Why Families Are Leaving New England for Northeast Florida

By Ben Cote | NE Florida Realtor | eXp Realty

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What You'll Learn From This Post

• The real reasons Northeast Florida is pulling families out of New England
• What actually changed for our family after moving 1,200 miles from Vermont
• The most common fears that keep families stuck — and the honest answers
• Why Northeast Florida is nothing like the Florida you're imagining
• How to take the first step if you're seriously considering the move

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Let me be direct with you.

The families leaving Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut aren't just chasing warm weather. They're chasing a life that actually fits them. A life where the cost of living doesn't eat everything they've worked for. A life where their kids can be outside in February. A life where they stop spending April hoping the snow is finally done.

I know because I was one of those families.

We Did It. Here's What Actually Changed.

In mid-2025, my wife Lyndsi and I packed up everything, pulled our kids out of school in Vermont, and moved 1,200 miles to Northeast Florida. We landed in Rivertown — a master-planned community in St. Johns County that we'd researched for months. We knew nobody. No connections. No safety net.

And it was the best decision we've ever made.

Here's what actually shifted for our family:

No state income tax. Florida has zero state income tax. Zero. For a family coming from Vermont — one of the highest-taxed states in the country — that difference shows up in your bank account every single month. It's not a talking point. It's real money.

The number one school district in Florida. St. Johns County schools are ranked first in the state. Our kids didn't fall behind after the move. They thrived. That matters more than almost anything else when you're pulling children out of the only school they've ever known.

Outdoor life, year-round. Yes, summers are hot and humid. I'm not going to sugarcoat that. But the tradeoff is that you're outside in January. You're on a golf cart through your neighborhood in December. You're watching your kids swim in October. Once you live it, the Vermont mud season stops looking like a fair trade.

Community that actually feels like community. Rivertown, Nocatee, Shearwater, SilverLeaf, and Bartram Ranch are built around lifestyle — not just housing. Trails, resort-style pools, golf cart paths, neighborhood events, and a pace of life that makes it genuinely easy to meet people. For families coming from tight-knit New England towns, this part of the transition is faster than most people expect.

What Keeps Most Families Stuck

I talk to families every week who are deep in the research phase. Same fears come up every single time.

"We don't know anyone down there." Neither did we. You build your people. It happens faster than you think in a master-planned community.

"We're worried about leaving family behind." That one is real and I won't dismiss it. It's the hardest part of the move. But video calls are free, flights to New England are direct and affordable, and your family will visit more than you expect once they see where you're living.

"What if we hate it?" Visit first. Seriously. Most families who come down and tour even one master-planned community leave with a completely different perspective. The lifestyle here has to be experienced — photos and YouTube videos don't capture it.

"The timing isn't right." It never is. There is always a reason to wait. A school year to finish. A project at work. A market you're trying to time. Meanwhile the prices keep moving and the window keeps shifting. I've never had a client tell me they wished they'd waited longer.

Northeast Florida Is Not the Florida You're Picturing

This is the most important thing I can say to someone doing research from a couch in New England.

St. Johns County is not Miami. It's not Orlando. It's not the concrete sprawl and bumper-to-bumper traffic that most people picture when they hear "Florida."

Northeast Florida is genuinely green. The St. Johns River runs through communities like Rivertown. There are preserve views, kayak launches, and nature trails five minutes from your front door. St. Augustine — the oldest city in America — is 45 minutes south. Jacksonville is the major city to the north. You're not isolated and you're not overwhelmed.

The summers are hot. Hurricane season runs June through November and you take it seriously. Those are real things. But every other month of the year? It's extraordinary. And families who move here from New England almost universally say the same thing within their first year: "We should have done this sooner."

My family is living proof that the move is possible. We had no connections here. No built-in network. No guarantee it would work. We just did the research, made the decision, and figured it out.

If we can do it, so can you.

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Thinking about making the move? Start with a conversation. No pressure, no pitch — just honest information from someone who has been exactly where you are right now.

👉 Thinking about relocating? Start here.

Or if you're ready to explore communities and get a feel for what's available, browse our community guides here.

New posts drop regularly — covering relocation truth, community spotlights, real estate education, and life in Northeast Florida as it actually is. Subscribe to get future posts in your inbox.

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Ben Cote | NE Florida Realtor | eXp Realty | 802.734.2397

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