Main Results
- Floridians Still Believe in the American Dream
- 53%聽say the American Dream聽鈥渟till holds true today,鈥澛爒ersus聽42%聽who think it聽鈥渙nce did but no longer does.鈥�
鈫� A majority still believe - but it鈥檚 a fragile optimism. - 31%聽believe future generations will聽definitely聽have a better life; another聽23%聽say聽鈥減robably.鈥�
鈫� That鈥檚 over half of Floridians still holding faith in upward mobility.
狈补谤谤补迟颈惫别:听Despite cost pressures, belief in opportunity remains surprisingly resilient.
- Cost of Living Is the State鈥檚 Pressure Point
- 90%聽are at least聽somewhat concerned聽about inflation;聽56%聽are聽very concerned.
- 80%聽are concerned about聽housing affordability,聽with *49% very concerned.
- Nearly聽50%聽say they鈥檝e聽considered moving out of Florida聽due to cost of living.
That 鈥渕oving consideration鈥� rate is striking - it suggests that while Florida attracts new residents,聽many current ones feel squeezed enough to think about leaving.
Narrative:聽Florida鈥檚 boom economy is shadowed by affordability anxiety - a 鈥渟unshine squeeze.鈥澛�
- Homeownership: Still the Dream, But Out of Reach for Many
- 77%聽still see homeownership as part of the American Dream.
- Yet only聽51%聽are at least聽somewhat confident聽they could buy a home today, and聽79%聽say buying a home is聽harder than five years ago.
- The top barriers:
- Home prices (36%)
- High interest rates (15%)
- Down payment cost (11%)
Narrative:聽Homeownership remains emotionally central but financially distant 鈥� a defining feature of Florida鈥檚 affordability paradox.聽
- Living Paycheck to Paycheck Is the Norm
- 43%聽say they live paycheck to paycheck.
- Another聽26%聽say they聽sometimes聽do - meaning nearly聽70%聽experience that strain at least occasionally.
- Only聽48%聽have an emergency fund covering three months of expenses.聽
Biggest reason for not saving more:
鈥淗igh cost of living鈥� (43%) - far ahead of debt (15%) or income constraints (13%).
Narrative:聽For most Floridians, financial security feels one expense away from collapse.聽
- Economic Optimism With a Pragmatic Edge
- 41%聽rate the U.S. economy as聽excellent or good聽- higher than expected given cost-of-living pressures.
- 36%聽are聽very confident聽their household will improve in 2鈥�5 years, and another聽43%聽are聽somewhat confident.
狈补谤谤补迟颈惫别:听Floridians aren鈥檛 pessimistic - they鈥檙e聽realists: concerned about affordability, but still betting on themselves.聽
- Demographic and Attitudinal Texture
- Regionally:聽39% of responses came from the South (consistent with Florida demographics).
- Party ID:聽Roughly balanced (38% Republican, 33% Democrat, 24% Independent).
- Religion:聽Majority Christian, but聽22% report no religion聽- showing continued secularization even in a traditionally religious state.
- Education:聽37%聽have a bachelor鈥檚 or higher - a solidly educated sample.
- Income:聽About half earn below $75,000, so the affordability concerns are grounded in middle-income reality.聽
The Big Story
Floridians believe in the Dream - but they鈥檙e paying dearly for it.
They still trust hard work and opportunity, yet most feel squeezed by rising housing costs and everyday expenses.
The 鈥淔lorida Promise鈥� - of sun, growth, and upward mobility - remains alive, but it鈥檚 getting expensive to hold onto.