Massachusetts to Florida Moving Guide
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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

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

Paradise Moving & Storage

Stairhopper Movers
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) | Boston University Boston Harvard University Cambridge University of Massachusetts Amherst | University of Florida Gainesville Florida State University Tallahassee University of Miami Coral Gables |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Winchester Elementary School Winchester Loker School Wayland Carlton M. Viveiros Elementary Fall River | Sunset Elementary School Miami Winter Park Elementary Winter Park Bay Lake Elementary Orlando |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Jonas Clarke Middle School Lexington Kennedy Middle School Natick Westford Academy Middle Westford | Piedmont Lakes Middle School Apopka Falcon Cove Middle School Weston Orlando Science Middle Orlando |
Top 3 High School Schools | Boston Latin School Boston Lexington High School Lexington Newton South High Newton | Stanton College Preparatory Jacksonville Pine View School Osprey School for Advanced Studies Miami |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy Andover Groton School Groton Noble and Greenough Dedham | Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale The Bolles School Jacksonville Montverde Academy Montverde |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Milton Academy Milton Buckingham Browne & Nichols School Cambridge Thayer Academy Braintree | American Heritage School Plantation Gulliver Preparatory School Pinecrest Lake Highland Preparatory School Orlando |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington Public Schools Lexington Brookline Public Schools Brookline Newton Public Schools Newton | St. Johns County School District St. Augustine Collier County Public Schools Naples Seminole County Public Schools Sanford |
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: Veteran Moving Group
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 |