The Town FilesAlachua, Florida
City in Alachua County · population 10,574 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,200
- Household income
- $83,464
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 37.9
Alachua is a city of 10,574 people in Alachua County, Florida. The median home is worth $299,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more upscale than 72% of Florida towns.
How Alachua ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alachua is worth $299,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $83,464, which is more affordable than 80% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,284 a month. 74.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alachua | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,200 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,284 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $83,464 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 74.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Alachua
| People | Alachua | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.2% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 21.0% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Alachua
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 27 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alachua since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 19, 1978 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 18, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 11, 2025.
Severe weather in Alachua County since 1996
Alachua County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Alachua County
Alachua County had 139,023 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,829 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Alachua itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Alachua
6 public schools with 2,380 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,151 | 26.8 |
| A. L. MEBANE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 379 | 22.3 |
| W. W. IRBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 361 | 12.9 |
| ALACHUA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 323 | 12.4 |
| ALACHUA LEARNING ACADEMY ELEMENTARY (charter) | K-5 | 102 | 17.0 |
| ALACHUA LEARNING ACADEMY MIDDLE (charter) | 6-8 | 64 | 16.0 |
Towns near Alachua
- High Springs, FL6.4 mi · 6,215 people · home $320,700
- Gainesville, FL10.8 mi · 141,085 people · home $247,500
- Newberry, FL11.3 mi · 7,342 people · home $288,100
- Starke, FL25.1 mi · 5,796 people · home $214,300
- Williston, FL26.8 mi · 2,976 people · home $252,700
- Watertown, FL29.0 mi · 3,018 people · home $114,100
- Lake City, FL29.8 mi · 12,329 people · home $184,900
Alachua questions
Is Alachua, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alachua scores better for retirees than 66% of Florida towns and quieter than 66%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Alachua?
The median owner-occupied home in Alachua is valued at $299,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,464, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,284 a month.
What is the weather like in Alachua?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Alachua get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alachua since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 19, 1978. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)