If you're searching "moving from New York to Florida," you've probably already done the math on taxes. What most people underestimate is how specific the choice of town is. Boca Raton is where New Yorkers who want a real city, a country club and the ocean within ten minutes of each other tend to land.
What changes when you leave New York for Florida
| New York | Florida (Boca Raton) | |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | Top rate near 10.9%, plus NYC resident tax up to about 3.9% for city residents | None |
| Estate tax | State estate tax with a "cliff" that can tax the entire estate once you exceed the exemption | No state estate or inheritance tax |
| Property tax | High in Westchester and Long Island; Manhattan co-ops carry heavy maintenance | Palm Beach County millage runs a bit under 2% of taxable value before exemptions; homestead and the 3% Save Our Homes cap help long-term owners |
| Winter | Yes | Average January high in the mid-70s |
| Flight home | — | PBI–LGA and PBI–JFK run about 2 hours 45 minutes; FLL adds Newark and more frequencies |
Rates are rounded and change; confirm with your CPA. See the New York residency-audit guide and how to establish Florida residency.
Where New Yorkers settle in Boca Raton
Coming from Manhattan or Brooklyn
Buyers used to walking everywhere gravitate to the Golden Triangle, where new-construction estates sit three blocks from Mizner Park's restaurants and the beach, and to the oceanfront towers along A1A for a lock-and-leave first home while they learn the area.
Coming from Long Island's North Shore, Five Towns or the Hamptons
Boaters find their people in Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, where deep-water docks sit minutes from the Boca Inlet with no fixed bridges, and in Lake Rogers Isle on the Intracoastal. The yacht club, the Jack Nicklaus Signature course and The Boca Raton resort make Royal Palm the closest thing to a North Shore club community in South Florida.
Coming from Westchester, the Hudson Valley or Northern Westchester horse country
Families who valued acreage and privacy look at St Andrews Country Club and the other gated club communities, where the golf, tennis, fitness and social calendars replace what they had at Winged Foot, Quaker Ridge or Sleepy Hollow.
Schools, clubs and community
- Schools: Saint Andrew's School, Pine Crest School (Boca campus), Grandview Preparatory, Boca Raton Christian and American Heritage in nearby Delray Beach; strong public options include Boca Raton Community High and Spanish River High, plus the A.D. Henderson/FAU High laboratory school.
- Jewish life: Boca Raton has one of the largest and most active Jewish communities in the country, with Boca Raton Synagogue, B'nai Torah, Chabad centers and day schools; many New York families find the transition seamless.
- Culture and dining: Mizner Park, the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Mizner Park Amphitheater, Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue a few minutes north, and a restaurant scene that now includes outposts of New York names.
- Health care: Boca Raton Regional Hospital (Baptist Health South Florida) and the Lynn Cancer Institute, with Cleveland Clinic Florida and the University of Miami health system within the region.
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.
