Cost of Living in Alachua County, Florida
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Alachua County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Alachua County ranks #2,664 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Alachua County Median Gross Rent as Percentage of Household Income
Renters in Alachua County faced a median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) of 39.0% during the 2020-2024 period. This official B25071 figure is 6.2 percentage points above the Florida unweighted county mean of 32.8%. The median gross rent in the county was $1,339 per month, which is $35 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $1,304. For those in owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,196, while the unweighted county mean for the state was $1,039. The median home value in Alachua County was estimated at $288,800. Median renter-household income for the same period was $38,969. All statistics are snapshot estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Alachua County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 39.0% of renter household income in Alachua County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,339 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,196. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $53,560 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Florida unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,304 per month. Alachua County's $1,339 median is 2.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Alachua County
Rent Burden
25.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,445
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.2%
of gross income
The median home in Alachua County may be a stretch
Median home value is $288,800. Estimated monthly cost: $2,306 vs. your max of $1,445.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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