Gainesville, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 30.8% is well above the state average

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Gainesville, Florida had a total population of 145,702, the 13th largest city in Florida, with a median household income of $46,195, which is 38% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 30.8%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 38% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (30.8%), well above the national average of 12.4%.

Gainesville Quick Facts

Population 145,70290% MOE ±64

Median Household Income $46,19590% MOE ±$2,205

Median Home Value $247,50090% MOE ±$6,472

Poverty Rate 30.8%90% MOE ±2.1 pts

Unemployment Rate 5.5%90% MOE ±1.0 pts

Median Age 26.5 years90% MOE ±0.5 years

Homeownership Rate 37.7%90% MOE ±1.4 pts

Affordability Ratio 5.4x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 53.7%90% MOE ±2.2 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 94.3%

Diversity Index 64/100

Population 145,702 13th of 955

Median Income $46,195 bottom 20%

Poverty Rate 30.8% 147% higher than national

Median Home Value $247,500 below average

How Gainesville Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	132,127	145,702	+10.3%
Median household income	$45,861	$46,195	No clear change (+0.7%)
Median home value¹	$199,252	$247,500	+24.2%
Median gross rent	$1,173	$1,296	+10.5%

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

How Gainesville Compares

Median Household Income

Gainesville

$46,195

$74,568

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Gainesville

$247,500

$359,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 29.4%

$25K-$50K 24.4%

$50K-$100K 25.4%

$100K+ 20.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

12.8%

$10K-$15K

6.3%

$15K-$20K

5.5%

$20K-$25K

4.9%

$25K-$30K

5.8%

$30K-$35K

5.0%

$35K-$40K

5.2%

$40K-$45K

3.7%

$45K-$50K

4.7%

$50K-$60K

6.3%

$60K-$75K

8.3%

$75K-$100K

10.8%

$100K-$125K

5.8%

$125K-$150K

4.6%

$150K-$200K

4.9%

$200K+

5.6%

Employment

5.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8%|National: 5.2%

57.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 37.7%

Renter 62.3%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,296/mo 33.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

13.1%

18-34

50.7%

35-54

17.0%

55-74

14.0%

75+

5.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 65 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Gainesville Rankings in Florida

#13 Population of 955

#821 Median Income of 911

#116 Education of 955

#634 Home Value of 901

Explore Florida Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Alachua County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Alachua	10,743	$83,464	9.5%	$299,200
Newberry	7,865	$89,552	9.8%	$288,100
High Springs	6,544	$94,421	13.6%	$320,700
Hawthorne	1,625	$55,406	15.4%	$177,800
Waldo	1,303	$29,894	28.0%	$113,600
Archer	958	$41,058	38.1%	$184,800
Micanopy	747	$74,038	11.2%	$233,200
La Crosse	124	N/A	40.3%	N/A

Cities Similar to Gainesville

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Hollywood	155,082	$67,203	$410,600	33.8%	14.7%
Lehigh Acres	132,353	$66,890	$292,400	14.3%	17.1%
Palm Bay	130,132	$72,614	$283,200	24.0%	11.7%
Lakeland	119,961	$64,185	$249,400	29.4%	13.2%
Miramar	138,600	$89,125	$462,700	37.4%	8.5%

Population Overview

Gainesville is a major urban center located in Florida, within Alachua County. The total population is 145,702. It ranks as the 13th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gainesville is 26.5 years. This is 38% lower than the state median of 42.6 years. Only 13.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gainesville is $46,195. This is 38% lower than the state median of $74,568. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 30.8%. This is 145% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $247,500. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 37.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 44% lower than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gainesville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 54.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (13.6%) is well below the state average of 27.4%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.3% vs 2.9%).

Education

53.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% higher than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.3%. Notably, 27.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gainesville, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 955 Census-designated places in Florida. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Gainesville, Florida?

Gainesville, Florida has a population of 145,702 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Gainesville, FL?

The median household income in Gainesville is $46,195, which is 43% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Gainesville, FL?

The poverty rate in Gainesville is 30.8%. This means approximately 39,803 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Gainesville, Florida?

Gainesville's population is 54.2% White, 20.4% Black, 13.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 6.3% Asian.

What is the median home value in Gainesville, FL?

The median home value in Gainesville is $247,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x.

How educated is Gainesville, Florida?

53.7% of adults (25+) in Gainesville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 27.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.