Florida Is Still the Top State for Snowbirds — but the No. 2 State Is Much Cheaper

So-called snowbirds earned their nickname by flying south to ride out the winter in a more forgiving climate as soon as the first snowflakes fell from the sky. Today, around one in three Americans are snowbirds — those who leave their homes to live, not just to vacation, in sunnier regions during the harshest months.

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Florida has been the preferred destination for so long that the Sunshine State became synonymous with the annual migration. However, a new study from the national online storage unit marketplace StorageCafe found that more snowbirds are now flocking to cities in another state, which is quickly gaining prominence as an equally temperate but much more affordable alternative for people who follow the seasonal movements of geese.

MoneyLion dives into what's making this particular state just as attractive to snowbirds as much as the Sunshine State.

Migration Destinations: The Big 2

StorageCafe identified the top U.S. snowbird destinations by ranking 472 U.S. cities according to nearly 20 metrics, weighted by importance, including average temperatures, air quality, seasonal housing availability, median home price, average rent, access to parks and other amenities, crime rates and safety, health care, walkability, and cost of living expenses such as groceries.

The results show that Florida retains its decades-long reign as the country’s top hotspot for cold-region migrants, claiming 63 out of the top 100 cities nationwide. Well behind but gaining ground was No. 2 Texas, which boasts 25 top-100 cities that are luring snowbirds with a comparable climate and a more realistic cost of living.

These Are the Best Places for Snowbirds

The study’s combined metrics — which include, but aren’t limited to, living costs — produced the following 10 clear winners, the first of which has an almost comically appropriate name.

• Winter Haven, Florida

• Lakeland, Florida

• McAllen, Texas

• Mission, Texas

• Vero Beach, Florida

• Hollywood, Florida

• Brownsville, Texas

• Harlingen, Texas

• Clearwater, Florida

• Lake Wales, Florida

The Best Places Snowbirds Can Afford

Florida and Texas own the entire top-10 list with a six-to-four split, suggesting relative parity between the two states that dominate the 472-city analysis. However, when isolating affordability as the primary factor, it becomes clear that the Sunshine and Longhorn states are anything but equally appealing winter retreats.

Most Affordable

1. Port Lavaca, Texas

2. Del Rio, Texas

3. Brownsville, Texas

4. Uvalde, Texas

5. Harlingen, Texas

6. Weslaco, Texas

7. Eagle Pass, Texas

8. Mission, Texas

9. Edinburg, Texas

10. McAllen, Texas

Least Affordable

1. Boca Raton, Florida

2. Honolulu, Hawaii

3. North Palm Beach, Florida

4. Miami Beach, Florida

5. Delray Beach, Florida

6. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

7. Oviedo, Florida

8. Miami, Florida

9. Boynton Beach, Florida

10. Sarasota, Florida

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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