Alachua County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
Alachua County, Florida had an estimated 291,782 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 278,474, across 875 square miles. County output reached $20.94 bn in 2024, 6,721 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 193 7(a) approvals worth $137.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Alachua County
How many people live in Alachua County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024285,492
- Households116,786
- Average household size2.44
- Median household income$61,949
- Median age32.3
- Median gross rent$1,339 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$288,800
- Home value to household income4.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income25.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher48.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree25.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over174,336
- Population under 1850,780
- Share under 1817.8 percent
- Population 65 and over43,645
- Share 65 and over15.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64191,067
- Civilian labor force143,642
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.2 percent
- Rank by population among Florida counties24th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included253rd of 3,222
Alachua County is the 24th largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 4.7 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 17.8 percent against 15.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Alachua County
Is Alachua County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024291,782
- Census 2020 base population278,474
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.78 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,820
- Births, 20242,650
- Deaths, 20242,284
- Natural change, 2024366
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,141
- Net international migration, 20243,572
- Total net migration, 20242,431
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,677
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents560th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.78 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Alachua County
Where are people moving to Alachua County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving9,100
- People arriving, from those returns14,775
- Tax returns filed by households leaving9,831
- Net household movement-731
- Adjusted gross income arriving$619.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-19.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$68,084
- Average income of a leaving household$65,039
- Largest single originMarion County (502 households)
- Largest single destinationMarion County (548 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 502 | 832 | $21.6 m |
| Broward County | 325 | 534 | $18.8 m |
| Miami-Dade County | 320 | 498 | $19.3 m |
| Duval County | 289 | 426 | $14.0 m |
| Orange County | 265 | 380 | $15.3 m |
| Levy County | 256 | 440 | $9.1 m |
| Hillsborough County | 241 | 358 | $14.2 m |
| Palm Beach County | 213 | 326 | $12.8 m |
Households arriving report $3,045 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Marion County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Alachua County
What is the Alachua County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$20.94 bn
- County GDP, 2023$19.83 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.6 percent
- GDP change over five years38.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Florida areas BEA publishes19th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes249th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$73,343
Output grew 5.6 percent in the latest year and 38.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Alachua County
Employment by industry in Alachua County
- Covered employment, annual average139,023
- Establishments reporting8,212
- Average annual pay$63,829
- Average weekly wage$1,227
- Health care and social assistance, employment28,565
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,140
- Retail trade, employment13,956
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,247
- Accommodation and food services, employment13,469
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,586
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment7,037
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$86,914
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment6,503
- Construction, employment5,704
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 28,565 | 1,080 | $66,140 |
| Retail trade | 13,956 | 926 | $35,247 |
| Accommodation and food services | 13,469 | 750 | $25,586 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 7,037 | 1,218 | $86,914 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 6,503 | 611 | $43,043 |
| Construction | 5,704 | 664 | $61,600 |
| Manufacturing | 4,149 | 214 | $72,055 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,744 | 127 | $54,623 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 28,565 jobs, 20.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Alachua County
How many businesses are in Alachua County?
- Establishments, all industries6,721
- Employment at those establishments103,368
- Annual payroll$5.54 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Alachua County
Building permits in Alachua County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,750
- Declared construction value permitted$408.7 m
- Single family units authorized822
- Multifamily units authorized928
- Multifamily share of units53.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$233,566
- Units authorized per 1,000 households15.0
Multifamily is 53.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Alachua County
SBA loans in Alachua County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded193
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$137.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$710,134
- Median 7(a) approval$400,000
- 10th percentile approval$43,500
- 90th percentile approval$1,770,520
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,640
- Jobs per approval13.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active59
- Distinct industries receiving approvals101
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms43
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter134
- Franchise loans33
- Franchise share of approvals17.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (13)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (20)
- 504 approvals recorded126
- 504 gross approval dollars$75.9 m
- Average 504 approval$602,294
- Median 504 approval$317,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval7.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.3
- Most active CDCFlorida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc. (80)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$212.9 m
The average approval of $710,134 sits well above the median of $400,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 22.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Alachua County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Alachua County
Do SBA loans in Alachua County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded35
- Paid in full33
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.7 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure135
- Status: Paid in full33
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Cancelled12
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed11
Of the 35 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.7 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Alachua County
SBA lending by place in Alachua County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending11
- Gainesville, approvals135
- Alachua, approvals16
- Newberry, approvals16
- High Springs, approvals9
- Hawthorne, approvals5
- Waldo, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | 135 | $101,502,100 |
| Alachua | 16 | $10,530,500 |
| Newberry | 16 | $6,427,600 |
| High Springs | 9 | $3,657,900 |
| Hawthorne | 5 | $2,863,900 |
| Waldo | 4 | $9,100,400 |
| Micanopy | 2 | $1,536,400 |
| Jonesville | 2 | $545,000 |
| 3 other borrower cities | 4 | $892,000 |
Gainesville accounts for 135 approvals against 16 in Alachua. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Alachua County
How large is Alachua County?
- Land area875 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Florida counties22nd of 67
- Width, east to west36.6 mi
- Height, north to south35.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land326
- Establishments per square mile7.68
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Alachua County
Flood risk in Alachua County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Alachua County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 120001
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 5
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Alachua County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Alachua County (community 120001), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 5, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Alachua County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Alachua County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Alachua County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024285,492
- Households116,786
- Average household size2.44
- Median household income$61,949
- Median age32.3
Common questions
Alachua County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Alachua County, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates 291,782 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 285,492, in 116,786 households, ranking 24th of 67 Florida counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Alachua County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.78 percent since the 2020 census base of 278,474, to 291,782 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,650 births against 2,284 deaths, with net migration of 2,431. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Alachua County?
$61,949. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $288,800, which is 4.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,339 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Alachua County?
6,721 establishments, employing 103,368 people with an annual payroll of $5.54 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Alachua County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 28,565 jobs, 20.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 139,023 jobs at an average annual pay of $63,829, or $1,227 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Alachua County?
193 7(a) approvals totaling $137.1 m since FY2020, across 59 lenders, with a median approval of $400,000, plus 126 504 approvals worth $75.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Alachua County get paid back?
Of the 35 loans that have reached a final outcome, 33 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Alachua County?
1,750 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $408.7 m. Multifamily was 53.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Alachua County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Alachua County come from?
The largest single origin is Marion County, with 502 households. Arriving households report an average income of $68,084 against $65,039 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Alachua County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Alachua County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Alachua County
Cities and places in Alachua.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Alachua County. All 9 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | city | 145,702 | 135 | Wholly in this county |
| Alachua | city | 10,743 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Newberry | city | 7,865 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| High Springs | city | 6,544 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Hawthorne | city | 1,625 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Waldo | city | 1,303 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Archer | city | 958 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Micanopy | town | 747 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| La Crosse | town | 124 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 5 of the county's 193 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Alachua County, the largest being Jonesville (2), Gainseville (2), Windermere (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby