Moving to the Sunshine State can often feel like a dream come true. However, no place is perfect, and even those who love their new home in Florida might have experienced or heard about downsides they wish they’d known about sooner.
Drawing from the experiences of former Florida transplants, here are 12 potential drawbacks to consider before making the move:
1. Job Troubles
Finding employment in Florida can be difficult depending on your location. While the number of job openings is similar to the national average, accessing those jobs can be challenging.
Many positions are located in cities where the cost of living can be too high for some salaries, potentially leading to long commutes for transplants.
2. Bugs, Oh My (Lovebugs)
Prepare for “lovebug season”. New residents are often surprised by the large numbers of black mating flies that can splatter onto vehicles and swarm yards.
Florida experiences two lovebug seasons, typically from April to May and again from August to September.
3. Bugs Again (Mosquitos)
Florida has been declared the worst state for mosquitos. The high concentration of mosquitos increases the risk of contracting mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus or Eastern equine encephalitis.
4. Expensive Living
Florida is not among the cheapest states to live in. Individuals moving from states like Mississippi, Kansas, and Alabama might find Florida’s housing, gas, and food prices surprisingly expensive compared to what they are used to paying.
5. Wavering Politics
Some transplants may have second thoughts about their relocation due to Florida’s political landscape.
Historically a Democratic state, Florida has been relatively divided between Republicans and Democrats in recent years.
On the other hand, some find this division means their vote carries more weight in impacting election results.
6. Bug Control
Bugs appear on the list a third time. Transplants from northern states might regret not factoring regular pest control costs into their monthly budget.
Florida residents may need to contend with termites that eat wooden furniture, cockroaches that eat food, and venomous spiders that could potentially send someone to the hospital.
7. Not So Chill
Florida had the second-highest rate of incoming transplants in 2023. However, some newcomers hoping for a change in scenery and people find themselves surrounded by so many people from the region they left that it doesn’t feel like a truly new place, depending on where they settle.
8. Underperforming Schools
Parents with school-aged children might regret moving to Florida based on its reported learning rates. Florida reportedly has the worst learning rate in the country.
Data suggests that since 2003, Florida’s eighth-grade ranking on the NAEP test across subjects has been significantly lower than its fourth-grade rank.
However, other reports rank Florida higher, placing it tenth nationally for Pre-K-12 education and first for higher education. The quality of education can vary significantly depending on the specific school and district.
9. High Insurance Costs
While not having a state income tax seems appealing initially, transplants often discover unexpected expenses. Full coverage car insurance costs about 55% more in Florida than the national average. Additionally, depending on the location within Florida, residents may need to pay for extra insurance like flood insurance.
10. So Muggy
Florida is known for its weather, specifically its hot, humid climate. While this was a positive factor for some, many transplants regret not moving to a cooler, dryer climate.
11. No Change of Seasons
Most people know Florida is hot and humid. However, some transplants didn’t consider that living there means they won’t experience a true change of four seasons.
While you can still get seasonal drinks, the feeling of seasonal change, like falling leaves, is absent.
12. Snow Birds
Many newcomers initially dismiss Florida’s traffic, but sitting in extra traffic during the winter months due to seasonal travelers becomes a significant downside. With over 800,000 seasonal visitors each winter, the increased traffic is understandable.
Alicia Richards