City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Gainesville, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Gainesville - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

143,611
Residents
$45,611
Median income
$235,000
Median home
$1,493
Median rent (state)

Gainesville - the verdict

Gainesville ranks in the 13th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

13th
percentile, household income
52nd
percentile, home value
59th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Gainesville, FL

143,611 people live in Gainesville, Florida - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $45,611 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.2%. Home values in Gainesville run a median of $235,000, and the median resident age is 26.5 years. About 51.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1,218 residential building permits were authorized in Gainesville (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 69.5°F.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Florida scores 103.4 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,493 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Florida, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 90.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

143,611 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$45,611 /yr

Poverty 12.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Gainesville compare to other US cities?

Where Gainesville sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 13% higher than other cities
Home value 52% pricier than other cities
Median rent 59% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Gainesville's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Florida, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

13thIncome percentile

13th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Gainesville's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$235,000 48th percentile more affordable than 48% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Gainesville $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Gainesville, FL Gainesville, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gainesville, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Gainesville, FL median $45,611/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Gainesville, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Gainesville, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 51.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
143,611
Median Income
$45,611
Median Home Value
$235,000
Median Age
26.5
Poverty Rate
12.2%
Labor force participation
55.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
51.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
69.5°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
43
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
140,000 residents142,000 residents144,000 residents146,000 residents148,000 residents150,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 142,298 residents 148,671 residents ▲ +4.5%
Gainesville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
1,218
housing units authorized
Single-Family
296
detached homes
Multifamily
922
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,214
2020 1,055
2021 1,258
2022 1,309
2023 780
2024 1,218

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
62.9%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
4.9%
Walk
5.0%
Work from Home
12.4%
Other
5.8%

Based on 67,833 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Gainesville sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,493/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Miramar
135,986 people
Hollywood
152,935 people
Coral Springs
133,962 people
Lehigh Acres
127,391 people
Palm Bay
125,273 people
West Palm Beach
119,508 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gainesville's 143,611 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Olathe, KS
143,720 people
Torrance, CA
143,499 people
McAllen, TX
143,789 people
Thornton, CO
142,878 people
Visalia, CA
142,649 people
Waco, TX
141,925 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gainesville's $45,611 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mullen, NE
$45,610 median income
Hopwood, PA
$45,608 median income
Milan, TN
$45,608 median income
Potomac Park, CA
$45,617 median income
Breaux Bridge, LA
$45,620 median income
Swainsboro, GA
$45,621 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gainesville, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Gainesville, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 59.2% 21.6% 6.2% 9.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.4% White 59.2% Black or African American 21.6% Asian 6.2% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 3.0% Two or more races 9.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Gainesville compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Gainesville (this city) 143,611 $45,611
Miramar 135,986 $86,109
Hollywood 152,935 $65,359
Coral Springs 133,962 $90,643
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gainesville, FL?

What is the population of Gainesville, FL? +

Gainesville, FL has a population of 143,611 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Gainesville, FL? +

Median annual household income in Gainesville runs $45,611, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gainesville? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gainesville; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Gainesville, FL? +

The median home value in Gainesville is $235,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Gainesville? +

Climate normals put Gainesville's yearly average temperature at 69.5°F. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.