Cost to Own
United States › Florida › Alachua County › Alachua Population 10,638 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $869 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Alachua County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Alachua, Florida

A $286,000 home here costs

$2,428

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $104,000 a year.

P&I 64%Tax 9%Insurance 7%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,559. The real number is $869 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Alachua County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Alachua median: $285,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
FL average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $228,800 borrowed $1,559
Property tax0.941% effective rate for Alachua itself $224
Homeowners insuranceFlorida averages $2,437/yr (NAIC), or 0.725% of home value $173
Electricity14.99ยข/kWh, Florida residential average, EIA $165
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $238
Total monthly $2,428

Alachua against Alachua County and Florida

MeasureAlachuaAlachua County
Median home value$285,700$266,800
Median property tax$2,689$2,623
Effective tax rate0.941%0.983%
Median gross rent$1,132$1,255
Population10,638281,751

The weather behind that power bill

Alachua sits in Alachua County, which averages a high of 91.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 42.6°F in its coldest, with 48.31" of precipitation a year and 43% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,741 cooling and 1,139 heating degree days, which is what sets the $165 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Alachua County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Alachua County

Full Alachua County cost breakdown · Every county in Florida

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Alachua averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Alachua every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Alachua I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Alachua?

A $286,000 home in Alachua, Florida costs approximately $2,428 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,559 principal and interest, $224 property tax, $173 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $238 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Alachua?

Alachua has an effective property tax rate of 0.941%, based on a median home value of $285,700 and median real estate taxes of $2,689. That is lower than the Alachua County average of 0.983%.

What is the average home price in Alachua?

The median owner-occupied home value in Alachua, Florida is $285,700, against $266,800 across Alachua County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Alachua?

Median gross rent in Alachua is $1,132 a month, against $2,428 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Alachua?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Alachua, Florida at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $104,000 a year. That covers the full $2,428 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Alachua, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Florida.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology