Moving From New York to Florida

PODS studied long-distance moving inquiries from May through August 2026. Among the 10 markets with the strongest move-out interest, three are in the New York area: Long Island at No. 4, the Hudson Valley at No. 6 and Central Jersey also on the list. On the move-in side, Florida held the top three spots, with Orlando second behind Sarasota (PODS Moving Trends Pulse Check, October 6, 2026).

PODS does not say how many of those New Yorkers chose Orlando, and inquiries are not finished moves. What the report does show is that New York and New Jersey households are shopping for long-distance moves at the same time Central Florida is drawing interest.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance says you are generally a New York resident for income tax if New York is your domicile, meaning your primary home. You can also be taxed as a resident without a New York domicile if you keep a permanent place to live in the state for substantially all of the year and spend 184 days or more there. Any part of a day counts as a day.

The Department's nonresident and part-year resident FAQ lists the factors it looks at when someone says their domicile has changed. Read it at tax.ny.gov, keep records of where you spend your days, and talk to a tax professional who knows New York residency audits before you move.

On the Florida side, the paperwork also marks your new home. FLHSMV expects a Florida driver license within 30 days of becoming a resident, and a homeowner who lives in the home by January 1 can file for the homestead exemption with the county property appraiser by March 1 (Florida Department of Revenue, PT-113). The relocation checklist has the full list.

Insurance is the line that surprises New Yorkers. Florida's average premium in the NAIC figures is about $1,000 a year higher than New York's, so get quotes on any home before your inspection period ends. More detail is on the cost of living page.