Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Gainesville, Florida
A $235,000 home here costs
$2,041per 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 $87,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,281. The real number is $760 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Alachua County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Gainesville against Alachua County and Florida
| Measure | Gainesville | Alachua County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,000 | $266,800 |
| Median property tax | $2,265 | $2,623 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.964% | 0.983% |
| Median gross rent | $1,214 | $1,255 |
| Population | 143,611 | 281,751 |
The weather behind that power bill
Gainesville 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Gainesville I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Gainesville?
A $235,000 home in Gainesville, Florida costs approximately $2,041 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,281 principal and interest, $189 property tax, $142 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $196 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Gainesville?
Gainesville has an effective property tax rate of 0.964%, based on a median home value of $235,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,265. That is lower than the Alachua County average of 0.983%.
What is the average home price in Gainesville?
The median owner-occupied home value in Gainesville, Florida is $235,000, against $266,800 across Alachua County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Gainesville?
Median gross rent in Gainesville is $1,214 a month, against $2,041 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 Gainesville?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Gainesville, Florida at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $87,500 a year. That covers the full $2,041 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Gainesville, 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.