Massachusetts to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,346 mile interstate move from Massachusetts to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in Massachusetts vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs warm, sunny weather), food & health (like Clam Chowder vs Key Lime Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs spanish, mediterranean), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Massachusetts), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Clam Chowder and Lobster Roll, but get your taste buds ready for Key Lime Pie & Cuban Sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in Massachusetts
- Rent in Florida is 12.37% more affordable than in Massachusetts
- Moving from Massachusetts to Florida will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Massachusetts to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Massachusetts to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Massachusetts to Florida
- Cold winters
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic in Boston
- Warm, sunny weather
- No state income tax
- Lower traffic congestion
- Varied school quality
- Fewer historical landmarks
- Hot, humid summers
- High-quality education
- Rich historical sites
- Distinct four seasons
Pros of moving from Massachusetts to Florida
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to warm, sunny weather
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Florida with no state income tax
- Swap the heavy traffic in Boston, Massachusetts for lower traffic congestion in Florida
Cons of moving from Massachusetts to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the high-quality education in Massachusetts to live with varied school quality in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich historical sites and have to settle for the con of fewer historical landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to distinct four seasons and get used to hot, humid summers in Florida
Massachusetts vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Massachusetts | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Clam Chowder | Key Lime Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Lobster Roll | Cuban Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Boston Cream Pie | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Tofu Scramble | Jackfruit Tacos |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Massachusetts to Florida, you will be trading the iconic Clam Chowder of Massachusetts for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in Massachusetts rave about their flavorful Lobster Roll and sumptuous Boston Cream Pie, Florida residents know they have tasty Cuban Sandwich and Empanadas to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu Scramble they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Florida. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Massachusetts eateries like Union Oyster House, Neptune Oyster, and Legal Harborside. After the boxes are unpacked in Florida, don't wait too long before making your way to Florida's acclaimed eateries like Joeβs Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bernβs Steak House.
When comparing lifestyles, Florida shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Massachusetts. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Florida compared to what you are used to in Massachusetts. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Massachusetts and Florida
Comparison | Massachusetts | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Spanish, Mediterranean |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, granite countertops | Pool, waterfront |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Massachusetts is known for will be replaced with the Spanish and Mediterranean architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to Massachusetts's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like pools and waterfronts.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Florida is less walkable than Massachusetts.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Florida is more bike-friendly than Massachusetts.
- Florida has less of an urban feel than Massachusetts.
- Florida housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in Massachusetts, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to Massachusettsβs $612,509.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased 66% compared to a 46% increase in Massachusetts.
- Rent in Florida is 12.37% more affordable than in Massachusetts.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Massachusetts and Florida
Comparison | Massachusetts | Florida |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Snowstorms, Nor'easters | Hurricanes, Tropical Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 60Β°F | 90Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35Β°F / 22Β°F | 70Β°F / 50Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 54 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 51 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Massachusetts to Florida. Florida gets 19% more sunshine days than Massachusetts.
- Florida has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Massachusetts.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and nor'easters in Massachusetts, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Florida is 10 degrees warmer than in Massachusetts.
- The average winter lows are 28 degrees warmer than they are in Massachusetts.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Florida. Florida receives 7 more inches of rain compared to Massachusetts.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Massachusetts and Florida
Comparison | Massachusetts | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,488 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 121.55 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.23% | 0.89% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.25% | 7.05% |
Top 3 Industries | Education, Healthcare, Technology | Tourism, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Less prevalent | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Florida tend to earn about 27% less than in Massachusetts
- The COLI in Florida is 20% lower than what you are used to living in Massachusetts
- Hooray, moving to FL means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Florida is moderate compared to high in Massachusetts
- The poverty level is moderate in Florida compared to low in Massachusetts
- In terms of homelessness, it is less prevalent in Massachusetts and noticeable in Florida
Political and Religious Climate in Massachusetts vs. Florida
Comparison | Massachusetts | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Mixed, with a Republican tilt |
Local Politics | Progressive policies, especially in urban areas | Mix of conservative and progressive, varying by county |
Religion | Largely Catholic, but very diverse | Diverse, with a significant Protestant population |
- Massachusetts tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with a Republican tilt
- Florida's religious environment can be described as diverse with a significant Protestant population
- Massachusetts' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Catholic but very diverse
Education Guide When Moving from Massachusetts to Florida
Comparison | Massachusetts | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Boston College | University of Florida Florida State University University of Miami |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | John D. Hardy Elementary - Wellesley Joseph E. Fiske Elementary- Wellesley Vinson-Owen Elementary - Winchester | Pine View School - Osprey A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School - Boca Raton Somerset Academy Miramar |
Top 3 Middle Schools | William Diamond Middle School - Lexington Blanchard Middle School - Westford Doherty Middle School - Andover | Archimedean Middle Conservatory - Miami Pine View School - Osprey Doral Academy Charter Middle School - Doral |
Top 3 High School Schools | Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science - Worcester Lexington High School Boston Latin School | Pine View School - Osprey Design and Architecture Senior High - Miami Stanton College Preparatory - Jacksonville |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy - Andover Milton Academy - Milton Groton School - Groton | Pine Crest School - Fort Lauderdale Ransom Everglades School - Coconut Grove American Heritage School - Plantation & Boca/Delray |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Boston University Academy - Boston Dana Hall School (Girls) - Wellesley Fay School - Southborough | Gulliver Preparatory School - Pinecrest The Bolles School - Jacksonville American Heritage School - Plantation & Boca/Delray |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington Newton Wellesley | Sarasota County St. Johns County Okaloosa County |
How Much Do Massachusetts to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 1,346 miles from Massachusetts to Florida will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Centaur Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,671 | 300 ft3 | $5.57 |
1 Bedroom | $2,487 | 450 ft3 | $5.53 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,113 | 750 ft3 | $5.48 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,986 | 1100 ft3 | $5.44 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,639 | 1600 ft3 | $5.40 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,642 | 1800 ft3 | $5.36 |
Top Massachusetts to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Massachusetts to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Massachusetts to Florida