Living in Plantation, Florida
Mature tree-lined neighborhoods and the big green spaces of western Broward, minutes from the airport
Plantation, FL: Quick Facts
Updated September 2026What is the median home price in Plantation?
The median sale price was $529,712 for all home types as of June 2026 (Redfin, up 0.9% year over year).
What is Plantation known for?
Mature tree-lined neighborhoods, a strong city parks system, the Saturday farmers market at Volunteer Park, Broward Mall, and the community sports programs at its athletic fields.
What are property taxes like in Plantation?
Plantation's median effective rate is about 1.15% (Ownwell, 2026), with Broward County rates running roughly 0.94% to 1.44% by district (Broward Property Search, April 2026).
How far is Plantation from the beach?
The Atlantic beaches of Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood are about 20 to 25 minutes east. Plantation trades beach proximity for space and a mature suburban setting.
How do residents get back to New Jersey?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is the primary airport with extensive direct service to Newark and the New York area airports. Driving to Bergen County takes about 10 to 11 hours.
The Welcome
A Welcome to Life in Plantation
Living in Plantation means settling into one of South Florida's most established suburban addresses: streets lined with mature oaks and royal palms, a city parks system that anchors neighborhood life, and the quiet confidence of a community that was built up over decades rather than assembled overnight. It is the settled, land-based option among the Fort Lauderdale area towns on this site.
The median sale price was $529,712 for all home types as of June 2026 (Redfin, June 2026), up 0.9% year over year. For that price you get Broward County's most forested-feeling suburbs, a farmers market run by the city, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport close enough for unplanned trips home.
The NJ adjustment here is gentle: the neighborhoods feel like the mature New Jersey suburbs of a generation ago, the parks and the recreation league fill the weekends, and the shopping is at Broward Mall or a short drive to the Sawgrass Mills corridor. The hurricane conversation still applies, and this guide covers taxes, insurance, and costs with sourced figures.
Key Numbers for Plantation
Median Sale Price
$529,712
All home types (Redfin, June 2026)
Property Taxes
~1.15%
Plantation median effective rate (Ownwell, 2026)
State Income Tax
0%
Florida has no state personal income tax
Airport Access
FLL nearby
I-595, Sawgrass, and I-75 ring the city
Every figure above carries a named source and as-of date. See the Data Sources list at the bottom of this page.
Where You Could Live
Neighborhoods and Areas in Plantation
Plantation was platted in the 1950s and 1960s, which is why its neighborhoods feel so settled. The eastern sections are the oldest, and the city's character shifts as you move west toward the newer communities.
East Plantation (near US-441)
The original neighborhoods, with the city's tallest trees and most established streets, close to Broward Mall and the older commercial corridors. This is where Plantation's maturity is most visible.
Central Plantation
The middle band of the city, built around Plantation Central Park and the recreation facilities that anchor the community calendar. The city's famous green canopy is at its best through these blocks.
West Plantation (west of University Drive)
Newer single-family communities and lakeside developments laid out with more conventional Florida suburban geometry, with bigger lots and the Sawgrass Expressway corridor a short drive away.
The Sawgrass Expressway Edge
Along the city's western edge, the newer developments trade the old-tree canopy for proximity to the Sawgrass Expressway, giving the quickest routes to the beaches, the airport, and the rest of Broward.
A Week in the Life
Daily Life in Plantation
Plantation life runs on its parks and its canopy. Weekdays are short drives through tree-lined streets to schools, shops, and the mall; weekends fill with the city's parks, the farmers market, and the recreation fields.
Parks & the Outdoors
The city's parks system is the centerpiece of daily life. Plantation Central Park and Plantation Heritage Park anchor the recreation side, while Volunteer Park hosts the city's Saturday farmers market. The canopy of mature oaks and palms is Plantation's defining feature, and the city maintains it deliberately.
On the Water
Plantation is inland, so water life means the lakes and canals built into the suburban communities: the lake-front homes and community lakes handle the kayaking and fishing, with the Atlantic beaches of Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood about 20 to 25 minutes east.
Dining & Local Spots
The dining scene spreads along University Drive and West Broward Boulevard with a mix of long-running local spots and national chains at Broward Mall. The Saturday farmers market at Volunteer Park is where the local food side of Plantation life assembles each weekend.
Shopping
Broward Mall, at the city's eastern edge, is the traditional shopping anchor with its department stores and movie theater, and the Sawgrass Mills outlet corridor is a short drive west. The strip centers along University Drive cover daily errands.
Events & Community Life
Plantation's event calendar runs through its parks and its city institutions: the community programming at the parks, the events at the Plantation Historical Museum, and the farmers market at Volunteer Park. The recreation sports programs at the city's athletic fields are a fixture of the local calendar.
Getting Around
Getting Around, and Getting Back to New Jersey
By Air
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is the primary airport serving Plantation, with extensive direct service to Newark and the other New York area airports that makes trips home routine. The airport's position keeps most flights to the Northeast within an easy drive.
On the Road
I-595, the Sawgrass Expressway, and I-75 ring the city, with University Drive and West Broward Boulevard handling the local traffic. The highway access is one of Plantation's biggest selling points for frequent flyers. Driving to Bergen County is approximately 10 to 11 hours via I-95.
Transit
Tri-Rail service is available from stations in nearby Fort Lauderdale and Davie, connecting to the regional airports and the corridor's cities. Daily life is car-based, with the tree-lined streets making the drives pleasant.
The Numbers
Cost of Living: NJ vs. Plantation
Plantation's pricing sits in the middle of the Fort Lauderdale area towns, rewarding buyers with maturity and canopy rather than new construction. Florida has no state personal income tax, and Broward County's effective property tax rates run roughly 0.94% to 1.44% by district (Broward Property Search, April 2026), with Plantation's median effective rate about 1.15% (Ownwell, 2026).
Housing Overview
The $529,712 June 2026 median (Redfin, up 0.9% year over year) spans the older ranch and two-story homes in east and central Plantation, the newer lakefront communities to the west, and condominiums near the commercial corridors. The mature neighborhoods carry the character that newer suburbs cannot replicate.
Utilities
Florida Power & Light (FPL) is the dominant electric utility and air conditioning drives summer bills. Water and sewer come through the city utility. The mature landscaping that defines Plantation also carries a yard-maintenance line item that newer, less-planted communities do not.
Insurance Considerations in Plantation
Florida insurance pricing is moving in different directions depending on policy type and region. Ask a licensed Florida insurance agent what applies to the specific property you are considering. Published regional averages put Florida's average annual homeowners premium at $8,292 in 2025, the highest of any state and up 18% from 2024, against a U.S. average of about $2,948 at the end of 2025 (Insurify's Insuring the American Homeowner Report, March 2026). The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the Insurance Information Institute, as reported in May 2026, dispute headline figures like that and cite a state average of about $3,815 a year for a standard policy that includes wind (USA TODAY Network-Florida, May 4, 2026). As an inland Broward city, Plantation is generally outside the coastal wind bands, but flood considerations still vary by exact property.
Consult your carrier or licensed Florida insurance agent for current rates and coverage options.
Florida insurance pricing is moving in different directions depending on policy type and region. Ask a licensed Florida insurance agent what applies to the specific property you are considering.
Property Taxes in Plantation
Plantation's median effective property tax rate is about 1.15% (Ownwell, 2026), while Broward County's effective rates run roughly 0.94% to 1.44% depending on tax district (Broward Property Search, April 2026); the county's average millage for fiscal 2026 was about 19.84 mills. Homesteaded properties receive the Florida Homestead Exemption (up to $50,000 of taxable value) and the Save Our Homes cap on annual assessment increases (3%). Property tax figures are informational only and are not a promise of savings; consult a licensed CPA or Florida tax attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Bergen County, NJ (context)
~2.3%
Effective rate used across this site for comparison. On a $600,000 home: ~$13,800/year.
Plantation / Broward County, FL
~1.15%
Plantation median effective rate of home value (Ownwell, 2026).
Florida has no state personal income tax. Homesteaded properties receive the Florida Homestead Exemption (up to $50,000 of taxable value) and the Save Our Homes cap on annual assessed value increases (3%). Property tax content is informational only and is not a promise of savings; consult a licensed CPA or Florida tax attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Schools & Education
Public schools in Plantation are part of Broward County Public Schools. The following is a factual list of schools with no ratings or rankings.
- Plantation High School: a public high school located in Plantation (Broward County Public Schools)
- South Plantation High School: a public high school located in Plantation (Broward County Public Schools)
- Public elementary and middle schools are located throughout the city within Broward County Public Schools
- Nova Southeastern University is in nearby Davie
Your Plantation Relocation Playbook
Moving from New Jersey to Plantation follows the same path as any NJ-to-FL move: research and budgeting first, then property selection, financing, the sale of your NJ home, and the final transition. The full NJ to FL Relocation Checklist walks through every step from 12 months out to after the move.
The Southbound Advisory Council Approach
Scott Selleck's Southbound Advisory Council is designed specifically for NJ-to-FL relocators. From your first conversation, you receive a structured timeline, vetted agent referrals in your destination market, and ongoing support through every phase of the move.
Questions About Living in Plantation?
Plantation is the settled, mature option in western Broward, and its parks-and-canopy lifestyle is a genuine match for many NJ relocators. I can help you compare it against Davie, Weston, and the rest of this list.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plantation
What is the median home price in Plantation?
The median sale price was $529,712 for all home types as of June 2026 (Redfin, up 0.9% year over year).
What is Plantation known for?
Mature tree-lined neighborhoods, a strong city parks system, the Saturday farmers market at Volunteer Park, Broward Mall, and the community sports programs at its athletic fields.
What are property taxes like in Plantation?
Plantation's median effective rate is about 1.15% (Ownwell, 2026), with Broward County rates running roughly 0.94% to 1.44% by district (Broward Property Search, April 2026).
How far is Plantation from the beach?
The Atlantic beaches of Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood are about 20 to 25 minutes east. Plantation trades beach proximity for space and a mature suburban setting.
How do residents get back to New Jersey?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is the primary airport with extensive direct service to Newark and the New York area airports. Driving to Bergen County takes about 10 to 11 hours.
Data Sources
Every figure on this page carries a named source and as-of date. The list below is the full set of sources used on this page. Figures may change; always confirm current data at the source before making decisions.
- Redfin, Plantation housing market data (median sale price $529,712 for all home types, June 2026, up 0.9% year over year), redfin.com
- Ownwell, Plantation property tax profile (median effective rate ~1.15%, 2026)
- Broward Property Search, Broward County property tax rates, April 2026 (county effective rates ~0.94% to 1.44% by district; average millage ~19.84 mills for FY2026)
- Insurify, Insuring the American Homeowner Report, March 2026 (Florida average homeowners premium $8,292 in 2025; U.S. average ~$2,948 at end of 2025)
- USA TODAY Network-Florida, May 4, 2026 (Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Insurance Information Institute estimate ~$3,815 for a standard policy including wind)
This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed for fair housing compliance. School information is limited to district, school names, grade configuration, public or private status, and location. Figures are published averages or market data, not quotes.
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