Pennsylvania's flat 3.07% income tax is modest by Northeast standards, so the move is rarely about income tax alone. It's about the Philadelphia wage tax for city residents, Pennsylvania's inheritance tax on nearly every estate, school-district property taxes, and winters that end in April.
What changes when you leave Pennsylvania for Florida
| Pennsylvania | Florida (Boca Raton) | |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | Flat 3.07%, plus the Philadelphia wage tax (around 3.7%) for city residents | None |
| Inheritance tax | Yes, on transfers to children (4.5%), siblings (12%) and others (15%), with a spousal exemption | No estate or inheritance tax |
| Property tax | School-district levies make Main Line and Bucks County bills significant | Millage a bit under 2% of taxable value; homestead exemption and 3% Save Our Homes cap on primary residences |
| Flight | — | PHL–PBI and PHL–FLL nonstops in about 2 hours 45 minutes; Pittsburgh has nonstops to both |
Rounded figures; confirm with your CPA.
Where Pennsylvania families settle in Boca Raton
From Gladwyne, Villanova, Bryn Mawr and the Main Line
Merion, Philadelphia Cricket Club and Aronimink members transfer naturally to St Andrews Country Club and the gated club communities, and to Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club when golf and a boat both matter.
From Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and Center City
Walkers choose the Golden Triangle, a few blocks from Mizner Park, or an oceanfront residence on A1A.
From New Hope, Doylestown and Bucks County; from Sewickley and Fox Chapel
Buyers who valued privacy and water look at Lake Rogers Isle on the Intracoastal and the quieter streets of Royal Palm.
Community notes
- Health care is often the deciding factor for Penn Medicine and Jefferson loyalists: Boca Raton Regional Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, and the Lynn Cancer Institute is on campus; Cleveland Clinic Florida is within the region.
- Private schools: Saint Andrew's School, Pine Crest, Grandview Prep and American Heritage (Delray Beach).
- Philadelphia sports fans will find plenty of company; spring training for the Phillies is in Clearwater, a few hours across the state.
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.
