More People Are Leaving Miami-Dade Than Any County in Florida

Between the high cost of living and unaffordable housing market, Miami-Dade County residents are being squeezed left and right. And evidently, thousands of people have had enough.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, between July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024, Miami-Dade experienced the highest net domestic migration of all Florida counties — meaning, domestically, more people are moving out of Miami-Dade than in. The data reveals that 67,418 people moved out of the county, either to other parts of the Sunshine State or to a different state entirely.

The two counties to the north — Broward and Palm Beach — both experienced net domestic migration losses last year. More than 26,000 residents in Broward and 7,500 in Palm Beach left the respective counties they once called home.

It appears people are no longer moving to South Florida in droves like they were during the pandemic as result of the state's less restrictive COVID-19 policies, low taxes, and what was perceived as a more conducive business environment.

The soaring housing costs, nonstop traffic, and rising inflation rates in Miami, in particular, have left people no choice but to leave to other parts of the country. Residents have recently taken to the r/Miami subreddit to complain about their wages not keeping up with the rising housing costs. Yet, the data shows that, aside from 16, most of Florida's 67 counties had a positive domestic net migration in 2024. Pasco County, located on Florida’s west coast, saw the highest influx of new residents, with more than 20,000 people moving there.

While people are leaving Miami-Dade, the county is still experiencing population growth thanks to international migration. Nearly 124,000 people came to Miami via international migration in 2024. The county added 56,417 people in net migration — domestic and international combined.

However, there could be ramifications for Miami-Dade municipalities like Doral, which is home to a sizeable Venezuelan community, as President Donald Trump and his administration crack down on immigration and end temporary protected status (TPS) and deportation protections for Haitians, Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans.

Here are the top ten counties in Florida where the number of people leaving outweighs the number of people moving in.

1. Miami-Dade County: -67,418
2. Broward County: -26,339
3. Orange County: -18,097
4. Hillsborough County: -11,188
5. Palm Beach County: -7,546
6. Pinellas County: -3,973
7. Seminole County: -2,080
8. Okaloosa County: -1,847
9. Leon County: -1,730
10. Monroe County: -1,374