Population 16,040 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Alachua: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Alachua
Household size in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Alachua has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.48 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the west.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.9 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.0 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.3 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Alachua are younger than 40.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in Florida as a whole, where the median age is 43.5. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Alachua as they are nationally: 12.2%, against 11.6%. Compared with other Florida cities, Alachua has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alachua
Renters in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.0% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.5% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Alachua is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly a third of owners (32.1%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Alachua than nationally: 7.3%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.7 points, in line with the national trend. Alachua has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Florida cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1991 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1991 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1994 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Alachua is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1997, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1991 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Alachua has newer homes than the great majority of Florida cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $824 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $884 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $937 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,268 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$444 | +$724 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Alachua costs $1,268 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $444 a month since 2006–10, up 54%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 35.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alachua
Bachelor's degrees in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.6% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in Alachua (37.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is higher than in Florida overall (34.6%). The share with a degree has risen 5.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.3% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.4% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.2% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Alachua: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alachua
| Period | Alachua | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Alachua has been strong: just 1.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 12 of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 3.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alachua compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua | 2.56 | 40.4 | 12.2% | 20.5% | 7.3% | 1997 | $1,268 | 37.6% | 94.9% | 1.7% |
| Forest Grove | 2.85 | 38.9 | 9.3% | 15.1% | 5.0% | 2003 | $1,167 | 40.9% | 95.4% | 2.5% |
| La Crosse | 2.96 | 39.1 | 28.2% | 11.4% | 6.2% | 1992 | $1,188 | 18.2% | 90.3% | 6.7% |
| Santa Fe | 2.87 | 42.3 | 23.0% | 13.1% | 5.1% | 1993 | $1,175 | 21.9% | 90.2% | 7.0% |
| High Springs | 2.86 | 40.4 | 4.1% | 10.4% | 12.4% | 1999 | $1,746 | 35.3% | 93.5% | 4.7% |
| Northwood | 2.46 | 44.5 | 11.3% | 8.2% | 10.5% | 1989 | $1,178 | 22.0% | 93.8% | 6.0% |
| Newberry | 2.58 | 41.0 | 9.0% | 10.4% | 7.3% | 2003 | $1,591 | 45.0% | 97.5% | 2.5% |
| Gainesville | 2.26 | 34.1 | 9.7% | 53.7% | 9.9% | 1986 | $1,434 | 53.7% | 94.8% | 4.8% |
| Brooker | 2.50 | 49.8 | 9.1% | 20.0% | 15.8% | 1985 | $1,098 | 24.3% | 91.1% | 4.8% |
| Waldo | 2.03 | 53.9 | 8.9% | 26.5% | 16.8% | 1970 | $718 | 19.3% | 89.2% | 4.9% |
| Hampton | 2.77 | 37.4 | 12.7% | 31.3% | 15.4% | 1988 | $1,205 | 9.8% | 76.8% | 10.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: El Dorado, KS · Whitefish Bay, WI · King City, CA · Fishkill, NY · Swampscott, MA · Mount Kisco, NY · Franklin Park, PA · Lindale, TX · Marco Island, FL · Berwick, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alachua. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.