Gainesville had an estimated 148,671 residents on July 1, 2025, up 5.4% from the 2020 census and 19.6% since 2010, the Census Bureau says.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and is linked to the table it came from. Questions about Census data: the Census Bureau’s customer line, 1-800-923-8282. This page is updated when the bureau publishes new figures.
Gainesville had an estimated 148,671 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates. That is 7,586 more people (5.4%) than the 2020 census count of 141,085 and 24,317 more (19.6%) than the 2010 census count of 124,354. The Census Bureau’s QuickFacts page for Gainesville summarizes the latest figures.
Where the numbers come from
- Population counts and estimates: Census Bureau population estimates and the 2010 and 2020 censuses
- Age, income and housing: American Community Survey, 2020-2024 five-year estimates
- Census Bureau help line: 1-800-923-8282
Gainesville’s population since 2010
| Year | Population | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 124,354 | Census count, April 1 |
| 2020 | 141,085 | Census count, April 1 |
| 2021 | 144,056 | Estimate, July 1 |
| 2022 | 145,775 | Estimate, July 1 |
| 2023 | 147,104 | Estimate, July 1 |
| 2024 | 147,890 | Estimate, July 1 |
| 2025 | 148,671 | Estimate, July 1 |
The city grew 13.5% in the decade to 2020. Since then growth has slowed each year, from about 1,700 people in 2022 to 781 (0.5%) in the year to July 2025. Gainesville is home to about half (51%) of Alachua County’s residents.
The estimates start from a 2020 base of 141,161, slightly above the census count, so the 2020 count and the 2021 estimate are not measured the same way.
A young city
Gainesville’s median age is 26.5 years, compared with 32.3 for Alachua County and 42.6 for Florida. More than a third of residents (36.3%) are 15 to 24 years old, and 23.4% are 20 to 24 alone. Note that the 45-to-64 bar covers 20 years of age, twice the span of most other bars.
Age, households, income and housing
These figures come from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates, which average five years of survey responses. The survey’s total for the city, 145,702, is lower than the 2025 estimate because it averages 2020 through 2024.
| Measure | Gainesville | Alachua County | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.5 years | 32.3 years | 42.6 years |
| Households | 59,816 | 116,786 | 8,752,810 |
| Average household size | 2.14 | 2.28 | 2.51 |
| Median household income | $46,195 | $61,949 | $74,568 |
| People below the poverty line | 30.8% | 21.2% | 12.6% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher | 53.7% | 48.8% | 34.1% |
| Housing units | 66,114 | 127,731 | 10,256,470 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 37.7% | 54.1% | 67.6% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 62.3% | 45.9% | 32.4% |
| Median value, owner-occupied home | $247,500 | $288,800 | $359,000 |
| Median gross rent | $1,296 | $1,339 | $1,669 |
Tables: DP05 (age), DP02 (households, education), DP03 (income, poverty) and DP04 (housing).
Gainesville is a renters’ city: about six in 10 occupied homes are rented. It has a higher share of college graduates than the county or the state, lower household incomes and a higher poverty rate. For home values over time, see our home prices guide.
How Gainesville compares with Alachua County and its neighbors
| Place | 2010 census | 2020 census | 2025 estimate | Change since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry | 4,950 | 7,342 | 8,618 | +17.4% |
| High Springs | 5,350 | 6,215 | 6,762 | +8.8% |
| Gainesville | 124,354 | 141,085 | 148,671 | +5.4% |
| Alachua County | 247,336 | 278,468 | 290,028 | +4.2% |
| Alachua (city) | 9,059 | 10,574 | 10,612 | +0.4% |
Sources: 2010 and 2020 census counts (2020 P1), Vintage 2025 estimates. Gainesville has grown a little faster than the county since 2020. The fastest growth among the county’s larger cities has been in Newberry, which has added 17.4%. The city of Alachua, about 10 miles northwest, has barely changed.
Why the numbers differ
A census is a full count every 10 years. The annual estimates update it with births, deaths, moves and new housing, and are revised each year. The American Community Survey is a sample, published as five-year averages for a city this size, so its figures carry a margin of error; data.census.gov shows it next to each figure.
What this means for you
- For the city’s official population, cite the latest Census Bureau estimate: 148,671 as of July 1, 2025.
- Growth has slowed: the city added fewer than 800 people in each of the last two years.
- The Census Bureau publishes new city estimates each year, and we update this page when it does.
Related: Gainesville home prices, schools and moving to Gainesville.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gainesville, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates Gainesville had 148,671 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 census counted 141,085.
How fast is Gainesville growing?
Gainesville grew 5.4% between the 2020 census and the July 2025 estimate, adding 7,586 people, slightly faster than Alachua County (4.2%). Growth has slowed to 781 people in the year to July 2025.
What is the median age in Gainesville?
26.5 years, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with 32.3 for Alachua County and 42.6 for Florida.
What is the median household income in Gainesville?
$46,195, according to the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with $61,949 for Alachua County and $74,568 for Florida.
What is the population of Alachua County?
The Census Bureau estimates Alachua County had 290,028 residents on July 1, 2025, up 4.2% from the 2020 census count of 278,468.
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