Updated October 2026. This post first ran years ago, when Florida’s growth story was all about people moving in from other states. We replaced the old figures with the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates and Zillow’s September 2026 home values, each with its date.
People are still moving to Florida, but the mix has changed. Per Census estimates released January 27, 2026, Florida grew by 196,680 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, the second-largest gain of any state. Most of it came from abroad: 178,674 net international migrants, against only 22,517 net arrivals from other states.
Jump to: 📍 The numbers · ⏱️ Then and now · 💲 Home prices · 🏠 Sellers · 🤝 Buyers · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- Florida had 23,462,518 residents on July 1, 2025, up from 21,538,207 at the April 2020 base, about 8.9% growth (Census Vintage 2025).
- Net domestic migration fell to 22,517 in 2025, from 183,646 in 2023 and 310,892 in 2022. Florida ranked 8th among states for it.
- Florida’s typical home value was $375,400 in September 2026, down 0.9% from a year earlier (Zillow ZHVI).
- Growth still supports demand, but in 2026 buyers have more time and more choice than in the 2021 to 2022 rush.
How many people are moving to Florida now?
Here are the official estimates, from the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 release:
| Measure | Florida | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Population, April 1, 2020 (estimates base) | 21,538,207 | Census 2020 base |
| Population, July 1, 2024 | 23,265,838 | Vintage 2025 |
| Population, July 1, 2025 | 23,462,518 | Vintage 2025 |
| Numeric growth, 2024 to 2025 | 196,680 (2nd, after Texas at 391,243) | July 2024 to June 2025 |
| Net international migration | 178,674 (highest of any state) | July 2024 to June 2025 |
| Net domestic migration | 22,517 (ranked 8th) | July 2024 to June 2025 |
So yes, Florida keeps adding people, roughly 540 a day on average over that year. But the “everyone is leaving New York for Florida” story of the early 2020s has cooled. The Census Bureau noted that neighboring Alabama (23,358) had slightly higher net domestic migration than Florida in that period.
Nationally, growth slowed too. The Census Bureau said net international migration fell from 2.7 million in 2024 to 1.3 million in 2025, and it projects a further drop to about 321,000 in 2026 if trends hold. Florida, which leads on international arrivals, would feel that.
How has the Florida move changed since 2016?
When this article first ran, the headline story was young buyers. In March 2016, a report by The Daily Mail covered a SmartAsset analysis of Census data. It named Port St. Lucie as the city with the biggest rise in millennial homeowners since the economic crash, with an average home cost of about $170,000.
A decade later, the picture is different. Zillow’s typical home value for the Port St. Lucie metro was $381,500 in September 2026, more than double that 2016 average, though the two figures are measured differently. Values there were down 0.8% over the past year.
The buyers have changed too. NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found first-time buyers fell to a record-low 21% of buyers nationally, with a median age of 40. Florida’s newcomers today skew toward people who already own a home somewhere, or who arrive from abroad.
What are Florida home prices doing in 2026?
Flat to slightly down, depending on the metro. Here are Zillow Home Value Index readings for September 2026, the latest in our offline snapshot:
| Area | Typical home value | Change, 1 year |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (state) | $375,400 | -0.9% |
| Miami metro | $476,800 | +0.3% |
| Orlando metro | $383,300 | -1.4% |
| Port St. Lucie metro | $381,500 | -0.8% |
| Tampa metro | $356,800 | -0.9% |
Over time, more people means more demand. In the short run, other things matter more: mortgage rates, insurance and condo rules that changed after the 2021 Surfside collapse. A state that adds 196,680 people in a year still has to house all of those people. What’s changed is speed. Buyers aren’t racing each other the way they did in 2021.
For more on the cost side, see 6 things to know before buying a house in Florida and our look at why buyers still choose Florida, from taxes to homestead rules.
Why do people still pick Florida?
The reasons haven’t changed much. They just cost more now. Here are the draws people mention most often.
- No state income tax on wages. That’s a big draw for people coming from high-tax states.
- Warm winters. Retirees still come for the weather, and so do remote workers.
- Big job hubs. Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville each have a large, growing job base.
- Family. Once one part of a family moves, the rest often follow.
- Ties abroad. Miami in particular is a gateway for buyers from Latin America and Europe.
What pushes back is cost. Home insurance is high. Condo fees went up after new safety rules. And a mortgage costs far more than it did in 2021. That’s why fewer people come from other states, even as Florida keeps growing.
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Buy a home →What does Florida’s growth mean if you’re selling?
You still have a steady flow of buyers, but you’re no longer in a market that forgives a high price. Homes that sit get noticed. A few practical moves:
- Price from the last three to six months of nearby sales, not from 2022 memories.
- Expect questions about roof age, insurance and wind mitigation. Have the documents ready.
- For condos, have the association’s milestone inspection and reserve study information on hand.
- Think about who’s buying. International and out-of-state buyers often shop online first, so photos matter.
Beycome is based in Miami and lists Florida homes on the MLS from $99 (Basic), with $0 due to Beycome at closing. Your listing reaches the major home search sites and the MLS, and you make every decision. Our guide on selling a home in Florida without a realtor walks through it. Using an agent isn’t required; it’s your choice. Start on the flat fee MLS page.
When it’s time to close, Beycome Title handles Florida closings with a $99 settlement fee when prepaid on beycome.com.
What does it mean if you’re moving to Florida?
More choice and a bit more time than a few years ago. Use it. Visit in summer before you commit, price the insurance on any home you like before you offer, and look hard at flood zones.
If you’re buying, Beycome’s buyer program has no upfront fee. Beycome keeps 1% of the price (at least $1,499) and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. On a $400,000 home with 3% offered, that’s $8,000 back. The 3% is an example only: commissions are not set by law or NAR rules and are fully negotiable, sellers choose whether to offer buyer-agent compensation and how much, and such offers can’t be shown on the MLS since August 17, 2024.
The program is open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents. The credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers. Read more on the Florida home buyer rebate page. For a Florida loan, Beycome Mortgage is licensed in Florida; the buyer credit doesn’t depend on using it.
Still choosing a city? Our older guides to Florida investment locations and places to raise a family are a starting point, and South Florida real estate in 2026 covers Miami-Dade costs in detail. Planning a scouting trip first? These vacation planning tips help. Everything we’ve written on the state is under Florida Real Estate.
Moving to Florida: questions
Are people still moving to Florida in 2026?
Yes. Florida grew by 196,680 people from July 2024 to July 2025, per Census estimates, mostly from international migration.
Why did domestic migration to Florida slow down?
Census data show it fell to 22,517 in 2025. Higher home prices, insurance costs and rates are common explanations, but the Census doesn’t give reasons.
What is Florida’s population now?
23,462,518 on July 1, 2025, per the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates. It’s the third most populous state.
Are Florida home prices falling?
Slightly. Zillow’s statewide typical value was $375,400 in September 2026, down 0.9% in a year. Some metros were flat or up.
Is it a good time to sell a house in Florida?
Demand is steady, but buyers have more choice. Price from recent sales, have roof and insurance documents ready, and present the home well.
Population figures: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates, released January 27, 2026. Home values: Zillow Home Value Index, all homes, September 2026, from an offline snapshot. Different sources measure prices differently; the 2016 and 2026 figures aren’t directly comparable.
Beycome prices as of October 2026: Basic $99. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; taxes, title costs and any buyer-agent compensation you agree to still apply. Buyer credit: minimum $1,499, lender approval, not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers. Beycome Title: Florida and Texas today; Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana starting November 2, 2026. Beycome Mortgage is licensed in Florida only. General information, not financial advice.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Population Growth Slows Due to Historic Decline in Net International Migration, January 27, 2026, read October 28, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, New Population Estimates Show Historic Decline in Net International Migration, read October 28, 2026.
- Zillow Research, ZHVI, September 2026 snapshot.
- NAR, 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers release, read October 28, 2026.
- Beycome, buyer program terms, October 2026.
- Beycome Title, settlement fees, October 2026.
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