For New Jersey families the move is usually about three things: the state's top income-tax rate of 10.75%, property-tax bills that are the highest in the country, and winters. Boca Raton answers all three without giving up the club lifestyle, the schools or the short flight back for the grandchildren's recitals.
The "New Jersey exit tax," explained in one paragraph
It isn't actually an exit tax. When a seller who is (or is becoming) a nonresident sells New Jersey real estate, the state requires an estimated income-tax payment at closing: the greater of 2% of the sale price or the gain multiplied by New Jersey's top rate. It's collected through the GIT/REP forms and credited on your New Jersey return for that year, so if you overpaid you get it back. Sellers whose entire gain is excluded under the federal primary-residence rules can usually certify an exemption at closing. Full detail in the NJ exit tax guide.
What changes when you leave New Jersey for Florida
| New Jersey | Florida (Boca Raton) | |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | Top rate 10.75% | None |
| Property tax | Highest average bills in the U.S. | Palm Beach County millage a bit under 2% of taxable value; homestead exemption and 3% Save Our Homes cap for primary residences |
| Death taxes | No estate tax since 2018, but an inheritance tax still applies to transfers to non-lineal heirs | No estate or inheritance tax |
| Selling your home | Nonresident withholding at closing (the "exit tax") | No state withholding on your future Florida sale |
| Flight home | — | FLL–Newark nonstop in about 2 hours 50 minutes; PBI also serves Newark |
Rounded figures; confirm with your CPA. New Jersey also applies a 183-day statutory-residency test if you keep a permanent home there, so see how to establish Florida residency.
Where New Jersey families settle in Boca Raton
From Short Hills, Livingston, Montclair and the Essex/Morris suburbs
Country-club families transfer naturally to St Andrews Country Club and the other private-club communities, where two championship courses, tennis and a full social calendar replace Baltusrol, Canoe Brook or Montclair Golf Club, with no snow on the fairways.
From Alpine, Saddle River, Franklin Lakes and Bergen County
Buyers used to large, private estates look at the deep-water homes of Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club and the Intracoastal estates of Lake Rogers Isle, where the lot sizes and privacy feel familiar and the dock in the backyard is new.
From Rumson, Spring Lake, Deal and the Shore
Shore families already live for the water; the question is whether they want the ocean (oceanfront residences on A1A) or a boat behind the house (Royal Palm, Lake Rogers). Many do a season in a condo first and then buy on the water.
From Hoboken, Jersey City and the Gold Coast
The Golden Triangle delivers the walk-to-everything life with a yard: new estates a few blocks from Mizner Park, the Boca Raton Museum of Art and the beach.
Community notes for New Jersey buyers
- Boca Raton's Jewish community, synagogues and day schools are among the most active in the country, which makes the move easy for families from Livingston, Teaneck, Deal and Lakewood.
- Private schools include Saint Andrew's School, Pine Crest and Grandview Prep; American Heritage is minutes north in Delray Beach.
- Brightline's Boca Raton station connects to Miami in under an hour and to Orlando, useful when the grandchildren want Disney.
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.
