Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Gainesville, FL
🏆 Allen leads 15 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Gainesville
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $77,476 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Gainesville
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Gainesville
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($216,600 vs $390,200)
Rent averages $596/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,747)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $77,476/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$77,476
$121,259 vs $43,783/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
86% lower
106.4 vs 738.0 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.1°F
Gainesville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$174k less
$216,600 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Gainesville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $216,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,151 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $43,783 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 10.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 50.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | ALACHUA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 142,414 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 26.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Gainesville's 96.9 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 15 of 23 categories. Allen wins 15 and Gainesville wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Gainesville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $216,600 median home), income ($121,259 vs $43,783), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Gainesville, FL are about 877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.