Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414
Raleigh
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($216,600 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $220/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,371)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $34,848/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 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $34,848 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Gainesville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$130k less
$216,600 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$34,848
$78,631 vs $43,783/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
34% lower
488.8 vs 738.0 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories. Gainesville wins 9 and Raleigh wins 14. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $347,000 median home), income ($43,783 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Raleigh, NC are about 476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.