Quality of Life Score
58.51
State Comparison
Florida vs Massachusetts
Florida is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Florida, Massachusetts has higher incomes, Florida has lower state income tax, and Florida gets more sunshine.
Florida
19
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Massachusetts
12
/ 31
metrics won
FL wins Housing
FL wins Quality of Life
FL wins Climate
MA wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Florida
vs
Massachusetts
winner
Massachusetts scores higher on quality of life — 1.72 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Florida is 48.3 points cheaper overall
Florida has the lower cost-of-living index. Florida is at 100.5, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $10.90 further in Florida
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $106.45 of local buying power in Florida, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.
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Income
Massachusetts income is 42.1% higher
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $67,917 in Florida.
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Jobs
Massachusetts minimum wage is $1.00 higher
Massachusetts has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $14.00/hr in Florida.
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Housing
Massachusetts homes cost about 1.5x more
Florida has the lower median home value at $348,000, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
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Taxes
Florida has lower state income tax
Florida has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 5.00% in Massachusetts.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Florida
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Massachusetts
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (100.7 for Florida, 110.4 for Massachusetts). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Florida
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Florida
- Florida has a lower overall cost of living.
- Florida has a lower housing cost index.
- Florida has lower median home values.
- Florida has lower property tax rates on average.
- Florida has a lower violent crime rate.
- Florida job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Florida shows lower median income.
- Florida health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Florida health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Florida education proxy is lower.
Massachusetts
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Massachusetts
- Massachusetts shows higher median income.
- Massachusetts health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Massachusetts health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Massachusetts education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Massachusetts has a higher overall cost of living.
- Massachusetts has a higher housing cost index.
- Massachusetts has higher median home values.
- Massachusetts has higher property tax rates on average.
- Massachusetts has a higher violent crime rate.
- Massachusetts job growth trend is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
FL
|
MA
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Tallahassee | Boston |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
21,538,187
|
7,029,917
|
|
Median Income
|
$67,917
|
$96,505
|
|
Cost of Living
|
100.5
|
148.8
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$348,000
|
$510,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.76%
|
1.07%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
5.00%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.00/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.198/gal
|
$3.933/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
15.92 c/kWh
|
31.16 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
58.51
|
60.23
|
|
Average Temperature
|
70.7°F
|
47.9°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
101 days
|
98 days
|
|
Land Area
|
65,758 sq mi
|
10,554 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
327.5 per sq mi
|
666.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
March 3, 1845 (#27)
|
February 6, 1788 (#6)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
18
shown
Saving Money
Florida is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 100.5 vs 148.8 in Massachusetts. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Massachusetts is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.933/gal in Massachusetts vs $4.198/gal in Florida. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Massachusetts vs $14.00/hr in Florida. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Florida has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.92 c/kWh in Florida vs 31.16 c/kWh in Massachusetts. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Florida is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 5.12x in Florida vs 5.29x in Massachusetts. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Massachusetts is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 20.9% in Massachusetts vs 25.5% in Florida. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Florida has a larger population than Massachusetts by 14,508,270 people.
Population Density
Massachusetts is more densely populated than Florida.
Bachelor's Degree
Massachusetts has a higher college-educated share than Florida.
Advanced Degree
Massachusetts has a higher advanced-degree share than Florida.
People Also Ask
Florida vs Massachusetts - Common Questions
Q Is Florida cheaper to live in than Massachusetts?
Florida has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Florida scores 100.5 versus 148.8 for Massachusetts - a gap of 48.3 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Florida or Massachusetts?
$100 goes further in Florida. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $106.45 in Florida, compared with $95.55 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is bigger - Florida or Massachusetts?
Florida is larger, covering 65,758 sq mi compared with 10,554 sq mi for Massachusetts - roughly 6.2x the size.
Q Does Florida or Massachusetts have more people?
Florida has the larger population at 21,538,187, compared with 7,029,917 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state has higher household income - Florida or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $67,917 in Florida.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Florida or Massachusetts?
Florida has no state income tax, while Massachusetts charges up to 5.00%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Florida or Massachusetts?
Homes are cheaper in Florida, where the median home value is $348,000, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Florida or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is more densely populated at 666.1 per sq mi people per sq mi. Florida is more spread out at 327.5 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.