Population 224,282 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gainesville
Household size in Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Gainesville are small: just 2.26 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.30 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.3 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.0 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.9 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.1 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.1, Gainesville is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.3, mirroring the country. Of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 are younger.
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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Gainesville than nationally: 9.7%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Gainesville
Renters in Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.2% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 53.5% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.1% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 53.7% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Gainesville: 53.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 47.3% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have a higher share of renters.
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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.8% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Gainesville is close to the national rate: 9.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Florida as a whole (12.5%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Gainesville is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the east has the oldest housing.
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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $953 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $971 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,117 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,434 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$481 | +$724 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Gainesville costs $1,434 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $481 a month since 2006–10, up 50%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 37.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the east.
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 Gainesville
Bachelor's degrees in Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.3% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 45.1% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.1% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.7% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Gainesville: 53.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.4 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people, only 48 have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.7% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Gainesville: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.1 points from 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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in Gainesville is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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).
Gainesville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | 2.26 | 34.1 | 9.7% | 53.7% | 9.9% | 1986 | $1,434 | 53.7% | 94.8% | 4.8% |
| Northwood | 2.46 | 44.5 | 11.3% | 8.2% | 10.5% | 1989 | $1,178 | 22.0% | 93.8% | 6.0% |
| Tacoma | 2.03 | 53.5 | 1.8% | 18.4% | 12.1% | 1979 | $1,079 | 38.4% | 86.8% | 1.3% |
| Newberry | 2.58 | 41.0 | 9.0% | 10.4% | 7.3% | 2003 | $1,591 | 45.0% | 97.5% | 2.5% |
| Archer | 2.39 | 45.4 | 11.0% | 21.3% | 7.2% | 1995 | $1,417 | 34.3% | 95.5% | 6.7% |
| Alachua | 2.56 | 40.4 | 12.2% | 20.5% | 7.3% | 1997 | $1,268 | 37.6% | 94.9% | 1.7% |
| Grove Park | 2.26 | 50.6 | 7.2% | 18.2% | 15.0% | 1976 | $927 | 25.8% | 85.7% | 5.0% |
| Peach Orchard | 2.11 | 52.3 | 8.1% | 20.5% | 4.9% | 1984 | $1,137 | 30.1% | 90.9% | 5.5% |
| Forest Grove | 2.85 | 38.9 | 9.3% | 15.1% | 5.0% | 2003 | $1,167 | 40.9% | 95.4% | 2.5% |
| Orange Heights | 2.23 | 56.3 | 10.3% | 23.6% | 21.4% | 1980 | $749 | 34.7% | 89.6% | 6.7% |
| Half Moon | 2.47 | 43.8 | 12.3% | 18.7% | 10.9% | 1997 | $1,251 | 25.4% | 91.8% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Poughkeepsie, NY · Provo, UT · Queens, NY · O'fallon, MO · Orlando, FL · Northridge, CA · Omaha, NE · Pacoima, CA · Oviedo, FL · Owensboro, KY
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 Gainesville. 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.
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