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Gainesville, FL

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Gainesville, FL

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 64
Population143,611
Foreign Born6.2%
Population Density2,244people per mi²
Median Age26.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

96/100

4% below national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Gainesville, Florida

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $19k$36k
Comfortable $46k$67k
Luxury $82k+$128k+
Elite (Top 5%) $130k+$202k+
Affordability Ratio

68%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean92%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
5
Negative
4

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

1.7mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.4mi

Airport

Veterans Administration Medical Center Heliport

1.7mi

Post Office

USPS — Gainesville, FL

4.1mi

Critical Amenities

Golf3Nearest 2.4 mi
Camping20Nearest 3.1 mi
Marina0Nearest 17.3 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range4Nearest 4.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D+
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$46k+4.2%
39% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$445k
32% below US avg
College Educated
51.7%
48% above US avg
WFH
12.4%
13% below US avg
Homeownership
38.5%
41% below US avg
Median Home
$235k
17% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B
Safe

Generally safer than 67% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
13.8
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+4076.1%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+2328.8%
Homicide
0.02 / 1k Residents5% below state avg
Robbery
0.33 / 1k Residents44% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.12 / 1k Residents70% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr+5823.4%
Burglary
1.27 / 1k Residents55% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
9.49 / 1k Residents56% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.09 / 1k Residents80% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+10Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Gainesville, Florida
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.1% of income
Property Rights
B+
GoodIJ Grade B+
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (10% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season343 days362 frost-free
Annual Rainfall50.0"
Elevation194 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D+
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
C
Weak62 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,244/sq mi
Fallout Danger
F
Poor3 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
B
Fairborder 918 mi · coast 53 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$89.6M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityJacksonville950k people are 62 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital129 miTallahassee, FL
Nearest Prison0.2 mi6 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:58:56.000Z

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