Why So Many People are Moving to Minnesota from Florida

Florida has always been the go to state for palm trees and beaches and the state has experienced explosive growth in the last few years but now folks are ditching the sunshine state for the land of 10,000 lakes. I know what you’re thinking, who would want to ditch all those swamps and rising sea levels for snow drifts and high taxes? Well grab your winter coats and your sunscreen because I’m going to give you the top 5 reasons why so many people are moving to Minnesota from Florida.

Florida vs Minnesota Weather

Let’s start with the most obvious reason, no not pythons or politicians, we’ll get to that in a minute – I’m talking about the weather. Specifically the hurricanes and humidity are getting a bit too much for people who are sick of evacuating and the chance of their homes being destroyed every year during hurricane season. Hurricane season basically lasts half the year, similar to Minnesota winters, but at least a snow storm won’t destroy your house, let alone a whole city. If you’re dressed appropriately, you can enjoy all four seasons in Minnesota and there are activities for the whole family all year round. 

Florida vs Minnesota Cost of Living

Now let’s talk turkey, of which we have man. Florida might not have income tax but you’re not going to be better off when it comes to the cost of living. The median income in Florida ranges from $85,000 – $95,000 per year versus $124,000 per year in most of the twin cities. The median home sale price in FL is $410,000 versus $366,000 in MN according to Zillow. For which you can get up to $18,000 to purchase a home anywhere in the state from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

The real money drain in Florida is your homeowner’s insurance which can range anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 per year for a normal house, not to mention is getting worse as insurers decide to pull out of the state all together. Compare that to around $1,500 to $2,500 per year for a house in MN. That’s $125 to $625 less per month to own a house in MN. Not to mention the free gym membership which is shoveling snow.

Florida vs Minnesota Politics

Now I don’t want to get into a heated political debate, because I’m from Minnesota and I’d rather not get into a confrontation. I’d rather be passive aggressive when I don’t agree with you and tell you your mom’s tater tot hotdish better after a couple cold ones. But would you rather have right wing politicians tell you what you can and can’t say and teach because they are trying to hold on to the last bastion of white middle class Americana culture?

Minnesota is what we call progressive, which can be weird for some people, but it also means where preparing for the future. Not only culture, but climate, politics, housing, the economy and all the other stuff that requires us to be forward thinking. The majority of the state is what you’d call moderate. However, there’s a clear divide between democrats in the twin cities and republicans outside of the twin cities, but that’s typical in most states.

Friends and Family

Now it is true that most of the people who left Minnesota in the last 10 years went to Florida and about a quarter of those people moved in the last few years because of covid and remote work. But the Florida man is no substitute for your real friends and family and some people are making the trek home to raise their kids and be closer to family. Because in-person arguments at Thanksgiving are better than online ones.

Remote Work

While you’ve been drinking margaritas on the beach and getting on zoom calls for work, many employers are starting to require people to come back to the office. Yes it was fun while it lasted but recent studies have shown that remote workers are actually less productive than those who come into the office

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor productivity has decreased 2.7% in the first quarter of 2023, the sharpest decline in 75 years. And no matter what your profession, you can find work in Minnesota given our diverse economy with job openings from everything from agriculture, to healthcare, and technology. 

Who needs constant sunshine in between hurricanes when you can have ever changing weather, endless lakes, and a surplus of snow shovels. Whether you’re escaping gator filled swamps or just ready to trade your flip flops for snow boots, Minnesota might be your frosty paradise! When you think about it, it’s no surprise why so many people are moving to Minnesota from Florida.