--- title: "Moving to Florida from Maryland: Treasure Coast Guide" url: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/moving-to-florida-from-maryland description: "Leaving Maryland for Florida? County income tax, estate and inheritance tax, home prices, BWI nonstop flights, and honest tradeoffs from Treasure Coast Realtors." lang: en --- Image: Calm Florida lagoon beside a sandy edge and sunlit mangroves (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/assets/maryland-relocation-hero-DE6ytXnK.jpg) # Moving to Florida from Maryland By Pete White and Kate Ward, RE/MAX Gold. We help Maryland buyers move to Vero Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/vero-beach), Port St. Lucie (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/port-st-lucie), Sebastian (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/sebastian), Stuart (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/stuart), and the rest of Florida's Treasure Coast (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/relocation). Last updated: October 2026 ## The short answer Maryland stacks taxes in a way few states do: a state income tax, a county income tax on top, an estate tax, and an inheritance tax. Florida has none of those. The tradeoffs are higher home insurance and hurricane season. Since October 2026, you can also fly nonstop from Vero Beach to BWI. ## Three Maryland taxes Florida doesn't have ### Income tax, twice. 2% to 6.5% Maryland's state income tax runs 2% to 6.5%. Every county and Baltimore City adds its own local income tax of about 2.25% to 3.3%. Florida has no state or local income tax. ### Estate tax. $5 million Maryland taxes estates over $5 million, at rates up to 16%. That $5 million figure doesn't rise with inflation. Florida has no estate tax. ### Inheritance tax. 10% Maryland is the only state with both an estate tax and an inheritance tax. Money left to nieces, nephews, cousins, or friends is taxed at 10%. Florida has no inheritance tax. ## What retirees should know ### Already tax-free in Maryland - Social Security - Part of your pension, if you're 65 or older (up to a yearly limit) ### Taxed in Maryland, tax-free in Florida - IRA and 401(k) withdrawals - Pension income over Maryland's limit - Investment income and capital gains. Maryland also added a 2% surtax on capital gains for people with income over $350,000. ## What your money buys | Area | Median sale price | | --- | --- | | Howard County, MD (June 2026) | $675,850 | | Montgomery County, MD (July 2026) | $656,000 | | Anne Arundel County, MD (June 2026) | $535,000 | | Maryland statewide (July 2026) | $455,000 | | Baltimore County, MD (June 2026) | $400,000 | | Port St. Lucie (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/port-st-lucie), FL (single-family, Sept 2026) | $420,000 | | Sebastian (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/sebastian), FL (single-family, Sept 2026) | $366,000 | | Vero Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/vero-beach), FL (single-family, Sept 2026) | $450,000 | Coming from the D.C. suburbs, your money goes much further here. Coming from Baltimore County, prices are about the same, so the savings come mostly from taxes. Maryland prices are from Maryland Realtors. Florida prices are from Florida Realtors SunStats (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/treasure-coast-housing). ## Flying home to Maryland and D.C. ### BWI Thurgood Marshall (Baltimore) Breeze Airways flies nonstop between Vero Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/vero-beach) and BWI three times a week, on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The flight takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes. Service started October 1, 2026. ### Washington Dulles Breeze also flies nonstop between Vero Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/vero-beach) and Dulles, a good option for Montgomery County and the D.C. side of the state. Schedules change by season. Check the airline before you book. ## Make Florida your legal home Maryland can tax you as a resident if you keep a home there and spend more than 183 days in the state. To leave Maryland's income, estate, and inheritance taxes behind, Florida has to be your true permanent home. 1. File a Declaration of Domicile with your Florida county clerk. 2. Get a Florida driver's license and Florida tags. 3. Register to vote in Florida. 4. Apply for your homestead exemption by March 1 of the year after you buy. 5. Update your will and trust with a Florida attorney. Maryland can still tax real estate you keep there. We're Realtors, not tax advisors. Talk to a CPA and estate attorney about your own move. ## Property taxes are on the Florida ballot On November 3, 2026, Florida voters decide Amendment 3 (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/amendment-3), which would raise the homestead exemption on most non-school property taxes. Under the proposal, people who become Florida residents after 2026 would wait five years for the larger exemption. [UPDATE AFTER NOV 3: replace this section with the result and what it means for Maryland buyers.] Image: Blue Florida lagoon water sheltered by mangroves and palms (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/assets/maryland-relocation-lagoon-Bj_oqFQL.jpg) ## Chesapeake people will feel at home If you love the Bay, you'll love the Indian River Lagoon: 156 miles of protected water for boating, fishing, and kayaking, plus the ocean just across the barrier island. [Pete and Kate: 2 to 3 sentences on the Maryland buyers you've helped and where they settled. No client names.] ### Boating and waterfront living: Jensen Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/jensen-beach), Stuart (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/stuart), and Palm City (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/palm-city). ### Small town on the river: Sebastian: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/sebastian. ### Beach and a real downtown: Vero Beach: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/vero-beach. ### Newer homes and more space: Port St. Lucie: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/port-st-lucie. ## The honest tradeoffs - **Home insurance costs more.** Florida averages about $8,471 a year, the highest in the country. Newer homes with newer roofs and impact windows cost much less to insure. - **Hurricane season runs June through November.** Know your flood zone and roof age before you buy. - **Long, hot summers.** Spring and fall are short here. - **HOAs are common.** Read the rules and budget first. ## Our story [Pete and Kate: where you each came from (Connecticut and Delaware), when you moved, and what you'd tell someone leaving Maryland. If one of you is from Delaware, mention it here, since many Maryland readers know it well. 3 to 5 sentences.] ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Florida have a county income tax like Maryland? ### Does Florida have an inheritance tax or estate tax? ### Are homes cheaper on the Treasure Coast than in Maryland? ### Can I fly nonstop from the Treasure Coast to Baltimore? ### Does Maryland tax my IRA withdrawals? Image: Sunny Florida Atlantic beach with sea oats and gentle surf (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/assets/maryland-relocation-coast-CgD37MaI.jpg) ## Trade the Beltway for the beach. We'll help you compare towns, taxes, and insurance before you ever book a flight. Call or text us anytime. Call Pete: +17722841419 Call Kate: +17723424006 Contact Us: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/contact Kate Ward - 772-342-4006 / Peter White - 772-284-1419 / RE/MAX Gold ## Sources - Maryland income tax, local tax, and capital gains surtax: Comptroller of Maryland (https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/legal-library/tb-58-dec-29-2025.html) - Maryland estate and inheritance tax: Comptroller of Maryland (https://services.marylandcomptroller.gov/taxes/en/estate-and-inheritance-tax?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010045) - Maryland home prices: Maryland Realtors, 2026 (https://www.mdrealtor.org/HousingStats) - Treasure Coast home prices: Florida Realtors SunStats, September 2026 (https://www.floridarealtors.org/tools-research/reports/florida-market-reports) - Home insurance averages: Insurance.com, 2026 (https://www.insurance.com/home-and-renters-insurance/coverage/florida-homeowners-insurance) - Florida homestead exemption and Amendment 3: Florida property appraisers (https://floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/Taxpayers_Exemptions.aspx) - Flights: Breeze Airways (https://www.flybreeze.com/shopping/en-us/flights-from-baltimore-to-vero-beach-fl), BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (https://www.bwiairport.com/) ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "RealEstateAgent", "name": "Pete & Kate Real Estate", "url": "https://petekaterealestate.com", "telephone": "+1-772-284-1419", "description": "Kate Ward and Peter White, REALTORS with The McKinney Team at REMAX Gold. Buying, selling, relocation and new construction on Florida's Treasure Coast.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressRegion": "FL", "addressCountry": "US" }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "City", "name": "Vero Beach, Florida" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Port St. Lucie, Florida" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Fort Pierce, Florida" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Sebastian, Florida" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Stuart, Florida" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Jensen Beach, Florida" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Palm City, Florida" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Hobe Sound, Florida" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Pete & Kate Real Estate", "url": "https://petekaterealestate.com" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Moving to Florida from Maryland", "description": "Leaving Maryland for Florida? County income tax, estate and inheritance tax, home prices, BWI nonstop flights, and honest tradeoffs from Treasure Coast Realtors.", "datePublished": "2026-10-30", "dateModified": "2026-10-30", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter White", "url": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/about", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "RE/MAX Gold" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kate Ward", "url": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/about", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "RE/MAX Gold" } } ], "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Pete & Kate Real Estate", "url": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.petekaterealestate.com/moving-to-florida-from-maryland" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Florida have a county income tax like Maryland?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Florida has no state income tax and no local income tax." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Florida have an inheritance tax or estate tax?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Maryland has both: an estate tax on estates over $5 million and a 10% inheritance tax on money left to people outside the immediate family." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are homes cheaper on the Treasure Coast than in Maryland?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Compared with the D.C. suburbs, yes. Port St. Lucie's median single-family price was $420,000 in September 2026, while Howard and Montgomery counties were well over $600,000. Compared with Baltimore County, prices are similar." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I fly nonstop from the Treasure Coast to Baltimore?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Breeze Airways flies nonstop from Vero Beach to BWI three times a week, and to Washington Dulles." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Maryland tax my IRA withdrawals?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Maryland taxes IRA and 401(k) withdrawals. Florida doesn't tax them at all." } } ] } ] ```