The Town FilesGainesville, Florida
City in Alachua County · population 141,085 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,500
- Household income
- $46,195
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 26.5
Gainesville is a city of 141,085 people in Alachua County, Florida. The median home is worth $247,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Florida towns, hipper than 97% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 96% of Florida towns.
How Gainesville 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 Gainesville is worth $247,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $46,195, which is more affordable than 27% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,296 a month. 37.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gainesville | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,500 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,296 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $46,195 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 37.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Gainesville
| People | Gainesville | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.5 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 13.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Gainesville
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 42.6°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gainesville since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 14, 1986 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 17, 1997.
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 Gainesville itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Gainesville
48 public schools with 22,367 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. W. BUCHHOLZ HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 2,444 | 27.2 |
| GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,791 | 24.5 |
| P.K. YONGE DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH SCHOOL | K-12 | 1,340 | 18.9 |
| EASTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,231 | 24.1 |
| KANAPAHA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,070 | 21.8 |
| FORT CLARKE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 888 | 19.7 |
| MEADOWBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 869 | 15.8 |
| HOWARD W. BISHOP MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 846 | 22.9 |
| KIMBALL WILES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 830 | 14.3 |
| WESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 795 | 23.4 |
| HIDDEN OAK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 735 | 15.3 |
| LITTLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 720 | 15.0 |
Towns near Gainesville
- Alachua, FL10.8 mi · 10,574 people · home $299,200
- Newberry, FL15.1 mi · 7,342 people · home $288,100
- High Springs, FL16.8 mi · 6,215 people · home $320,700
- Williston, FL20.6 mi · 2,976 people · home $252,700
- Starke, FL23.2 mi · 5,796 people · home $214,300
- Williston Highlands, FL26.5 mi · 2,591 people · home $228,400
Gainesville questions
Is Gainesville, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gainesville scores better for retirees than 13% of Florida towns and quieter than 11%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.5).
How much does a house cost in Gainesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Gainesville is valued at $247,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,195, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,296 a month.
What is the weather like in Gainesville?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 42.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Gainesville get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gainesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 14, 1986. 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)