Connecticut's appeal was always the combination of country-club towns, water and proximity to New York. Boca Raton offers the same combination with a warmer ocean, a real downtown and no state income or estate tax, and the flight to LaGuardia is shorter than a bad Merritt Parkway commute.
What changes when you leave Connecticut for Florida
| Connecticut | Florida (Boca Raton) | |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | Top rate 6.99% | None |
| Estate and gift tax | Connecticut is the only state with a gift tax, and it has an estate tax | No estate, inheritance or gift tax |
| Property tax | Mill rates vary widely by town; Fairfield County bills are substantial | Millage a bit under 2% of taxable value; homestead exemption and 3% Save Our Homes cap on primary residences |
| Residency test | 183-day statutory residency if you keep a permanent place of abode | No income tax, so no residency audit from Florida's side |
| Flight | — | Nonstops from Bradley (BDL) and Westchester (HPN) to PBI and FLL, about 3 hours |
Rounded figures; confirm with your CPA. See how to establish Florida residency.
Where Connecticut families settle in Boca Raton
From Greenwich, Riverside and Old Greenwich
Waterfront is the common thread. Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club gives Indian Harbor and Belle Haven families a yacht club, a Nicklaus course and deep water with direct inlet access; Lake Rogers Isle is the quieter Intracoastal alternative.
From Darien, New Canaan, Westport and Wilton
Club families settle at St Andrews Country Club and the other gated club communities, where the golf, paddle-replaced-by-pickleball, tennis and dining calendar feels familiar and runs twelve months.
From West Hartford, Avon, Farmington and the shoreline
Buyers from the Hartford area often prefer the walkable Golden Triangle or an oceanfront or Intracoastal condo as a first Florida home, then move to a house once they know the neighborhoods.
Community notes
- Saint Andrew's School, Pine Crest and Grandview Prep are the private-school anchors; Boca Raton Community High and Spanish River High are well regarded public options.
- Boca Raton's hospital system (Baptist Health's Boca Raton Regional) and the Lynn Cancer Institute matter to retirees weighing Yale New Haven against South Florida.
- Many Fairfield County families keep the Connecticut home for summer. That works, but only with disciplined day-counting; see the residency guide.
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.
How a long-distance purchase works with Ricky
- A call before you fly. Where you're coming from, who's moving, timing, club and school priorities, and whether you want a primary residence, a seasonal home or both.
- A curated tour, not a scavenger hunt. Ricky previews homes in advance, including quiet off-market opportunities, and builds a one- or two-day itinerary around your flights into PBI or FLL.
- Introductions that take months on your own. Club membership directors, school admissions, builders and architects, insurance brokers who understand coastal property, and CPAs and attorneys experienced with domicile changes.
- Closing from a distance. Remote notarization, inspections and walk-throughs are routine for out-of-state buyers; Ricky manages the moving parts so you don't have to be here for every step.
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.
