Florida's Middle Class Disappearing Amid Wealth Migration

Florida's affordability is rapidly diminishing due to a significant influx of wealthy individuals. In 2023 alone, the state attracted $20.65 billion in adjusted gross income from high-earning transplants, with the average income of new residents at $122,530. This wealth migration has been a primary driver of escalating home prices.

Between 2020 and 2022, median single-family home prices in Miami-Dade saw substantial annual increases, exceeding 10% each year. This surge, coupled with a high volume of all-cash offers and soaring insurance premiums, makes homeownership increasingly unattainable for the middle class. The average annual home insurance premium in Florida is now $8,292, significantly above the national average.

As a result, many Floridians, particularly those in essential service roles, are being priced out. Approximately 39% of Miami home purchases and 48% of West Palm Beach purchases were made with cash in recent years. This displacement leads to a "reshaping of who can realistically afford to live" in these markets, with many residents considering or already moving out of state.