Alachua County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
Alachua County, Florida has a population of 285,492 across 875 square miles, up 4.8 percent since the 2020 census base. 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.
129 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Alachua County
How many people live in Alachua County
- Population285,492
- 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-equivalents253rd
Alachua County is the 24th largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 4.7 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market 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 growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.78 percent
- Census 2020 base population278,474
- 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
The county has grown 4.78 percent since the 2020 census base. Migration contributed more to 2024 change than births over deaths, so demand here follows people arriving rather than families forming.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Alachua County
Where people moving to Alachua County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving9,100
- People arriving, from those returns14,775
- Adjusted gross income arriving$619.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$68,084
- Largest single originAlachua County Non-migrants (91,857 households)
- Largest single destination (91,857 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua County Non-migrants | 91,857 | 171,600 | $7.84 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 2,915 | 4,883 | $237.7 m |
| Other flows - South | 1,310 | 2,213 | $114.0 m |
| Other flows - Midwest | 600 | 975 | $42.7 m |
| Other flows - Northeast | 540 | 906 | $41.1 m |
| Marion County | 502 | 832 | $21.6 m |
| Other flows - West | 465 | 789 | $39.8 m |
| Broward County | 325 | 534 | $18.8 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Alachua County Non-migrants, 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 the Alachua County economy runs on
- 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 Florida counties19th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents249th
- 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
Who employs people in Alachua County
- Covered employment, annual average139,023
- Establishments reporting8,212
- Average annual pay$63,829
- Average weekly wage$1,227
- Sector 62, employment28,565
- Sector 62, average annual pay$66,140
- Sector 44-45, employment13,956
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$35,247
- Sector 72, employment13,469
- Sector 72, average annual pay$25,586
- Sector 54, employment7,037
- Sector 54, average annual pay$86,914
- Sector 56, employment6,503
- Sector 23, employment5,704
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 28,565 | 1,080 | $66,140 |
| Sector 44-45 | 13,956 | 926 | $35,247 |
| Sector 72 | 13,469 | 750 | $25,586 |
| Sector 54 | 7,037 | 1,218 | $86,914 |
| Sector 56 | 6,503 | 611 | $43,043 |
| Sector 23 | 5,704 | 664 | $61,600 |
| Sector 31-33 | 4,149 | 214 | $72,055 |
| Sector 48-49 | 3,744 | 127 | $54,623 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 28,565 jobs, 20.5 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job exceeds median household income, which usually means single earner households and a wage base that can carry rent.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Alachua County
What businesses operate 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.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Alachua County
What is being built in Alachua County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 20241,750
- Declared construction value permitted$408.7 m
- Single family units authorised822
- Multifamily units authorised928
- Multifamily share of units53.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$233,566
- Units authorised per 1,000 households15.0
Multifamily is 53.0 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Alachua County
How much SBA lending happens in Alachua County
- 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$42,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,794,400
- 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$322,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval7.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.3
- Most active CDCFlorida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc. (80)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals60.5 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$212.9 m
The average approval of $710,134 sits well above the median of $400,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually 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
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.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Alachua County
Which parts of Alachua County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending11
- Gainesville, approvals135
- NEWBERRY, approvals16
- Alachua, approvals16
- HIGH SPRINGS, approvals9
- Hawthorne, approvals5
- WALDO, approvals4
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | 135 | $101,502,100 |
| NEWBERRY | 16 | $6,427,600 |
| Alachua | 16 | $10,530,500 |
| HIGH SPRINGS | 9 | $3,657,900 |
| Hawthorne | 5 | $2,863,900 |
| WALDO | 4 | $9,100,400 |
| Micanopy | 2 | $1,536,400 |
| Gainseville | 2 | $224,000 |
Gainesville accounts for 135 approvals against 16 in NEWBERRY. 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 big 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
What hazards affect Alachua County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
- Communities 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
The EPA places the county in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The best Community Rating System class in the county is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for properties in the participating community.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
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.
- Population285,492
- 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?
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 growing?
The population has grown 4.78 percent since the 2020 census base. 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 there 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 the average wage in Alachua County?
Average annual pay is $63,829, or $1,227 a week, across 139,023 covered jobs. 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 totalling $137.1 m since FY2020, across 59 lenders, with a median approval of $400,000, plus 126 504 approvals worth $75.9 m. 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.
What is being built in Alachua County?
1,750 housing units were authorised 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 Alachua County Non-migrants, with 91,857 households. Arriving households report an average income of $68,084 against null 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?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.