For most families moving from the Northeast or California, the headline is simple: Florida's lack of a state income tax usually outweighs everything else on this page combined. The other line items still deserve a clear-eyed look.
State income tax
| Where you're coming from | Top state (and local) rate, approximate | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| New York (NYC resident) | About 10.9% state + about 3.9% city | 0% |
| New Jersey | 10.75% | 0% |
| California | 13.3% | 0% |
| Connecticut | 6.99% | 0% |
| Massachusetts | 5% + 4% surtax over $1M | 0% |
| Illinois | 4.95% | 0% |
| Maryland / DC | 5.75% + county up to ~3.2% / up to 10.75% | 0% |
Rounded; confirm with your CPA. Florida also has no estate, inheritance or gift tax.
Property tax
Palm Beach County's combined millage for a Boca Raton address runs in the high teens (mills), which works out to a bit under 2% of taxable value before exemptions. Two things soften it for primary residences: the homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap that limits annual assessment growth to 3%. Non-homestead property (a seasonal home) is assessed at market value with a 10% cap. Compared with Westchester, Long Island, Bergen County or Fairfield County, bills on comparable homes are generally similar or lower, and they grow far more slowly once homesteaded.
Insurance
This is the line item that surprises newcomers. Homeowners insurance in coastal Florida is materially more expensive than in the Northeast, and separate flood and windstorm coverage are often required by lenders. Costs depend heavily on construction year (post-2002 code), roof age, impact glass, elevation and distance from the water; new and recently renovated homes insure far more favorably. Ricky connects relocating buyers with brokers who specialize in coastal estates and will quote before you go under contract.
Clubs
Boca Raton's private clubs (Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, St Andrews, Boca West, Broken Sound, Woodfield, Boca Grove, The Polo Club, The Boca Raton's club) carry initiation fees and annual dues in line with comparable clubs in Westchester, Fairfield County, the Main Line and the North Shore. Several, including Royal Palm and St Andrews, tie membership to home ownership in the community, which is worth understanding before you choose a neighborhood.
Schools
Private tuition at Saint Andrew's School, Pine Crest, Grandview Prep and American Heritage is generally below Manhattan and comparable to top suburban independents in the Northeast. Public options (Boca Raton Community High, Spanish River High, A.D. Henderson/FAU High) are strong, and Florida's school-choice programs are broad.
Everyday costs
- Groceries, dining, services: below Manhattan and the Bay Area; roughly on par with the better suburbs of the Northeast.
- Utilities: air conditioning drives summer electric bills; no heating oil or gas bills in winter.
- Cars: no state income tax but a one-time registration cost when you bring vehicles in; insurance rates are higher than the national average.
- Sales tax: 7% in Palm Beach County; no tax on most groceries or prescriptions.
Why Boca Raton, specifically
South Florida has a dozen luxury markets. Relocating families keep choosing Boca Raton because it combines things the others split up: a real downtown (Mizner Park, Royal Palm Place, the Boca Raton Museum of Art and The Boca Raton resort), five miles of mostly uncrowded beach, a dense cluster of private golf and yacht clubs, strong public and private schools, two international airports within about 30 minutes, a Brightline station for Miami and Orlando, and an executive airport for private aviation right in the city.
East Boca Raton, east of I-95 and especially east of Federal Highway, is where most relocating buyers at the top of the market settle: the deep-water estates of Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, the Intracoastal homes of Lake Rogers Isle, the walkable Golden Triangle, the private-club life at St Andrews Country Club, and the oceanfront and Intracoastal condominiums along A1A and downtown.
This page is general information for people considering a move to Boca Raton. It is not tax, legal or financial advice. Rates, exemptions and deadlines change; verify current figures with a CPA or attorney licensed in the states involved.
