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Florida

Florida

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 64
Population21,928,881
Foreign Born8.9%
Population Density409people per mi²
Median Age42.6 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2000, this state has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B-
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.

Cost of Living

127/100

27% above national average

B+
Affordability Ratio

53%

The Real Cost of Living in Florida

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $47k$88k
Comfortable $93k$136k
Luxury $130k+$201k+
Elite (Top 5%) $172k+$266k+

Economics

Overall Economy Grade
A-
Great

A high-performing local economy. Incomes, home values, and employment meaningfully outpace national averages.

Median HHI
$72k+5.6%
5% below US avg
Avg Net Worth
$668k
2% above US avg
WFH
13.9%
3% below US avg
Homeownership
67.3%
3% above US avg
Median Home
$325k
15% above US avg
Avg HH Debt
$22k
24% above US avg
Poverty Rate
12.6%
10% above US avg
Public Assistance
13.5%
15% above US avg
Unemployment
4.8%
30% above US avg
Median Rent
$2k
34% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B+
Safe

Generally safer than 73% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
9.0
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+79.1%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+74.5%
Homicide
0.02 / 1k Residents67% below US avg
Robbery
0.23 / 1k Residents66% below US avg
Aggravated Assault
1.25 / 1k Residents53% below US avg

Property Crime

5yr+83.8%
Burglary
0.82 / 1k Residents70% below US avg
Larceny-Theft
6.09 / 1k Residents57% below US avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.43 / 1k Residents85% below US avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+5Leans Conservative
State Legislature of Florida
Florida Senate12D · 27R · 1I
Florida House35D · 84R
Presidential Voting Trends for Florida
Dem Rep
40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.1% of income
Property Rights
B+
GoodIJ Grade B+
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (10% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season363 daysstatewide average
Annual Rainfall49.0"statewide average
Elevation13 ftstatewide average

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Best Places to Live

Cities

Largest Cities in Florida

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-14T06:18:36.000Z

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