County · Florida
Alachua County, Florida
Alachua County, Florida. Alachua County had 290,028 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.1% since 2020, slower than Florida (+8.9%). It holds 9 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs) and 58 census tracts. GEOID 12001.
Alachua County is one of the 3 counties of the Gainesville, FL metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
290,028
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 278,468 · ACS 2020-2024: 285,492
Median household income
$61,949
±$1,676 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$288,800
±$7,665 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,339
±$30 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
How many people live in Alachua County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 278,468 residents in Alachua County. The Census Bureau estimates 290,028 for July 1, 2025, up 4.1% since 2020, slower than Florida (+8.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 285,492 over 876 square miles of land.
| Measure | Alachua County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 285,492 | 22,416,077 | +20,049 |
| Households | 116,786±949 | 8,752,810 | +18,791 |
| Average household size | 2.28±0.02 | 2.51 | −0.27 |
| Housing units | 127,731±206 | 10,256,470 | +10,316 |
Alachua County's population since 2000
From 217,955 in 2000 to 290,028 in 2025: up 33.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Alachua County?
Alachua County holds 9 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Gainesville with 148,671 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Gainesville | 141,085 | $46,195 |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua | 10,574 | $83,464 |
| Newberry | 7,342 | $89,552 |
| High Springs | 6,215 | $94,421 |
| Hawthorne | 1,478 | $55,406 |
| Archer | 1,140 | $41,058 |
| Waldo | 846 | $29,894 |
| Micanopy | 648 | $74,038 |
| La CrosseGEOID 1237300 | 316 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Alachua County?
The median resident of Alachua County is 32.3 years old; 17.8% are under 18 and 15.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 57.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 19.0%. 11.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Alachua County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3±0.2 | 42.6 | +0.7 |
| Under 18 years | 17.8% | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.3% | 21.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.6% | 27.4% | +2.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 57.6%±0.3 pts | 50.4% | −3.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 19.0%±0.3 pts | 14.6% | −0.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.0%±0.2 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.1%±0.5 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.6%±0.7 pts | 21.9% | +1.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.6%±0.7 pts | 30.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.1%±0.5 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 12.1%±0.7 pts | 13.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4%±0.7 pts | 11.5% | −1.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.5%±0.5 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 48.8%±1.1 pts | 34.1% | +5.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 25.5%±0.9 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.3%±0.5 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Alachua County earn?
Half of Alachua County's 116,786 households earn less than $61,949 a year (±$1,676), against $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 it was $61,152 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 21.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Alachua County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,949±$1,676 | $74,568 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $93,386±$2,976 | $105,967 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,869±$1,312 | $42,609 | +$3,615 |
| People below the poverty line | 21.2%±1.2 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.1%±3.1 pts | 16.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.2%±0.9 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.0%±1.1 pts | 91.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Alachua County?
Owners occupy 54.1% of Alachua County's occupied homes and renters 45.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $288,800 by its owner (±$7,665). The median renter pays $1,339 a month including utilities, and 55.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Alachua County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $288,800±$7,665 | $359,000 | +$59,029 |
| Median gross rent | $1,339±$30 | $1,669 | +$129 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 55.2%±2.3 pts | 50.2% | +3.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,730±$39 | $1,959 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.1%±1.1 pts | 67.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 127,731±206 | 10,256,470 | +10,316 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.7%±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.6%±1.3 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 50.3%±1.0 pts | 54.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.3%±0.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.6%±0.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.8%±0.5 pts | 1.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Alachua County building?
Builders took permits for 3,336 new housing units across Alachua County in 2025 (689 single-family), 11.5 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Alachua County get to work?
68.0% of Alachua County's workers drive alone and 14.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Alachua County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.9%±0.9 pts | 59.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4%±0.6 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 68.0%±1.5 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.5%±0.9 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.9%±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.7%±0.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.1%±1.0 pts | 15.7% | +9.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.8 min±0.6 | 28.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Alachua County's census tracts?
Alachua County is divided into 58 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $14,811 (Tract 2.02) to $144,327 (Tract 22.07).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Alachua County compare with Florida's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 24th of 67 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 52nd of 67 |
| Residents per square mile | 23rd of 67 |
| Median household income | 43rd of 67 |
| Median home value | 33rd of 67 |
| Median gross rent | 32nd of 67 |
| Poverty rate | 6th of 67 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3rd of 67 |
| Median age | 66th of 67 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Alachua County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.