Posted by Larry Mastropieri on Friday, June 27th, 2025 11:00am.
Florida may still be warm and sunny, but its real estate climate is shifting. After leading the country in population growth just a few years ago, the Sunshine State is seeing a slowdown. While more people still move in than out, about 1.1 new residents for every person leaving, the pace of migration has cooled. High home prices, rising insurance costs, and post-pandemic reevaluations are leading many Floridians to move within the state rather than leave it entirely.
Let’s look at who’s moving, where they’re going, and why these South Florida cities are staying strong in 2025.
Orlando tops the list for Floridians relocating within the state. According to 2025 moveBuddha data, the city sees 60% more inbound moves than Jacksonville and nearly 90% more than Tampa. The most common route? Miami to Orlando. Factors like more affordable housing—Orlando home prices are roughly 42% lower than Miami’s—and the new high-speed Brightline train make this move attractive to families and remote workers.
It’s not just Orlando making waves. Cities like Kissimmee, Ocala, and The Villages have some of the highest ratios of inbound-to-outbound movers. Kissimmee tops the list with a 3.15 to 1 move-in ratio, showing strong demand relative to its size. Many of these cities are part of the growing Central Florida metro region, attracting people with lower home prices and small-town appeal.
The MoveBuddha report also highlights South Florida cities like Hialeah, Miami Gardens, and Fort Lauderdale, although often from a different angle. Hialeah sees the fewest inbound move requests among Florida’s 20 largest cities, while Miami Gardens ranks lowest in per capita new move-ins. Fort Lauderdale sees higher traffic but is losing ground to more affordable and accessible alternatives.
While MoveBuddha data focuses more on Central and North Florida growth, South Florida cities like Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Pompano Beach, and Palm Beach remain top choices for people relocating from denser cities or looking for quality coastal living.
These cities offer:
Top-rated schools
Access to beaches and parks
Shopping, dining, and cultural events
Walkable downtowns and safe neighborhoods
Despite recent slowdowns, Florida still ranks high in overall net migration. Northeasterners continue to make up a large portion of inbound moves:
New Hampshire leads in per capita moves to Florida, with 7.7 per 100K residents.
New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut still send the highest number of overall movers.
Snowbirds, retirees, and families are still drawn to Florida’s warm climate and tax benefits, even if the frenzy of the pandemic years has eased.
Not everyone stays. When Floridians leave the state, North Carolina is the top destination, especially for retirees returning “halfway home” to cooler weather and lower living costs. Other popular outbound states include:
Texas
Georgia
Tennessee
New York
Even so, only 17.6% of Florida’s moves involve leaving the state, which means the majority are simply moving within Florida.
Buyers relocating from dense cities like Miami or Fort Lauderdale often look to nearby towns that offer space, safety, and strong home values. That’s why cities like Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Pompano Beach, and Palm Beach remain hot.
Local real estate experts at The Mastropieri Group note that many clients are:
Upsizing to single-family homes
Leaving condos in busier areas
Seeking better schools and walkable communities
Investing in second homes or vacation rentals
Orlando, Kissimmee, Ocala, and South Florida favorites like Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, and Palm Beach are top relocation cities in 2025.
Most Floridians still love the weather and tax benefits. But high prices in Miami and Tampa are pushing them toward more affordable cities in Central and South Florida.
Yes. Cities like Boca Raton, Palm Beach, and Delray Beach offer strong home values, excellent schools, and beach access, making them a top choice for local and out-of-state movers.
Insurance hikes, dense development, traffic, and high costs are prompting people to explore quieter cities like Boynton Beach and Pompano Beach.
Florida fundamentally is evolving. The massive migration booms of the pandemic years may be slowing, but the demand for coastal living, tax-friendly policies, and quality of life keeps Florida high on people’s lists. Instead of rapid population growth, we’re seeing more thoughtful moves and in-state reshuffling.
If you’re considering a move within Florida—or relocating from out of state—there’s still plenty of opportunity in places like Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach, and Boca Raton.
Contact The Mastropieri Group, Realtors® at (561) 544-7000 to explore your next chapter in South Florida. Whether you're upsizing, downsizing, or investing, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.