Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images Gone to Florida, everyone. Alvan L. Bobrow, Eric D. Rapkin | Oct 10, 2019 Historically, senior citizens and high-net-worth individuals moved to Florida to avoid harsh winters and enjoy beautiful beaches and a luxurious lifestyle. By 2014, the Census Bureau noted that the population of Florida exceeded that of New York. In addition to New York, the inflow came from Connecticut, New Jersey and other Northeast states, as well as from California and Illinois.