Living in California vs Florida
If you are allowed to choose between gold paradise or sunshine paradise with more or less equal opportunities, what would be your priority? California got a nick of the golden state due to the golden poppies, stretching throughout the state in the spring season, and being a major producer of gold in the country. On the other hand, the most economical, green, and pleasantly warm Florida state is a world-famous tourist destination, thanks to its beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes, and crazy nightlife.
Let’s look at some of the key factors and compare them to see what it is like living in California vs Florida.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
The weather conditions in both states are more or less similar. Both states are sunny and warm with beautiful beaches. But the main difference between the two is humidity and dryness. According to NOAA data, California has around 71% sunny days as compared to 65% summer days in Florida. California has all four seasons mostly inclined to summers with a touch of dryness, whereas sticky and greasy long summer days with unpredictable chances of rain are symbolic of Florida.
Hurricanes, tornados, and natural disasters are common in Florida. So if you want to enjoy all four seasons then California is the best option to move. It is also blessed with snowy side mountains and golden poppies rolling down under your feet in lush meadows.
TAX BURDEN
Keeping in view of the taxes, Florida falls into the category of the lowest tax-paying state. On the other hand, the golden state stands at the 6th highest tax-paying state in all the states. In fact, this is one of the primary reasons why Californians are moving to the sunshine state. Florida state doesn’t have any income tax whereas California state has greater than 10% of taxes on personal income and sales. So, if you want to earn more with less tax, Florida is the place to go.
LIVING COST
Florida is not considered to be among the most affordable states to live in. But in comparison with California, it does a lot better when it comes to the cost of living. According to a study, it is 20.6% more expensive to live in California as compared to living in Florida. In fact, California is the 2nd most expensive state in the United States, falling behind only Hawaii. Florida is ranked as the 29th state with respect to affordable cost of living, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research.
SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, Florida has a literacy rate of 80.3%. It houses 3 major universities. On the other hand, the acceptance rate at California is high and it provides more financial aid to its students. The number of undergrad students is less than in California than the undergrad student in Florida.
Schools in both Florida and California are nationally ranked below average. However, Florida does rank a bit higher than California in terms of quality of education. Obviously, you can find great schools in both states but they are fewer in number.
HEALTHCARE
Public health facilities in both states are great. In fact, California is considered to be the best state when it comes to public health. Florida ranked in 13th place in the same report. There are some really good public and private hospitals in both states.
ENTERTAINMENT
Both states provide the best in terms of entertainment and activities. In California, you can enjoy activities like cycling, jogging, and running. If you are a sports fan, California has some eminent baseball teams such as San Francisco Giants and San Diego padres. If you are a party animal, you will love the nightlife of California.
The sunshine state is famous for thousands of miles of coastline which means you have tons of jaw-dropping beaches and breathtaking landscapes. There are also countless hidden gems for you to discover. Florida also features some of the most iconic amusement parks in the world like Disney World and Sea World. It is also home to the world-famous Universal Studios. And the nightlife of Miami has no match.
HAPPINESS INDEX
We can compare lots and lots of things but what matters the most is the mental health of the common people. So all this comparison begs the question, which state is happier? After all, it is probably the single most important thing to consider.
According to a study by WalletHub that involved various external and internal factors, California is the 6th happiest state in America. Florida ranked at 27 in the same list. Although this is not constant, especially after the outbreak of Covid-19 that has affected billions of people around the world.
CRIME RATE
According to US News, Florida is the 27th safest state in America while California is the 36th. Crime rates vary immensely from area to area. So although both states have worst crime rates than the national average, you can find areas that are quite safe.
California has violent crimes at the rate of 430 crimes per 100,000 citizens while in Florida, it is 393 crimes per 100,000 people. Most of them are aggravated assaults. In fact, Florida had the third highest murder rate in 2018. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s annual crime report, there were 1,285 murders in the year 2020, which makes the state a violent one. Nevertheless, the situation is improving in both states.
DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES
Florida has an unemployment ratio of 5%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The economy is growing and providing more and more chances of employment. Analysts are predicting a boom in Florida’s economy in the near future. Many businesses are shifting to Florida from all over the country and the real estate sector is already flourishing.
California holds an unemployment ratio of 7.7% as per the California Employment Development Department. Just like Florida, a huge chunk of the revenue comes from tourists. California is home to Hollywood and the world-famous walk of fame.
California was declared the most fun state to live in, while Florida came right after at the second spot.
HOUSING
This no doubt is an extremely important parameter to consider while thinking about moving to Florida vs California. It is a huge one-time expense that can put a massive dent in your bank account. So you must make a wise decision.
Let’s compare Orlando and Los Angeles, two major cities of both states. The median house cost in Los Angeles is almost double that in Orlando. Although there are several lavish neighborhoods in Florida with houses costing millions of dollars. It is safe to say that even a luxury house in Florida costs a lot less than a luxury house in California. This clearly shows that Florida has got a great edge when it comes to housing.
One of the major problems in Florida’s housing sector is the sinkhole phenomenon. Florida is known as the sinkhole capital of the United States. Sinkholes cause huge destruction to the property and sometimes even the lives of Floridians. Check these sinkhole maps before buying any property in Florida.