Americans are still moving to Florida — just not at the breakneck pace seen in recent years.
Rising home prices, higher insurance costs, and growing congestion are making the Sunshine State less appealing for many would-be residents.
Kimberly Jones thought she would spend her entire life in Miami. Born and raised there, she met her husband, raised her children, and built a four-decade career in logistics in South Florida. Leaving was never part of the plan. That changed in 2025, when Jones, now 60, and her husband moved from Plantation, Florida — about 20 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale — to a small rural town roughly an hour outside Charlotte, North Carolina.
“It was not an easy decision,” Jones told Business Insider. “Affordability was part of it, but we were also looking forward to a slower pace of life. I lived in South Florida my entire life — and it’s not anything like what it used to be.”
She said rapid population growth has transformed the region into something she no longer recognized. Widespread residential development and worsening traffic made daily life increasingly frustrating.
“If there’s a corner available, they will build a high-rise on it,” Jones said. “It’s turning into an overly congested, expensive city. I used to spend two and a half hours a day just driving to and from work.”
Stories like Jones’ help explain why Florida’s net domestic migration — the number of people moving in from other states minus those leaving — has slowed significantly from its pandemic-era peak. While the state continues to attract new residents, fewer Americans see it as the bargain it once was.
Florida long benefited from relatively affordable housing, a lack of state income tax, and a strong job market. But years of rapid growth have pushed home prices and rents higher, particularly in major metros like Miami and Orlando. Rising property, flood, and homeowners’ insurance costs have further strained household budgets.
“For some people, the tax advantages no longer offset the higher cost of living,” said Jed Kolko, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “Florida has gotten a lot more expensive, so it doesn’t look as affordable as it did just a few years ago.”
Redfin data shows Florida’s median home-sale price rose from $298,100 in December 2020 to $412,100 by December 2025. At the same time, increasingly severe natural disasters have driven insurance premiums well above national averages.
Debra Pamplin experienced those pressures firsthand. She moved from Missouri to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2013 but returned to the Midwest after 11 years. High insurance costs, heavy traffic, extreme heat, and humidity ultimately outweighed Florida’s appeal.
“I had to cut spending in other areas just to cover insurance,” Pamplin said in a previous Business Insider interview. “Now my costs are lower, and I have more freedom to spend my money on things I enjoy.”
Despite these challenges, Florida hasn’t lost its draw entirely. Mariya Letdin, an associate professor of real estate at Florida State University, said the state remains a popular destination, though she expects population growth to continue at a slower pace.
Who is moving to Florida is also changing. Michael Martirena, a real estate agent with Compass in South Florida, said he now works more frequently with international buyers and wealthy Americans.
“Three years ago, everyone wanted to come here — it didn’t matter who they were,” Martirena said. “Now, affordability has narrowed the pool.”
Census data suggests another factor: more non-citizens who once lived in Florida are relocating to other states. Still, international migration remains positive overall, meaning more people are moving to Florida from abroad than leaving the country.
“International and affluent buyers are still coming,” Martirena said. “Whether it’s taxes, geopolitics, or conditions back home, Florida continues to appeal — just to a different crowd than before.”
Source: Busness Insider
