Moving from Florida to Texas: Everything You Need to Know

While Florida is the 2nd biggest state for people to move to, Texas is the biggest. As the owner of a moving company in El Paso, Texas, I have a lot of experience moving people around and into Texas.

It’s clear that moving into a new state is a big deal. It can be difficult to prepare for the move and it can be hard to settle in after the move. That’s why, using my experience, I put together this guide detailing everything that you need to know about moving from Florida to Texas.

Similarities and Differences Between Florida and Texas

Moving is a big change. It’s an even bigger change when you’re moving halfway across the United States. While you’ll still be in the same country after moving from Florida to Texas, a lot will be different.

That being said, there are things that Florida and Texas have in common. After all, there’s a reason they’re the two most popular states to move to. Just a few of the things Florida and Texas have in common include:

• Size: Florida and Texas are two of the biggest states in terms of population size. Texas is the 2nd biggest state in the United States while Florida is 4th, though Florida has more people per square mile.
• Big Cities: Both states are home to many big cities throughout the state. This is great because it allows easy travel from one to another. While you have Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa Bay, we have San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Austin.
• Income Tax: Whether you’re working in Florida or Texas, you won’t have to worry about paying a state income tax. In either state, you will only have to pay federal income tax.

As you plan your move, it’s important to not just look at what will be the same but to look at what will be different for you, and affect both your move and even your daily life in your new state. Some key differences include:

• Weather: When moving to Texas, be prepared for the heat. The summers in Texas are no joke, and can easily reach up to 100 degrees. That’s quite the jump from the average temperature range of 62-81 degrees throughout the year in Florida. But hey, at least there’s still no snow.
• Culture: Florida and Texas are both well known for having unique and wonderful cultures. As you know, Florida is home to a blend of cultures from the American South, Latin American, specifically Caribbean immigrants, and from people moving south from colder, northern regions. This is different in Texas. With a huge Hispanic population coming from the shared border with Mexico, we are home to a culture that is fun to explore and become a part of.
• Housing Costs: When making the move from Florida to Texas, you may be saving a bit of money buying your new home or you’ll be upgrading to a bigger or better home. This is due to the significantly lesser housing cost that Texas is home to compared to Florida. This adds up to a roughly $41,000 lesser median housing cost in Texas.

By understanding the similarities and differences between Texas and Florida you will be able to better plan for your move as well as get settled easier.

Tips on Choosing a Florida to Texas Moving Company

When moving across state lines, it is vital to be prepared. That’s why I put together some of my top tips for choosing a moving company to handle your move from Florida to Texas:

1. Check Licenses: Before you move with a moving company look at the bottom of the website. Ensure that they have licenses listed there and make sure that they are correct.
2. Use the Mover’s Database: A great tool that will help you feel comfortable with your moving company is the FMCSA’s Movers Database which allows you to enter your potential moving company’s USDOT number. This will show you their insurance info as well as other useful information.
3. Declutter: There is no better time to declutter than when you’re moving. Whether you donate, sell, or throw away any belongings that you don’t need anymore, you are cutting down on space in your moving truck, which will save you money, and making the moving process simpler with fewer items.
4. Take Complete Inventory: Even with the most trustworthy movers, you have to stay protected. A great way to do this is by taking pictures of every item you are moving that is valuable or fragile. These images will allow you to have a “before and after” showing proof of whether an item was damaged during a move.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to make an educated choice regarding your long-distance moving company that you can feel confident in.

Final Thoughts

Thinking about moving from the Sunshine State over to the Lone Star State? Be sure to consider everything. That means the similarities, such as the size and lack of income tax, the differences, such as the weather and culture, and even the moving company that you will choose for your move.

If you’re still wondering whether this is the best move for you, check out Cousins USA’s Long-Distance Moving page or the John Ferguson Moving’s Buyer’s Guide to Household Moves.