Moving to the Buckeye State
With a beautiful scenery, diverse culture, art, and landscapes, as of 2017, Ohio is home to 11.66 million people. Its name comes from the Ohio River which means ‘large creek’ or ‘great river’. Part of the Great Lakes region in the US, Ohio ranks 7th most populous, 10th most populated, and 34th largest state by area.
This Midwestern state does not have a warm weather and hot beaches but its inhabitants are happy to admit that they don’t have any hurricanes, earthquakes, or tornadoes like most of the other states have throughout the year.
Compared to Florida’s sunny and warm weather, you might have to prepare yourself to face the cold, snowy, and rainy Ohio. There are almost twice as many people living in Florida compared to Ohio, so you might have a culture shock during the first few weeks until you get used to Ohio’s diversity, unpatterned seasons, and rich culture. Did we mention that the state produces over 3 million gallons of wine every single year? Ohio ranks 7th as a wine producer in the US and is often called the Napa Valley of the Midwest. If you are a wine lover, you can easily add this one as yet another reason why Ohio is a perfect state to live in.
Employment and key industries
Ohio’s minimum wage is $8.10 per hour, $0.85 higher if we compare it to the national minimum wage. The state’s unemployment rate has been going down during the past decades and as of February 2018 it is 4.5%, 0.4% higher than the national average.
If you will move to Ohio without a job, these are the top key industries where you can find a job: Advanced Energy and Environmental Technologies, Aerospace and Aviation, Agriculture and Food Processing, Bioscience and Bioproducts, Corporate and Professional Services, Distribution and Logistics, Instruments, Controls and Electronics, and Manufacturing.
There are a lot of job vacancies in IT, and if your dream is to become a farmer one day, you have found the perfect place to move to. Ohio has thousands of farmland acres all over the state so you just need to pick and choose the one that fits you best.
Cost of living and housing
Since you will be moving from Florida to Ohio, your cost of living will drop significantly. In fact, Ohio’s cost of living is lower than the national average. Depending on which city in Florida to which city in Ohio you will decide to move, you can compare your cost of living for yourself here.
The median household income in Florida is $49,426 while in Ohio it is a bit higher than that: $51,075. The monthly average for one-bedroom apartments in Florida can go up to $1,150, which is $152 above the national average. In Ohio, you will find 1-2 bedroom apartments for almost half as much.
What to do in Ohio?
The state ranks 8th in the USA with an obesity rate of 29.5%. If you don’t want to increase that percentage, you better make up your mind to not fall a victim of obesity by being as active as possible. There are plenty of things to see and do in Ohio. Lake Erie, Hocking Hills State Park, Cedar Point amusement park, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame are just a few places that will keep you busy during the first few weeks you settle.
If you are a big museum fan you’re in luck because there are plenty of museums in Ohio such as the Ohio museum, Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Bicycle Museum of America, Cowan Pottery Museum, Medina Toy and Train Museum, and the Merry-Go-Round Museum.
Moving from Florida to Ohio with a car
Once you move to Ohio, you will have 30 days to register your car with Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and transfer your out-of-state driver’s license. Find more info here.
You will need to pay the fee and submit all needed documents at your local BMV office in person. Make sure you show proof of your car insurance as will need it too. Compared to Florida’s average car insurance of $1,098 per year, in Ohio you will only have to pay $926 per year, which is among the least expensive ones in the country.