Maine to Florida
By Dewey Kopenga and Travis Penny. updated May 2026
TL;DR
Maine retirees who move full-time to Sun City Center cut state income tax to zero, drop their property tax bill by half (with homestead), and lock in milder winters. Most start as snowbirds for 1 to 2 seasons before pulling the trigger.
Maine income tax
~7.15%
Florida income tax
0%
Drive distance
~1,650 mi
Drive days (comfortable)
3 days
A retired Maine couple drawing $120k/year saves roughly $8,000 $9,000 per year just by becoming Florida residents. Add the homestead exemption and the Save-Our-Homes 3% cap, and the property tax difference compounds every year you hold the home.
Medicare is federal, so it transfers cleanly. If you have Medicare Advantage, switch during open enrollment (Oct 15 Dec 7) to a Florida plan. HCA South Bay (Sun City Center's main hospital) and Tampa General are both in-network for nearly every major plan.
Naples and Sarasota are gorgeous but cost 2 to 3x per square foot. SCC delivers the same Florida lifestyle (warm winters, Gulf access, golf) at Maine-equivalent home prices. That delta is what funds the easier retirement.
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