--- title: "Moving to Florida from Massachusetts: Treasure Coast Guide" url: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/moving-to-florida-from-massachusetts description: "Leaving Massachusetts for Florida? The $2 million estate tax, income tax, home prices, Boston nonstop flights, and honest tradeoffs from Treasure Coast Realtors." lang: en --- Image: Clear turquoise Florida inlet beside a sandy shoreline and mangroves (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/assets/massachusetts-relocation-hero-BpEaARd3.jpg) # Moving to Florida from Massachusetts By Pete White and Kate Ward, RE/MAX Gold. We help Massachusetts 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 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 (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/palm-city), FL | $650,000 | | Jensen Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/jensen-beach), FL | $499,000 | | Vero Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/vero-beach), FL | $450,000 | | Port St. Lucie (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/port-st-lucie), FL | $420,000 | | Sebastian (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/sebastian), FL | $366,000 | Florida prices are September 2026 medians from Florida Realtors SunStats (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/treasure-coast-housing). Massachusetts price is from The Warren Group. ## Flying home to New England ### Boston Logan JetBlue flies nonstop between Vero Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/vero-beach) and Boston. ### Providence (T.F. Green) Breeze Airways flies nonstop between Vero Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/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 (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 Massachusetts buyers.] Image: White Florida beach, Atlantic surf and sea oats beneath a blue sky (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/assets/massachusetts-relocation-cape-DIYCGqZV.jpg) ## 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.] ### Beach town and boating: Jensen Beach (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/jensen-beach) and Stuart (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/stuart). ### Downtown, arts, and the ocean: Vero Beach: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/vero-beach. ### Quiet river town: Sebastian: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/sebastian. ### Newer homes and more space for the money: Port St. Lucie: https://www.petekaterealestate.com/cities/port-st-lucie. ## 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 ### Does Florida have an estate tax like Massachusetts? ### Will I pay less income tax in Florida than in Massachusetts? ### Are homes cheaper on the Treasure Coast than in Massachusetts? ### Can I fly nonstop from the Treasure Coast to Boston? ### Is home insurance more expensive in Florida? Image: Sunny Florida lagoon with calm blue water, mangroves and palms (https://www.petekaterealestate.com/assets/massachusetts-relocation-cta-DCBFHh5H.jpg) ## 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. 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 - Massachusetts income and estate tax: Massachusetts Department of Revenue (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-tax-rates) - Massachusetts home prices: The Warren Group, May 2026 (https://www.thewarrengroup.com/press-releases/ma-single-family-home-prices-hold-steady-at-665k-in-may/) - 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: JetBlue (https://www.jetblue.com/), Breeze Airways (https://www.flybreeze.com/home), Vero Beach Regional Airport (https://www.verobeachairport.com/airlineinformation) ## 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 Massachusetts", "description": "Leaving Massachusetts for Florida? The $2 million estate tax, income tax, home prices, Boston 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-massachusetts" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Florida have an estate tax like Massachusetts?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Florida has no estate tax and no inheritance tax. Massachusetts taxes estates over $2 million at rates up to 16%." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will I pay less income tax in Florida than in Massachusetts?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Florida has no state income tax. Massachusetts taxes most income at 5%, including private pensions and IRA withdrawals." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are homes cheaper on the Treasure Coast than in Massachusetts?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually. The median single-family home in Massachusetts was $665,000 in May 2026, compared to $420,000 in Port St. Lucie in September 2026." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I fly nonstop from the Treasure Coast to Boston?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. JetBlue flies nonstop from Vero Beach to Boston. Breeze also flies nonstop to Providence and Hartford." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is home insurance more expensive in Florida?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, about four times the Massachusetts average. Newer homes with newer roofs and impact windows cost much less to insure." } } ] } ] ```