florida just in 2020.
Like any other state, Florida has many cons. For one, summers are no walk in the park. Because of the summer heat, utility bills are no joke. We also experience tough hurricane seasons. Unfortunately, many people lost their lives or homes just last year due to Hurricane Ian. But with the cons, come the pros. Although we have devastating storms, we do not have earthquakes, and we rarely experience bad air quality or wildfires.
The Sunshine State also has school choice, which is attractive to many parents. Although most college students are not yet parents, this is something worth thinking about if kids are in your future. While this is a politically divided issue, the following is true about it: School choice allows students to attend schools they are not assigned to because of their zip code and the public funds are allocated to the school they chose. This allows students to get the education they and their parents feel is suited for them. Some schools have stronger programs in certain areas. Some high schools have vocational programs, International Baccalaureate programs, focuses on entrepreneurship or STEM, good athletics, etcetera. Financial security starts with education; investing in tailoring a child’s education to their specific needs, allows them to get what they want out of their learning experience.
The United States is divided politically. Florida is a leader among conservatives, but many liberals and moderates still find sanctuary in the Sunshine State. Whether or not you vote a certain way, many people want to pay less in taxes. People follow their wallets. With that, many have qualms with Florida politics because of the conservative domination. However, our individual rights allow us to leave the state, vote for new legislators and protest our concerns. But we still see more people moving to Florida than leaving.
Overall, there are so many reasons why so many people are moving to Florida. As a Florida native, I am partial to the state. Its inescapable beauty is something I often take for granted. The state has so much to offer, and the migration to the Sunshine State is understandable. Whatever the reason is so many people are becoming Florida residents, its financial benefits are undeniable.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest!