Since 2017, US News has offered a ranking of the best US states based on eight criteria – health, education, natural environment, opportunities, economy, crime, infrastructure and fiscal stability – analyzed via 71 indicators.
Good news: in 2024, Florida moves up three places
Taking 1st place nationally for the health of its economy, 2nd for education in general and 1st for higher education, Florida confirms its good health and attractiveness, and ranks 6th among the « best states » nationwide.
Moderate decline in household confidence
Although consumer confidence in Florida was still down in April for the third month running, the decline was relatively less marked than at national level. With the index at 77 in April (-1.8 points), Floridian consumers are resisting the national gloom, as the national index fell by -4.8 points in April. For your information, the lowest possible index is 2, and the highest is 150.
As Hector H. Sandoval, Director of the Economic Analysis Program in the Office of Economic Research at UF (University of Florida) explains, the administration’s twists and turns on tariffs have created uncertainty that reinforces negative sentiment, but it would appear that the decline in household confidence is settling and stabilizing in Florida.
Strong demographic growth for these Florida cities
According to a StorageCafe study of over 2,500 U.S. cities with at least 10,000 inhabitants, ranking them according to the percentage change in population between 2014 and 2023, many Florida cities stand out for their strong demographic growth:
− Groveland (Lake): with +120% increase in its population over the last ten years, it is the first city in the Orlando metropolitan area to make the list, occupying 19th place. Its population has doubled and significant real estate development is underway, on top of the construction of 300 to 500 homes per year over the past five years.
− Celebration (Osceola), with 13,000 inhabitants, is ranked 36th, with population growth of +85% over the last decade to 13,150.
− St. Cloud (Osceola), with 62,000 inhabitants, and Minneola (Lake) with 15,000 inhabitants, rank 87th and 88th respectively on the list, with growth of +56%.
Over the decade studied, Orlando’s population grew by +25% (312,000 residents); Jacksonville +15% (962,000); Tampa +13% (393,000); and Miami +7% (447,000).
More space for rental apartments
RentCafe.com’s annual report shows that the average size of new apartments increased in 2024, reversing a long-standing trend of more compact spaces in Florida.
As remote working takes root in household habits, having more space in one’s home has become a priority. Over the past ten years (survey conducted between 2015 and 2024), studios and one-bedroom apartments have been getting bigger and bigger.
Tallahassee and Gainesville are at the forefront of this trend: of the 100 cities surveyed, Tallahassee tops the list, with new apartments built over the past decade averaging 1,130 square feet; followed by Gainesville with 1,122 square feet.
At the same time, construction of two- and three-bedroom apartments declined in both rental markets.
