When boredom hits you like a freight train, opening up your phone and scrolling through the same boring news is almost automatic. Suddenly, something nestled between the dullness catches your eye: “Florida Man Tries to Rob Publix with a Stapler.” Wait, what? “Florida Man Throws Alligator Into Wendy’s Drive Thru.” Well, that’s a new one.

     It’s no secret that Florida’s reputation has reached peak meme status. All the other states now seem to collectively laugh at our ridiculous lore. A personal favorite is when a Florida man told a cop that his name was “Ben Dover” (yes, this is a true story). 

     But here’s the catch: regardless of this state’s widely recognized lunacies, it seems everyone still wants to move here.

     According to The Florida Agents, approximately 1,218 people move to Florida each DAY. Between 2021 and 2022, around 318,000 Americans moved here, on top of an extra 125,000 people who came from abroad.

     Born and raised Floridian senior Rosie Simpson said, “I understand [the] perks of Florida, but I feel like there [are] perks in a lot of other states that Florida doesn’t have. And I feel like the other states offer more stability.”

     So, what’s causing this mass migration?

     For one, Florida’s weather is hard to beat. According to the City Of St. Pete, the city receives 361 days of sunshine a year, a break from the cold, gray winters of the north. 

     And let’s not forget the so-called Disney adults: those obsessed with everything Disney, who think the best way to live out their dream is by moving to Florida, where Mickey Mouse isn’t simply a character, but a lifestyle. 

     Financial benefits are also a big factor, or more specifically, the absence of state income tax. Florida just so happens to be one of the few states that doesn’t take a chunk out of your hard-earned paycheck for itself, which is a major selling point for many.

     Housing has something for everyone, too. From big houses to tiny condos, more housing options are popping up, making Florida feel like a warm welcome for those looking for a fresh start. 

     And with a job market that keeps growing, almost everyone can find a job that’s right for them. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida added 430,800 new jobs in January and February of 2025, with the statewide unemployment rate being below the national average for 51 consecutive months since November 2020. 

     While newcomers may see the Sunshine State as a paradise, longtime residents know the reality isn’t all, well, sunshine…The extreme heat can definitely be a downside. 

     “The weather’s out-of-pocket…It can rain for five minutes, then be sunny,” said native Floridian freshman Ella Jane Gillis. 

     Having recently moved to Florida from Minnesota, freshman Danica Downs occasionally longs for her chilly home up north. “I miss all the seasons and skiing because I used to race,” she said. “It was really weird going from a place that’s always snowing to a place where the winters are like [the] Minnesota springs.” 

     If the heat doesn’t seem so bad, wait until the veteran meteorologists start crying on live TV (again). It’s hurricane season, baby! 

     Every year, from June to November, Floridians brace themselves for the possibility of an absolute monster of a storm—or two. One moment, it’s a sunny day at the beach, and the next, you’re fighting random grandmas for the last pack of bottled water at your local Publix. 

     Nevertheless, the newbies might think they can ride out their first hurricane with nothing but extra toilet paper and a few flashlights. 

     Gillis shared some advice for the hurricane rookies: “Definitely have a backup plan and a backup plan for the backup plan,” she said. “Just in case something goes wrong, pack all of the essentials and everything that’s important to you, because you don’t want to lose it [if it floods].”

     Aside from the storms and awful weather, housing prices are also surging, with locals struggling to afford the place they’ve always called home. Zillow’s data shows that as of February 2025, the average price for a home in Florida has been above the national average since the early 2000s. 

     And while snowbirds may still be in their honeymoon phase, it won’t be long before they get their first true taste of Florida living: sitting in traffic for hours just to go five miles, getting mauled by mosquitoes, and waking up to an alligator sunbathing in your neighbor’s backyard…Just wait. 

     So, to all you newcomers: welcome to the Sunshine State. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.