Is Alachua, FL a Good Place to Live?
Alachua is a small city of 10,570 in Florida, with a median household income of $72,491 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.
Strengths: Alachua stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Alachua is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Alachua city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 96.9Alachua's overall cost of living index is 96.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alachua costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Alachua, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $269,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.7% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $72,491 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Safer than AverageAlachua's violent crime rate is 403.3 per 100,000 residents — 6% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Alachua is served primarily by ALACHUA. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Alachua, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | ALACHUA | — |
| Elementary Schools | 31 | — |
| Middle Schools | 10 | — |
| High Schools | 17 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 17.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 95.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Alachua sees average highs of 67.3°F in January and 92.2°F in July, with 56.5 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Alachua, FL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 67.3°F |
| Average High — July | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Alachua, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,570 | — |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 24.4 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 62.2% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 26.1% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.9% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.9% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 20.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Alachua
Alachua, FL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: