U.S. News

Survey: Nearly Half of Florida Residents Fear They Can’t Afford a Home

By Jake Beardslee · November 6, 2025

A new survey has found that one in four Florida residents are “seriously” considering leaving the state due to the rising cost of living, underscoring widespread “affordability anxiety” across the Sunshine State.

The poll, conducted by the Business and Economic Polling Initiative (BEPI) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), revealed that 42% of Floridians no longer believe in the “American Dream,” largely because daily life has become too expensive. About 90% of respondents said they were worried about inflation, while 80% cited concerns about housing affordability.

Of the 1,000 adults surveyed between September 30 and October 10, 43% said they live paycheck to paycheck, and another 26% said they sometimes do. Only 48% had an emergency fund covering at least three months of expenses. “For most Floridians, financial security feels one expense away from collapse,” said Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., chair of FAU’s Department of Economics and director of BEPI. “Many of those surveyed attributed the high cost of living to not being able to save more.”

Nearly half of Floridians said they have “somewhat” considered relocating, while 26% admitted they had “seriously” thought about leaving due to cost pressures. “The moving consideration rate is striking as it suggests that while Florida attracts new residents, many current ones feel squeezed enough to think about leaving,” said Eric Levy, assistant director of FAU’s BEPI. “An affordability anxiety shadows Florida’s boom economy: can residents afford to live here and provide for themselves?”

Despite economic strain, homeownership remains central to Floridians’ idea of the “American Dream.” BEPI found that 77% still see owning a home as part of that ideal, yet 53.2% said they are not confident they could afford one in today’s market. “Floridians believe in the ‘American Dream,’ but they are paying dearly for it,” said Escaleras. “The Florida promise of sun, growth and upward mobility remains alive, but it is getting expensive to hold on to.”

Florida’s housing prices soared by 51% between March 2020 and June 2022, fueled by low interest rates and pandemic-era demand. Although prices have since cooled, the median home sale price in September remained high at $404,600—just below the national median of $435,331, according to Redfin. Property taxes rose 2.6% over the last year, placing Florida 30th nationwide for tax burden, while insurance premiums have skyrocketed amid natural disasters, litigation, and insurer withdrawals.

Homeowners now pay an average of $5,761 annually for $300,000 in dwelling coverage, according to Bankrate—among the highest rates in the country. Lawmakers are exploring property tax relief options, and Governor Ron DeSantis has called for eliminating property taxes entirely.