Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Gainesville leads 14 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Hampton
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,255)
Cons
Median income trails Hampton by $20,647/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
Hampton, VA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Gainesville
Households earn $20,647 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Gainesville
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 87.3°F
Hampton
Median Income
$20,647
$64,430 vs $43,783/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
66% lower
247.6 vs 738.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $219,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 47.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 137,217 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gainesville leads 14 of 23 categories. Gainesville wins 14 and Hampton wins 9. 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 Gainesville to Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $219,800 median home), income ($43,783 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Hampton, VA are about 617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.