Maintaining a household in Florida has grown more difficult over the past few years. Housing prices climb higher every year. Property taxes are constantly on the rise, and the pace of growth wears everyone down. People talk about leaving, not because they want to, but because staying puts their wallets under pressure.
The environment’s taken a hit, too. Empty lots and parks vanish, replaced by more buildings and roads. Pollution creeps up. New faces keep arriving, yet longtime Floridians wonder if the place they love is slipping away. Is Florida still the place it once was, or are those days gone?
Polls from late 2025 and early 2026 back this up. Florida Atlantic University found that nearly half of those surveyed have thought about leaving because costs, insurance, inflation, and housing just won’t stop rising. The James Madison Institute saw 66% worried they simply can’t afford a home anymore, not with taxes and expenses the way they are.
You can feel the frustration. Florida still pulls people in, but for a lot of residents, the economic stress is real and growing. Research in partnership with 1000 Friends of Florida paints a stark picture: more sprawl is on the way, especially around the I-4 corridor in Central Florida, and that means millions more acres lost, more pollution, and fewer green spaces for everyone.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups like 1000 Friends of Florida sound the alarm about new bills currently in the legislature that favors developers and could make sprawl even worse. People aren’t just frustrated; they’re demanding action.
Property tax relief is high on the wish list for the next legislative session, and there’s a big push for smarter planning. Experts and everyday residents alike are calling for more compact development, infill projects, and higher density in existing neighborhoods to save green space and get a handle on growth.
The bottom line is Florida’s growth is a double-edged sword. New faces keep arriving, but the pressure on wallets and the environment is catching up fast. Voters want actual changes to keep the state livable before the balance tips too far.
If you live in Southwest Florida and want to push back against sprawl, here are some options:
You can get involved with groups like the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1000 Friends of Florida, or Citizens United for Responsible Growth (CURG). There’s also the SWFL Climate & Community Initiative, and each of these groups brings people together to fight for smart growth, real community input, and protection of our natural resources.
Here’s a quick rundown of who’s doing what:
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida teams up with FGCU and local foundations to champion conservation, climate action, and community projects (conservancy.org).
1000 Friends of Florida fights for smart growth and sustainable communities across the state. They’re a go-to for anyone who wants resources on managing growth and protecting water (1000fof.org).
Citizens for Responsible Growth or CURG is all about grassroots action, sharing real info on how development affects conservation and stormwater (curg.org).
The SWFL Climate & Community Initiative brings people together to talk policy and push for climate-friendly solutions (conservancy.org).
The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) works across the region to protect our environment and help our communities grow the right way (swfrpc.org).
What can you actually do?
Speak up for better local planning. Push your city or county to adopt the Citizen Planning Bill of Rights so the public actually gets a say in development.
Back smart growth. Support zoning changes, like more mixed housing and better density, that keep development within existing areas instead of sprawling out.
Stand up for farmland and open space. Push for policies that don’t let rural land turn into subdivisions unless there’s a real public benefit.
Get involved on the ground. Show up at planning meetings, get to know your area’s comprehensive plan, and connect with neighborhood groups that are fighting reckless development.
Vote for leaders and initiatives that take sustainable growth seriously. Your vote, your dollars, your voice, they all matter.
Spread the word. Talk to your friends and neighbors about how sprawl hurts water, stretches infrastructure, and chips away at our quality of life.
In short, if you want Southwest Florida to thrive in a way that benefits everyone, each person needs to play their part.
