Gilchrist County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
Gilchrist County, Florida had an estimated 20,233 residents on July 1, 2024, up 13.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,860, across 350 square miles. County output reached $576.4 m in 2024, 295 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 9 7(a) approvals worth $8.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Gilchrist County
How many people live in Gilchrist County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202419,040
- Households7,151
- Average household size2.66
- Median household income$63,523
- Median age43.2
- Median gross rent$926 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$199,900
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over13,395
- Population under 184,037
- Share under 1821.2 percent
- Population 65 and over3,851
- Share 65 and over20.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6411,152
- Civilian labor force7,831
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over52.2 percent
- Rank by population among Florida counties56th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1934th of 3,222
Gilchrist County is the 56th largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.2 percent against 20.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Gilchrist County
Is Gilchrist County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202420,233
- Census 2020 base population17,860
- Population change since the 2020 census base13.29 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024498
- Births, 2024225
- Deaths, 2024233
- Natural change, 2024-8
- Net domestic migration, 2024337
- Net international migration, 2024165
- Total net migration, 2024502
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,101
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents83rd of 3,144
The county has grown 13.29 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Gilchrist County
Where are people moving to Gilchrist County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving747
- People arriving, from those returns1,504
- Tax returns filed by households leaving507
- Net household movement240
- Adjusted gross income arriving$44.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$23.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$59,249
- Average income of a leaving household$40,564
- Largest single originAlachua County (184 households)
- Largest single destinationAlachua County (130 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | 184 | 385 | $10.1 m |
| Levy County | 85 | 166 | $3.9 m |
| Dixie County | 45 | 95 | $1.9 m |
| Columbia County | 27 | 62 | $1.3 m |
| Marion County | 21 | 47 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $18,685 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 Alachua 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.
Gilchrist County
What is the Gilchrist County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$576.4 m
- County GDP, 2023$538.4 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.1 percent
- GDP change over five years32.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Florida areas BEA publishes58th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2308th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$30,272
Output grew 7.1 percent in the latest year and 32.6 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.
Gilchrist County
Employment by industry in Gilchrist County
- Covered employment, annual average3,814
- Establishments reporting394
- Average annual pay$46,829
- Average weekly wage$901
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment409
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, average annual pay$48,641
- Construction, employment390
- Construction, average annual pay$54,300
- Manufacturing, employment314
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,470
- Retail trade, employment215
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,261
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment129
- Other services, except public administration, employment106
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 409 | 30 | $48,641 |
| Construction | 390 | 66 | $54,300 |
| Manufacturing | 314 | 12 | $61,470 |
| Retail trade | 215 | 38 | $30,261 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 129 | 28 | $41,333 |
| Other services, except public administration | 106 | 30 | $46,530 |
| Finance and insurance | 52 | 14 | $60,045 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 42 | 16 | $44,065 |
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting is the largest private sector at 409 jobs, 10.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Gilchrist County
How many businesses are in Gilchrist County?
- Establishments, all industries295
- Employment at those establishments2,222
- Annual payroll$98.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents15.5
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.
Gilchrist County
Building permits in Gilchrist County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202494
- Declared construction value permitted$24.5 m
- Single family units authorized94
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$260,495
- Units authorized per 1,000 households13.1
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Gilchrist County
SBA loans in Gilchrist County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded9
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$8.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$968,989
- Median 7(a) approval$460,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)34
- Jobs per approval3.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active6
- Distinct industries receiving approvals9
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer33.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter5
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Most active lenderWells Fargo Bank National Association (3)
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gilchrist County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Gilchrist County
Do SBA loans in Gilchrist County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full1
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure7
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 1 loan has reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
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.
Gilchrist County
SBA lending by place in Gilchrist County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Trenton, approvals5
- Fanning Springs, approvals1
- High Springs, approvals1
- Bell, approvals1
- Branford, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton | 5 | $3,380,900 |
| Fanning Springs | 1 | $5,000,000 |
| High Springs | 1 | $280,000 |
| Bell | 1 | $50,000 |
| Branford | 1 | $10,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gilchrist County
How large is Gilchrist County?
- Land area350 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Florida counties63rd of 67
- Width, east to west17.6 mi
- Height, north to south25.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land54
- Establishments per square mile0.84
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.
Gilchrist County
Flood risk in Gilchrist County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Gilchrist County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 120094
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- 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 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Gilchrist County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Gilchrist County (community 120094), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Gilchrist County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 10, 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 Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202419,040
- Households7,151
- Average household size2.66
- Median household income$63,523
- Median age43.2
Common questions
Gilchrist County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Gilchrist County, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates 20,233 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 19,040, in 7,151 households, ranking 56th of 67 Florida counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Gilchrist County's population growing?
The population has grown 13.29 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,860, to 20,233 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 225 births against 233 deaths, with net migration of 502. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Gilchrist County?
$63,523. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $199,900, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $926 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Gilchrist County?
295 establishments, employing 2,222 people with an annual payroll of $98.0 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Gilchrist County?
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting is the largest private sector at 409 jobs, 10.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 3,814 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,829, or $901 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Gilchrist County?
9 7(a) approvals totaling $8.7 m since FY2020, across 6 lenders, with a median approval of $460,000. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Gilchrist County?
94 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $24.5 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Gilchrist County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Gilchrist County come from?
The largest single origin is Alachua County, with 184 households. Arriving households report an average income of $59,249 against $40,564 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist 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.
Gilchrist County
Cities and places in Gilchrist.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Gilchrist County. All 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | city | 2,320 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Fanning Springs | city | 942 | 1 | 38.4 percent here, 61.6 percent Levy County |
| Bell | town | 563 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Ridge | CDP | 555 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 9 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Gilchrist County, the largest being High Springs (1), Branford (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