Moving from Chicago to Miami: a family guide
Last updated: 1 November 2026
For families moving from Chicago to Miami, IRS migration data for 2022–2023 count 739 returns, covering 1,086 people, moving from Cook County to Miami-Dade County with $525.5 million of income, more than from any other county outside Florida. Le Strand coordinates the home search, both school calendars and your advisers' work in one Landing Plan.
Request a Private Landing ConsultationHow many households move from Illinois to Florida?
The IRS state-to-state inflow file places Illinois second only to New York by the income that moved to Florida: 14,834 returns, covering 24,958 people, with $3.31 billion of adjusted gross income. Each Illinois return averaged $223,120, and Illinois carried 7.6 per cent of the $43.39 billion that arrived in Florida from other states.
The Internal Revenue Service builds these tables from address changes between individual returns filed in 2022 and 2023 (IRS Migration Data Users Guide, 2022–2023). The IRS county-to-county inflow file shows where Cook County households settled across South Florida:
| From Cook County to | Returns | People | Adjusted gross income | Average per return | Rank by income among counties outside Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | 739 | 1,086 | $525.5 million | $711,065 | First |
| Palm Beach County | 461 | 748 | $244.4 million | $530,245 | Second, after New York County |
| Broward County | 476 | 710 | $125.0 million | $262,523 | First |
New York County (Manhattan) sent more returns to Miami-Dade County, 1,445, but less income, $516.8 million. The statewide New York picture is in New York to Florida.
Which Chicago airports fly nonstop to Miami?
Miami International Airport's list of cities served nonstop in October 2026 counts 168 cities and includes both Chicago airports. O'Hare (ORD) is served by American Airlines and United Airlines, and Midway (MDW) by Southwest Airlines. The airport's list reflects all published schedules in effect for the month of October 2026.
| Chicago airport | Airlines listed nonstop to Miami International Airport |
|---|---|
| O'Hare (ORD) | American Airlines, United Airlines |
| Midway (MDW) | Southwest Airlines |
How do the Chicago and Miami-Dade school years compare?
The Chicago Public Schools 2026–2027 family calendar starts students on 24 August 2026 and ends on 11 June 2027, a year of 176 school days. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2026–2027 calendar starts on 13 August 2026 and ends on 3 June 2027, a year of 180 days. Both districts close for the same winter and spring weeks.
| Date | Chicago Public Schools | Miami-Dade County Public Schools |
|---|---|---|
| First day of school | 24 August 2026 | 13 August 2026 |
| Thanksgiving | 26 and 27 November 2026 | 26 and 27 November 2026 |
| Winter break | 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 | 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 |
| Spring break | 22 to 26 March 2027 | 22 to 26 March 2027 |
| Last day of school | 11 June 2027 | 3 June 2027 |
| School days in the year | 176 | 180 |
Section 1003.22 of the Florida Statutes (2025) requires a child entering a Florida public or private school for the first time to present a certification of a school-entry health examination performed within one year before enrolment. Independent education advisers and school admissions offices deliver the advice; Le Strand coordinates both calendars and the paperwork into the Landing Plan. See Schools and family.
How does Miami-Dade housing compare with Cook County?
The 2020–2024 American Community Survey counts 1,094,983 housing units in Miami-Dade County and 2,276,493 in Cook County. Owners occupy 52.2 per cent of occupied homes in Miami-Dade and 57.7 per cent in Cook, and the median owner-occupied value is $463,000 in Miami-Dade and $324,500 in Cook.
| Measure | Cook County | Miami-Dade County |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 2,276,493 | 1,094,983 |
| Owner-occupied share of occupied homes | 57.7% | 52.2% |
| Homes with four or more bedrooms | 17.4% | 15.0% |
| Homes with no bedroom (studios) | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| Held for seasonal or occasional use | 0.5% | 4.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1980 |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $324,500 | $463,000 |
Miami-Dade County holds 50,471 homes for seasonal, recreational or occasional use (ACS 2020–2024, checked 29 October 2026). Florida real estate representation is delivered directly by Le Strand across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, including Boca Raton in Palm Beach County. See Miami Private Landing and Florida markets.
How different is a Miami winter?
NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for Chicago O'Hare International Airport give January an average high of 31.6°F (-0.2°C), a low of 18.8°F (-7.3°C) and 11.3 inches of snow. Miami International Airport averages a January high of 76.2°F (24.6°C) and a low of 61.0°F (16.1°C).
O'Hare averages 28.1 January nights at or below freezing. In August the Miami station averages 24.7 days at or above 90°F, and the National Hurricane Center gives the Atlantic hurricane season as 1 June to 30 November.
How is a Florida domicile recorded in Miami-Dade County?
Section 222.17 of the Florida Statutes (2025) provides for a sworn statement of domicile filed with the clerk of the circuit court for the county where the person resides. The statement declares that the person is a bona fide resident of Florida and gives the Florida residence, the city, county and state of the former residence, and any other place of abode. Independent tax advisers and counsel deliver the advice on domicile; Le Strand coordinates their timetable, the county filing and the home purchase into the Landing Plan.
Serena Orgin is the founder and principal of Le Strand, a practising attorney admitted in New York and a Florida real estate broker.
What do Chicago families ask about moving to Miami?
How many Cook County households moved to Miami-Dade County?
The IRS 2022–2023 county-to-county data count 739 returns, covering 1,086 people, moving from Cook County, Illinois, to Miami-Dade County, with $525.5 million of adjusted gross income, an average of $711,065 per return and the most income from any county outside Florida.
Which airlines fly nonstop from Chicago to Miami?
Miami International Airport's October 2026 list of cities served nonstop shows American Airlines and United Airlines from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Southwest Airlines from Chicago Midway (MDW). The list counts 168 cities and reflects all published schedules in effect for October 2026.
Do Chicago Public Schools and Miami-Dade County Public Schools share school breaks?
Yes. Both 2026–2027 calendars close schools for winter break from 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 and for spring break from 22 to 26 March 2027. Miami-Dade County Public Schools starts on 13 August 2026 and Chicago Public Schools on 24 August 2026.
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Related: Miami Private Landing · New York to Florida · Florida markets · Schools and family · The Landing Plan
Sources (checked 29 October 2026): IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2022–2023, state-to-state inflow file; county-to-county inflow file; Users Guide; Miami International Airport, MIA Serves 168 Cities Non-Stop, October 2026; Chicago Public Schools, District Calendar and 2026–2027 Family Calendar; Miami-Dade County Public Schools, 2026–2027 School Calendar; Florida Statutes (2025) ss. 1003.22, 222.17; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year tables B25001, B25003, B25004, B25035, B25041, B25077; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals (USW00094846, USW00012839); NOAA National Hurricane Center; Le Strand, About.