Florida's 50 Largest Cities and Towns Ranked for Local Taxes

A lot of people, especially retirees, are moving to Florida for the sun, sand, affordable housing…and the lack of an income tax.

A map of Florida
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A lot of people, especially retirees, are moving to Florida for the sun, sand, affordable housing…and the lack of an income tax. But don't think for a second that no state income tax means no taxes at all. There are plenty of other taxes to be paid in Florida, and some of them are imposed by local governments—counties, cities and towns. Some of the local taxes can put a big dent in your wallet, particularly property taxes, and there can be a significant gap between the top local tax rates and the lowest rates. That means your overall local tax burden will vary depending on where you live in the Sunshine State.

Florida is already the fourth most tax-friendly state in the nation according to our latest rankings, but that doesn't mean you still can't save a few more dollars by living in a low-tax area within the state. So if you're planning on moving to Florida, or looking to relocate within the state, it's worth checking out the local tax rates. To help you out, we ranked the 50 largest cities and towns in Florida (including "census designated places") based on the estimated local tax burden (from highest to lowest). The estimates reflect what a hypothetical couple would pay in common local taxes in each location if they moved to Florida and purchased a $250,000 home. Where can you go to trim your overall tax bill? Check out our list of Florida locations to find out!

Disclaimer

Property, sales, gasoline, public service (electricity and water) and communications services taxes are considered. For more information about our methodology, see the final slide.

Rocky Mengle

Rocky Mengle was a Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger from October 2018 to January 2023 with more than 20 years of experience covering federal and state tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, Rocky worked for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, and Kleinrock Publishing, where he provided breaking news and guidance for CPAs, tax attorneys, and other tax professionals. He has also been quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets. Rocky holds a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University.