Quick answer: Texas and Florida are both strong choices for conservatives in 2026. Neither has a state income tax, both voted Republican for president by double digits in 2024, both allow permitless carry, and both now fund school choice. Texas tends to fit buyers who want a bigger job market, more land, and the lightest homeschool rules in the country. Florida tends to fit buyers who want lower property tax rates, a longer-running universal school choice program, and coastal living, and who can budget for the highest home insurance costs in the nation.

These are the two states people ask us about most, and the honest answer is that the better one depends on what you are optimizing for. This page compares them on the things that actually change your monthly budget and daily life. It applies whether you are moving with kids, as a couple, or on your own.

Texas vs Florida at a glance (2026)

Factor Texas Florida
State income tax None None
State sales tax 6.25% (up to 8.25% with local tax) 6% (plus a county surtax in most counties)
Property tax Among the highest rates in the country, offset by a $140,000 school homestead exemption Lower rates, and homestead assessments can rise no more than 3% a year
Average home insurance premium About $4,582 a year About $8,471 a year, the highest of any state
2024 presidential result Republican by about 14 points Republican by about 13 points
State government Republican governor and legislature Republican governor and legislature
School choice Education Freedom Accounts, first awards for the 2026-27 school year Universal scholarship eligibility since 2023
Homeschool rules No notice, registration, or testing required Notice to the school district and an annual evaluation
Carrying a firearm Permitless carry since 2021 Permitless concealed carry since 2023, open carry lawful since a 2025 court ruling

Insurance figures are Insurance.com’s 2026 state averages. Your own quote will depend on the address, the roof, and the coverage you choose.

Politics: how conservative is each state?

Both states are reliably Republican at the state level. Texas has voted Republican for president in every election since 1980, and no Democrat has won a statewide office there since 1994. Republicans hold the governor’s office and both chambers of the legislature.

Florida was a swing state as recently as 2020 and has moved right faster than any other large state. Democrats led Republicans in voter registration in 2020. By mid-2026, Florida Division of Elections data showed Republicans ahead by about 1.5 million registered voters, and Republicans hold the governor’s office and supermajorities in the legislature. Texas does not register voters by party, so there is no matching number.

Both states elect a governor on November 3, 2026. In both, politics change a lot from county to county, so the county you pick matters as much as the state. See Is Texas a red state? and Is Florida a red state? for the voter data.

Taxes: no income tax in either state

Neither Texas nor Florida taxes wages, retirement income, or Social Security at the state level. The difference shows up in property tax.

Texas has some of the highest property tax rates in the country. Voters approved a larger school district homestead exemption in November 2025, which now takes $140,000 off the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes. Homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled get an additional $60,000.

Florida has lower rates, a homestead exemption of about $50,000, and the Save Our Homes cap, which limits assessment increases on a homesteaded property to 3% a year. Florida voters will also decide a constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026 that would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It needs 60% approval, and current law stays in place unless it passes. The proposal treats people who become Florida residents after December 31, 2026 differently from existing residents, so check with the county property appraiser if your move date is close to year-end.

To see what your own move would save, use our state tax savings calculator. This page is general information, not tax advice. A CPA can tell you how these rules apply to you.

The cost of owning a home

Home insurance is the biggest cost difference between the two states. Insurance.com’s 2026 averages put Florida at about $8,471 a year, the highest in the country, and Texas at about $4,582, the seventh highest. The national average is about $2,872. Flood insurance is a separate policy in both states.

Home prices in Texas have generally run lower than in Florida, though both vary widely by metro. Because Texas property taxes are higher and Florida insurance is higher, compare the full monthly payment on a real address in each state, not just the sale price. Ask for an insurance quote before you make an offer in either one.

School choice and homeschooling

Florida has the longer track record. Since 2023, every K-12 student in the state has been eligible for a state scholarship, and there is a scholarship option for families who educate at home.

Texas created Education Freedom Accounts in 2025 with $1 billion in funding, and the first awards cover the 2026-27 school year. For that year the standard award for a private school student is about $10,474. Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000, and homeschool students up to $2,000. Demand was heavy in the first year, and the law uses priority groups and a lottery when applications exceed funding. The 2026-27 application window closed in March 2026, so families moving to Texas should watch the state’s program site for the next one.

For homeschooling, Texas is about as hands-off as a state gets: no notice to the district, no registration, and no required testing. Florida asks for a notice of intent to the school district and an annual evaluation. Both are widely considered homeschool friendly. More detail: school choice home buying help and homeschool-friendly states.

Gun rights

Texas has allowed permitless carry of a handgun since September 2021. Florida has allowed permitless concealed carry since July 2023, and open carry has been treated as lawful there since September 2025, when a state appeals court struck down the open carry ban. Florida also requires buyers to be 21 for any firearm purchase and has a red flag law. Texas has no red flag law. This is a summary, not legal advice, and both states restrict carry in certain places. See our gun-friendly states ranking for more.

Jobs, land, and weather

Texas has the larger and more varied economy, with energy, technology, manufacturing, and a long list of corporate relocations. It also has far more inland options and more land for the money once you leave the big metros. Weather risks are heat, hail, tornadoes, and hurricanes along the Gulf Coast.

Florida’s economy leans on tourism, health care, aerospace, and finance. Nearly the whole state is within a short drive of the coast, there is no winter to speak of, and hurricanes and flood zones are part of buying almost anywhere.

Which state fits you?

Texas may fit better if you want:

  • A larger job market or a corporate career
  • Acreage, a small town, or a suburb with room to grow
  • The fewest homeschool requirements
  • Lower home insurance costs than Florida

Florida may fit better if you want:

  • Lower property tax rates and a cap on assessment increases
  • A universal school choice program that has been running for several years
  • Coastal living and warm winters
  • A state that is still trending more Republican in voter registration

How to decide between Texas and Florida

  1. Price the full monthly payment. Get the mortgage, property tax, and insurance on a real address in each state.
  2. Check the school options you would actually use. Look at program eligibility and application windows before you pick a move date.
  3. Choose a county, not just a state. Taxes, schools, and politics all change at the county line.
  4. Visit in summer. July in Houston and July in Orlando will tell you a lot.
  5. Talk with a local agent. Someone who works the area can tell you what the listing will not.

Still weighing other states too? Take the red state quiz or see the most conservative states.

How Conservative Move helps

Conservative Move connects you with a vetted, like-minded real estate agent in the part of Texas or Florida you are considering. If you are still deciding, we can connect you with an agent in each state so you can compare real homes and real numbers. If you also need to sell your current home and do not already have an agent, we can connect you with one there too. Buying only is fine.

Our referral service comes at no additional cost to you. The agent we introduce pays us a referral fee only when your move succeeds, and represents you under their own separate agreement.

Get started, or read the full Texas guide and Florida guide. Coming from California or New York? See California to Texas, California to Florida, and New York to Florida.

Frequently asked questions

Is Texas or Florida better for conservative families?

Both are strong choices. Texas usually fits families who want a larger job market, more land, and the fewest homeschool rules. Florida usually fits families who want lower property tax rates and an established universal school choice program, and who can budget for higher home insurance.

Which state is more conservative, Texas or Florida?

They are close. Texas voted Republican for president by about 14 points in 2024 and Florida by about 13. Texas has been Republican-run for longer, while Florida has moved right faster and now has about 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats.

Which has lower taxes, Texas or Florida?

Neither has a state income tax. Florida generally has lower property tax rates, and Texas has a larger homestead exemption for school taxes at $140,000. Texas’s state sales tax is 6.25% and Florida’s is 6%, before local taxes.

Is home insurance more expensive in Florida or Texas?

Florida. Insurance.com’s 2026 averages put Florida at about $8,471 a year, the highest of any state, and Texas at about $4,582. Rates vary a lot by address, so get a quote before making an offer.

Does Texas or Florida have better school choice?

Florida’s program is older and open to every K-12 student. Texas launched Education Freedom Accounts for the 2026-27 school year with a standard private school award of about $10,474, and awards are limited by available funding.

Is it easier to homeschool in Texas or Florida?

Texas has fewer requirements. Texas does not require notice, registration, or testing. Florida requires a notice of intent to the school district and an annual evaluation.

Is Florida eliminating property taxes?

Not as of October 2026. Florida voters will decide on November 3, 2026 whether to raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It needs 60% approval to pass.

Can Conservative Move help me compare areas in both states?

Yes. We can connect you with a vetted agent in Texas, in Florida, or in both, so you can compare specific areas before you decide. Our referral service comes at no additional cost to you.

Sources

Last updated October 2026.