Population 30,744 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gainesville
Household size in Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.09 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.05 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.13 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.04 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Gainesville is a place of big households: 3.04 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has edged down from 3.09 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.8 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.6 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.7 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Gainesville is 43.6 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 38.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the northeast.
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 | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Gainesville: 7.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.7 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 | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.8% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.3% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Gainesville is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over one in five owners (20.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Gainesville: just 3.7% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Gainesville has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Virginia 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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2000 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2002 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2003 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2005 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Gainesville is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2005, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 2000 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only eight have newer homes.
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 | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,864 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,920 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,407 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,686 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$822 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Gainesville costs $2,686 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $822 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.0% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.8% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 55.0% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 57.7% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.7 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Gainesville is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (57.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 12.7 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 Gainesville
| Period | Gainesville | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.7% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.7% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Gainesville: 96.5% 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 3.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Gainesville has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Virginia cities.
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 | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Gainesville than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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 | 3.04 | 43.6 | 7.2% | 15.3% | 3.7% | 2005 | $2,686 | 57.7% | 96.5% | 3.5% |
| Haymarket | 3.11 | 42.9 | 7.0% | 8.1% | 3.0% | 2003 | $2,943 | 65.6% | 97.8% | 2.3% |
| Buckland | 2.90 | 37.6 | 9.4% | 10.3% | 2.4% | 2015 | $2,709 | 66.9% | 93.5% | 0.7% |
| Linton Hall | 3.49 | 35.0 | 7.7% | 8.9% | 3.3% | 2004 | $2,435 | 57.1% | 97.3% | 4.0% |
| Greenwich | 2.65 | 43.6 | 8.6% | 13.9% | 6.7% | 1980 | $1,621 | 41.2% | 93.5% | 1.5% |
| Bull Run | 2.87 | 33.4 | 16.7% | 65.9% | 4.3% | 1992 | $1,964 | 39.5% | 83.0% | 4.9% |
| Broad Run | 2.76 | 45.3 | 4.8% | 8.8% | 11.3% | 1992 | $2,918 | 56.8% | 95.9% | 3.5% |
| New Baltimore | 3.23 | 41.2 | 7.3% | 7.6% | 4.9% | 2000 | $2,536 | 60.0% | 95.8% | 1.6% |
| Sudley | 3.52 | 35.6 | 16.6% | 37.9% | 6.5% | 1979 | $2,167 | 25.8% | 76.2% | 5.1% |
| Catharpin | 3.50 | 39.8 | 6.4% | 2.7% | 4.7% | 2005 | $3,154 | 65.9% | 95.4% | 5.0% |
| Bristow | 3.04 | 41.9 | 8.4% | 10.2% | 4.6% | 1990 | $1,661 | 51.1% | 95.1% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Agawam Town, MA · Shelbyville, KY · Seymour, IN · Severna Park, MD · Sequim, WA · Selma, CA · Schererville, IN · Scaggsville, MD · Saugus, MA · Rockville Centre, NY
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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