1. There Are Three Floridas, And Which One You Move To Makes All The Difference
There’s Northern Florida, Central Florida, Southern Florida, and all three might as well be different states. Do your research and make sure to visit as many areas as you can in each location because knowing the differences can make all the difference in your happiness. You don’t want to end up next door to Mickey if you were hoping for the Panhandle.
2. Florida Does It Cheaper
In terms of cost of living,
Florida comes in at 99 against the national index of 100, which might not seem that much cheaper but that’s only because of the bell curve.
Groceries and health care tend to be on par with the national average while housing and utilities fall further below.
3. Southern Florida Is A Cheeseburger In Paradise
Florida has a ton of beaches. But when you think of Florida beaches, you’re probably thinking of beaches in South Florida. Whether you’re on the Gulf side or the Atlantic side or all the way down in The Keys, there’s no mistaking that this is the land ruled by Jimmy Buffett mentalities.
4. Central Florida Is For The Tourists Who Never Leave
Central Florida is what you think of when you imagine the touristy side of the state.
Orlando is the family-friendly tourist trap of the world with Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. Then there’s the spring breaker traps of
Tampa Bay,
Daytona Beach, and
Miami.
Central Florida offers close proximity to non-stop fun but it’s also a sandpit of traffic, gridlock, and planned communities.
5. Northern Florida Is For Floridians Who Still Know This Is A Southern State
North Florida can get even more confusing when you realize that it’s split up even further into the Florida Panhandle, North Central Florida, and Northeast Florida. But, for the sake of keeping this simple, just know that Northern Florida as a whole is generally the Florida with the Southern vibe, relating much more to states like
Georgia and Alabama than the rest of Florida.
6. Florida Is A (Mostly) Tax Free Zone
Read my lips: No state income tax in Florida. Sound too good to be true? It’s really not. Even Florida’s sales tax is less than most other states, hovering around 6.62 percent. For a comparison, Alabama’s sales tax is 8.51 percent and Arkansas is at 9.19 percent.
7. And Floridians Pay Less In Property Taxes
Not only is the house you’re buying cheaper, but the taxes for the land it sits on is cheaper, too. Exact figures vary by which county you live in, but on average, Florida’s property taxes are .97 percent of your home’s worth. So, if your home is worth $180,000, expect to pay in the neighborhood of $1,770 per year in property taxes.
8. Florida Housing Is Where You Save The Most
Don’t expect to save much on utilities, as they run about average. But as a whole, Florida’s housing prices are incredibly cheap and sales have grown just under 10 percent in the past year according to Sperling’s housing index. The Median home cost in Florida is around $156,000 compared to the national median of $170,000.
9. Florida’s Job Market Is Way Better Than You Think
Not only is Florida’s 5.7 percent unemployment rate under the national average of 6.3 percent, but according to Sperling’s, the recent job growth is more than twice the national average. In 2014, Floridians saw a growth rate of 3.10 percent. Against the national average of 1.18 percent, getting a job in Florida is easier than you probably thought.
10. Know Where To Avoid Crime But Overall, Florida Streets Are Safe
Obviously, it depends on where you land. But overall, Florida isn’t a crime-infested state and you can feel safe living here. According to Sperling’s, on a national index of one to 100, with being the highest, violent crime in Florida averages 51 and property crime averages around 50.
11. Believe Everything You’ve Ever Heard About Florida Weather
Florida is a subtropical climate, so summers are hot and humid; winters are generally warm. You might get a day that dips into the 50s here or there, which does feel like winter after you’ve lived here long enough. But the average daily temperature in January is 70 degrees. So you can keep your pool open and your flip flops out all year long.
12. Florida Rocks You Like A Hurricane
Expect a lot of rain. According to Florida Climate Center, nearly 60 inches of rain fell on the Sunshine State in 2013. (That’s twice the rainfall for Washington, for anyone keeping track.) And don’t be shocked when the skies go from clear blue to Armageddon black in a matter of minutes in Florida. Crazy storms hit out of nowhere all the time, especially in the summer months. Hurricane season is always a concern, especially if you’re coastal. But the past few years have been fairly good to Florida and there’s always a hurricane party to help keep your mind off of it somewhere.
13. The Sun Might Be Old, But It Can Still Kick Your Butt
Heed my warning. If you attempt to take on the Florida sun, you will lose. Get used to wearing SPF when you’ll be in the sun for prolonged periods of time, whether you’re at the beach or not.
14. Everybody Moves To Florida Eventually
Have you ever heard Florida referred to as God’s Waiting Room? Well, it’s not just retirees that move here, but there are plenty of them, too. According to the U.S. Census, Florida’s population has increased 18.20 percent since 2000, totaling 18,885,152 residents. You’ll meet a lot of snowbirds, or part-time residents, who come here to escape winters and then go back home again when the heat cranks up.
15. Great News, Floridians Aren’t The Worst Drivers! The Bad News…
Florida has long-since had a bad reputation for having horrific drivers. Well, CarInsuranceComparison.com decided to do the math on it and after factoring in accident fatalities, failure to obey tickets, drunk driving records, speeding tickets, and careless driving, Floridians did
not rank as the worst drivers in the country; they ranked fifth. Still pretty horrible. Just remember, there are a lot of tourists and snowbirds out there, it’s not really Florida’s fault.
16. Welcome To The Joys Of Living In A Purple State
As one of the biggest names in swing states, election time is always a nail biter. Sperling’s reports that Florida is made up of 50.00 percent democrats and 49.131 percent republicans. What county you live in will reflect numbers that favor one party or another more, though, so if political affiliations are important to you, do some research on the districts. But every two years come November, the world is always watching Florida.
17. The Novelty Of Living In Florida Does Eventually Wear Off
While everyone else is planning their vacations to Florida, you’re living here. By default, that basically means that you’re always on vacation. OK, that mentality wears off after the first year or so of living here as real life starts to set it. But paradise is still your back yard and that really never gets old.
18. Bizarre Headlines Are Standard In Florida
A homeless guy having a picnic in a Walmart bathroom? Neighbor gets stuck in his own doggie door? And enough controversial trials to keep Nancy Grace on air through the millennium? All in a day’s work for Florida. Again, it’s a state filled with transplants, newcomers, and tourists. You definitely get used to
the weirdness but the rest of the country will never hesitate to make Florida the butt of a joke.
19. Sports Fans Have Plenty To Love In Florida
Florida has plenty to keep the pro and college sports fanatics entertained. Miami brings you the Marlins, Heat, and Dolphins. Tampa Bay has The Rays, The Lightning, and The Buccaneers. There’s the Orlando Magic, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Florida Panthers. Soccer lovers have Orlando City SC. Don’t forget about Spring Training madness. There are also a wide assortment of minor league teams. And college football lovers have the Florida-Florida state rivalry between The Gators and The Seminoles.
20. Lizards, And Gators, And Bugs, Oh My!
Where you live will large determine how many unwanted creepy crawlies you see on a daily basis, but Florida has a much bigger population than most other states thanks to the subtropical climate. Make friends with the lizards, ignore the bugs, and check your pool for crocodiles before jumping in.
21. Explore Nature Away From The Beaches To Discover The Real Florida
Even though swimming pools are pretty standard with Florida homes, you’ll still find yourself in one of Florida’s many natural springs anyway occasionally along with taking hikes through the state parks and fishing in the many lakes and rivers. Florida’s scenery and natural habitat are two of the best perks of living in the Sunshine State.
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