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10 Up-and-Coming Florida Locales That the Middle Class Can Afford Now

June 28, 2025

3 min Read

Written by J. David Herman

Edited by Zuri Anderson

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Florida’s breakneck pace of adding new residents has slowed, based on recent data. Still, the Sunshine State offers many options for middle-class homebuyers who know which areas to scout.

Consumer Affairs reported last month that Florida’s net domestic migration fell by more than 49% from 2022 to 2023. Rising costs for buying and insuring homes were cited as main causes. Despite that, Florida still ranked fourth in the nation in Consumer Affairs’ “States People Are Moving To” list for 2025 — trailing only North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The Sunshine State’s famously warm weather, entertainment scene and lack of a state income tax – among other perks — have drawn in many new residents over the years. These days, a plethora of Florida locales that still have relatively affordable housing costs is adding to the appeal for buyers on a middle-class budget.

“Many of Florida’s primary residential markets have a median home price well above $300,000, and those areas include the Orlando, Tampa and Miami markets, as well as most of Southwest Florida,” said Lisa McNatt, the Orlando-based director of market analytics for the CoStar Group. “Some areas of Jacksonville, North Central Florida (Ocala and Gainesville), and the Panhandle still offer a more affordable price point.”

For some perspective, the median cost of a single-family home in Florida is about $387,000, based on the Zillow Home Values Index. That compares to a median cost of $418,000 across the United States. Based on Florida’s median income, middle-class buyers are likely eyeing homes in the $275,000 to $350,000 range.

Here’s a look at 10 Florida cities and areas that may be worth considering, if you’re searching for a home that matches these numbers. Average home values are sourced from Zillow.