Gainesville, FL, known as 'The Heart of Florida,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in Alachua County, Gainesville is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Jacksonville (70 miles) and Orlando (110 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Gainesville's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Gainesville is home to several iconic landmarks, including the University of Florida, the historic Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and the scenic Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Florida Museum of Natural History to the bustling Butler Plaza, known for its shopping and dining. Gainesville's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Floridian cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Gainesville Arts Festival and the Spring Arts Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Gainesville's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Florida contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Gainesville is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Hippodrome Theatre and the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Gainesville provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Gainesville’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Florida Gators (NCAA), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Gainesville include healthcare, education, and technology, with significant employers such as UF Health Shands Hospital and Exactech driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making it easy to get around.
Amenities
The area boasts an ample array of local amenities, such as restaurants, entertainment options, grocery stores and parks, all conveniently located within walking distance.
Commute
A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.
Ratings
Surveys and polls conducted by AreaVibes with residents of the area revealed unfavorable results concerning the walkability of amenities, the availability of parks and public transit access.
Located in the state of Florida, Gainesville is a medium-sized city with a population of 133,611 people. Gainesville could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 26 years old is below the nation’s average. In Gainesville, only 27% of people over the age of fifteen are married. This city could be a good option for singles ready to mingle. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Gainesville. With an average one way commute time of only 19 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Gainesville could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Florida if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like crime, health & safety, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Gainesville and in the areas around Gainesville is a much easier task.
Gainesville, FL receives 80 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #88 in Florida and #1,288 in the USA. Based on this score, Gainesville would be considered a very livable city! This city is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. Based on the scores for each individual category, Gainesville has received high marks for cost of living (A+), education (B+) and housing (B-). There are some categories that Gainesville does not rank well for, including: crime (F) and employment (D-). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.
The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in Gainesville, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in Gainesville undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Gainesville: Butterfly Rainforest, Florida Museum of Natural History, and The Hippodrome State Theatre.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Gainesville excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Gainesville is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Gainesville come in at $179,500, which is 7.6% higher than the Florida average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Gainesville, the home price to income ratio is 4.7, which is 38.2% higher than the Florida average.
| Statistic | Gainesville | Florida | National |
| Average one way commute | 19min | 27min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 66.3% | 79.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.6% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 5.5% | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 3.5% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 5.0% | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.7% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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