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Gainesville

#1 in Best Places to Live in Alachua County
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • City in Florida
  • 835 reviews
    A
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C
    3. Housing
      C+
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      A-
    6. Diversity
      A
    7. Jobs
      B-
    8. Weather
      A-
    9. Cost of Living
      B-
    10. Health & Fitness
      A-
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      A+
    View Full Report Card
    Gainesville is a city in Florida with a population of 129,394. Gainesville is in Alachua County and is one of the best places to live in Florida. Living in Gainesville offers residents a suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Gainesville there are a lot of bars, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Gainesville and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in Gainesville are highly rated.
    About Gainesville...
    Population
    129,394

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $147,500
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $886
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      61%
    • Own
      39%
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    Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

    Gainesville Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      457.9
      282.7
    • Murder
      3
      6.1
    • Rape
      123.5
      40.7
    • Robbery
      132.6
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      376.6
      500.1
    • Theft
      2,948.6
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      273.4
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      7%
    • 10-17 years
      5%
    • 18-24 years
      35%
    • 25-34 years
      17%
    • 35-44 years
      9%
    • 45-54 years
      8%
    • 55-64 years
      9%
    • 65+ years
      10%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      22%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      21%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      27%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      21%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      9%
      13%
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

    Working in Gainesville

    Jobs
    B-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $34,004
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Gainesville
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    Gainesville Reviews

    835 reviews
    All Categories
    The only thing I could complain about when it comes to Gainesville is the pollen and how swampy it is! But as a whole I love the environment! You get to meet people from literally all over the world. There are always stores and things to do if you know what you're looking for! The schools are nice, i for the most part feel safe walking around the city! There is almost always a bus that can take you where you need to go. Just about everything you need is close by. The city is nice!
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    Gainesville combines the feeling of a small town with the ideologies of a big city. Traditionally, small southern towns are daunting to those who are seeking diversity and a place where they can express themselves fearlessly. As a college town, Gainesville has grown into a small city of huge cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity, with residents from all over the world. The student population keeps the city young and alive with numerous restaurants, local stores, and fun outdoor activities for people of all ages. The University of Florida, Shands Hospital, and surrounding businesses are a beacon for professionals and students alike, bringing extremely intelligent, diverse, and open-minded groups of people to the area. No matter what you want to do, learn, or see, chances are Gainesville has it.
    I moved her for school five years ago and Gainesville has been nice! Things stay open relatively late and I like that there are both areas that feel like a "college town" and some areas that don't. The surrounding areas are much more rural but in Gainesville a lot of things are being developed. However, the town doesn't seem to have been built to be a big city so there is a lot of congestion especially in the fall semester and down by the college during football season.