A UCF exit poll of voters in Orange County, Florida, found that cost of living is the top concern across party lines.
For many Puerto Rican residents in Central Florida, the rising costs of groceries, gas, housing, and school expenses are making them question whether they should move back to Puerto Rico. In the survey, roughly half of respondents said they were considering a return, up from 28% in previous polling, WFTV reported.
Here's what to know
The report did not provide methodological details or the sample size, so it is unclear whether those responses signal a broad shift.
Florida has drawn Puerto Rican residents for generations with the promise of jobs and economic opportunity. The poll shows some are questioning whether the state still offers that path to stability.
Even as Venezuelan, Colombian, and Brazilian communities have grown, Puerto Ricans remain the largest share of Central Florida's Hispanic population. If Puerto Rican families decide life is more manageable on the island, that could affect schools, businesses, and neighborhoods.
Florida's housing burden is partly tied to climate risk, including rising property insurance costs. But returning to Puerto Rico wouldn't fix that problem, as the island has its own hurricane and grid reliability challenges.
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These stories look at how rising costs and changing living conditions are shaping where people can afford to live. They cover pressure from groceries, gas, energy bills, housing costs, and moves away from expensive or high-risk areas.
• MIT researchers found energy poverty is shifting toward younger Americans and lower-income households.
• Across the United States, groceries and gas are straining most families' household budgets.
• In Australia, researchers say climate change is pushing housing and living costs higher.
• In U.S. neighborhoods, flood risk is driving millions of residents to move away.
• Along coastal Louisiana, families are being forced to relocate as conditions worsen.
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