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    Clear turquoise Florida inlet beside a sandy shoreline and mangroves

    Moving to Florida from Massachusetts

    By Pete White and Kate Ward, RE/MAX Gold. We help Massachusetts buyers move to Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, Sebastian, Stuart, and the rest of Florida's Treasure Coast.

    Last updated: October 2026

    The short answer

    People leaving Massachusetts for Florida usually cut three bills at once: the 5% state income tax, an estate tax that starts at just $2 million, and the cost of a much more expensive house. The tradeoffs are higher home insurance and hurricane season. From the Treasure Coast, JetBlue flies nonstop to Boston.

    The $2 million question

    $2,000,000

    Massachusetts taxes estates over $2 million, one of the lowest thresholds in the country, and that number doesn't rise with inflation. With Massachusetts home values and a lifetime of retirement savings, many middle-class families now cross that line without feeling wealthy. Rates on the amount over $2 million run up to 16%.

    Florida has no estate tax and no inheritance tax.

    To leave Massachusetts estate tax behind, Florida has to be your true legal home. Massachusetts can still tax real estate you keep there. Talk to an estate attorney about your plan.

    Income tax

    The 5% flat tax.

    Massachusetts taxes most income at 5%, and income over $1,107,750 in 2026 pays an extra 4%. Florida has no state income tax.

    Retirement income.

    Massachusetts doesn't tax Social Security or most government pensions, but it does tax private pensions and money you take from IRAs and 401(k)s. In Florida, none of it is taxed by the state.

    Selling investments.

    Massachusetts taxes short-term capital gains at 8.5%. Florida doesn't tax capital gains.

    What your money buys

    Area Median single-family price
    Massachusetts statewide (May 2026) $665,000
    Palm City, FL $650,000
    Jensen Beach, FL $499,000
    Vero Beach, FL $450,000
    Port St. Lucie, FL $420,000
    Sebastian, FL $366,000

    Florida prices are September 2026 medians from Florida Realtors SunStats. Massachusetts price is from The Warren Group.

    Flying home to New England

    Boston Logan

    JetBlue flies nonstop between Vero Beach and Boston.

    Providence (T.F. Green)

    Breeze Airways flies nonstop between Vero Beach and Providence, an easy drive for the South Shore, Cape Cod, and southeastern Massachusetts.

    Hartford (Bradley)

    Breeze also flies nonstop to Hartford, close to Springfield and western Massachusetts.

    Schedules change by season. Check the airline before you book.

    Insurance, honestly

    Massachusetts home insurance jumped about 43% in 2026, but it still averages around $2,112 a year. Florida averages about $8,471, the highest in the country. That gap is real, and you should plan for it.

    What lowers Florida insurance: a newer home, a newer roof, impact windows or shutters, and a home outside a high-risk flood zone. We help buyers get insurance quotes before they make an offer, so there are no surprises at closing.

    Make Florida your legal home

    Massachusetts can treat you as a resident if you keep a home there and spend more than 183 days in the state.

    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, trust, and health care documents with a Florida attorney.

    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, 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 Massachusetts buyers.]

    White Florida beach, Atlantic surf and sea oats beneath a blue sky

    Cape Cod people, this one's for you

    If you love the Cape, the Treasure Coast will feel familiar: barrier islands, the Indian River Lagoon, small beach towns, and boats everywhere. The difference is you can be on the water in January.

    [Pete and Kate: 2 to 3 sentences on the Massachusetts buyers you've helped and where they settled. No client names.]

    Our story

    [Pete and Kate: where you each came from (Connecticut and Delaware), when you moved, and what you'd tell someone leaving New England. 3 to 5 sentences.]

    Frequently asked questions

    Sunny Florida lagoon with calm blue water, mangroves and palms

    Ready to trade the snowbanks for the sandbars?

    We'll help you compare towns, budgets, and insurance before you ever book a flight. Call or text us anytime.

    Kate Ward - 772-342-4006 / Peter White - 772-284-1419 / RE/MAX Gold

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