This is the result of a study conducted by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Mainstreet Research in November 2025, involving 723 Florida citizens aged 18 and over.
More women than men own property in Florida: 55% of women own their homes, compared to 49% of men. And despite the rising cost of living, 66% of women plan to stay in Florida, compared to only 45% of men!
According to Dr. Louise K. Davidson-Schmich, professor of political science at the University of Miami, the decline in marriage and societal changes in relation to work are changing the landscape: « As the marriage rate in the United States continues to decline, it is perhaps not surprising that more people are buying homes as singles rather than as couples. »
She also points out that the percentage of men in the workforce is also declining, which may explain why women are less able than before to rely on their spouse’s income to purchase a home.
However, women earn on average 15% less than men, which can make it more difficult for them to cope with any changes in the cost of home insurance or maintenance work.
Women are clear-eyed about the rising cost of living. 83% of them believe that purchasing power has declined (compared to 75% of men) in recent years. They report having reduced their spending on leisure and food, while men say they have cut back on leisure and medical expenses. 89% believe that housing in Florida is unaffordable, compared to 93% of men. All agree that the cost of home insurance has increased in recent years.
A worrying fact: for 28% of those surveyed, the cost of housing represents more than 60% of their monthly income. This is more pronounced for those aged 19-49 (39%) than for those over 50 (20%).
Despite this economic strain, the majority of women want to stay in Florida. According to Davidson-Schmich, their decision is more personal than based on objective data. In fact, the percentage was even higher for women from South America, for whom proximity by plane to their country of origin is an important factor in their decision to stay in Florida.
Analysis by political bias
61% of Kamala Harris voters believe that the cost of housing is too high, compared to 40% of Donald Trump voters. 63% of Donald Trump voters are homeowners, compared to 39% of Kamala Harris voters.
Regardless of political affiliation, an average of about 56% of respondents want to stay in Florida despite the rising cost of living.
Analysis by race
Compared to the average of 56%, nearly 65% of Hispanics want to stay in Florida, compared to 48% of African Americans.
Compared to an average homeownership rate of 52% in Florida, 28.5% of African Americans own their homes, compared to 34% of Hispanics.
Final thoughts76% of respondents support an amendment to limit property taxes, and 69% would like the state to do more to promote affordable housing.
Source: www.medialabfau.com
