1st Advantage MortgageThe median Alachua County household earns $61,949, and 21% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Florida license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Alachua County
- Employment and commuting in Alachua County
- Household income in Alachua County
- Alachua County housing compared with Florida
- The counties around Alachua County
- Alachua County towns compared
- Budget math at the Alachua County median
- More Alachua County figures
- What the numbers mean for Alachua County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Florida
- Steps before you apply in Alachua County
- More guides for Alachua County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Alachua County
Alachua County is home to about 285,492 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 24th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Florida. Packed into 876 square miles, that is close to 326 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Gainesville, FL metropolitan area. Of the 9 Census places inside Alachua County, Gainesville leads by population with about 145,702; 9 of the 9 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Alachua County
Education and health care employs 39% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 12%. Compared with Florida, the county leans toward education and health care (39% against 21%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.4% in Alachua County. About 68% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 8.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Alachua County workers | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 38.8% | +17.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.6% | -2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | -1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 5.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.1% | -3.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Alachua County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Alachua County
Half of Alachua County households take in less than $61,949 a year and half take in more, 17% below the Florida median of $74,568.
| Income band | Share in Alachua County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.9% | +7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.6% | -1.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Alachua County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. Census counts 21.2% of Alachua County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.516 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Alachua County median.
Alachua County housing compared with Florida
A typical Alachua County rental runs $1,339 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Florida. 63% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 37% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $288,800, about 4.7 times the median household income. 54% of Alachua County households own their home and 46% rent. Median construction year: 1988.
| Alachua County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,339/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $288,800 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 54% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 63% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
With renters making up 46% of households, many Alachua County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The counties around Alachua County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 38 miles). Income ranges from $47,934 in Putnam County to $87,820 in Clay County; 4 of these neighbors top Alachua County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | - | $61,949 | $1,339/mo | 54% |
| Bradford County, FL | 22 mi | $63,050 | $863/mo | 73% |
| Union County, FL | 26 mi | $64,146 | $894/mo | 75% |
| Gilchrist County, FL | 27 mi | $63,523 | $926/mo | 86% |
| Clay County, FL | 36 mi | $87,820 | $1,551/mo | 76% |
| Marion County, FL | 38 mi | $61,010 | $1,277/mo | 77% |
| Putnam County, FL | 38 mi | $47,934 | $906/mo | 75% |
Alachua County towns compared
9 Census places fall mainly inside Alachua County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 175,611 residents, leaving about 38% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. High Springs has the highest median household income on the list ($94,421) and Waldo the lowest ($29,894), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $727 in Hawthorne to $2,100 in Newberry. No Alachua County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | city | 145,702 | $46,195 | $1,296 | 1 mi |
| Alachua | city | 10,743 | $83,464 | $1,284 | 9 mi |
| Newberry | city | 7,865 | $89,552 | $2,100 | 14 mi |
| High Springs | city | 6,544 | $94,421 | $1,878 | 16 mi |
| Hawthorne | city | 1,625 | $55,406 | $727 | 17 mi |
| Waldo | city | 1,303 | $29,894 | $745 | 14 mi |
| Archer | city | 958 | $41,058 | $913 | 15 mi |
| Micanopy | town | 747 | $74,038 | $1,094 | 13 mi |
| La Crosse | town | 124 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
Budget math at the Alachua County median
Alachua County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Alachua County: $5,162
- Median rent: $1,339, or 26 cents of every gross dollar
- $519: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Alachua County figures
Degree holders: 49% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Alachua County | Florida | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 48.8% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.4% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Alachua County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
What the numbers mean for Alachua County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Alachua County borrowers.
- Assistance before credit. With a 21% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Alachua County loan.
- Renters under pressure. When 63% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Checking a lender's license in Florida
Consumer lenders serving Alachua County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Florida that is the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Florida: Florida personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Alachua County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Alachua County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Florida license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Alachua County
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Alachua County?
$61,949 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,568 for Florida. It ranks 43rd of 67 in the state.
How much is rent in Alachua County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,339 a month; 63% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Alachua County?
By population: Gainesville, Alachua, Newberry, High Springs, Hawthorne. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Can Alachua County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Florida county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Alachua County?
Start with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.