32653 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
32605
32653
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 29%
vs45 · Bottom 30%
Growth
74 · Top 10%
vs74 · Top 10%
Climate
85 · Top 9%
vs85 · Top 9%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 33%
vs43 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 39%
vs98 · Top 15%
Access
82 · Bottom 24%
vs85 · Bottom 29%
Economic stability
68 · Top 35%
vs53 · Bottom 38%
Measured values
| Metric | 32605 | 32653 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,689 | 15,150 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $86,714 | $93,913 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,915 | $48,302 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,515/sq mi | 393/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $284,900 | $301,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,623 | $1,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.9% | 83.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4% | 6.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.6% | 50.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 11.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,009 | 2,009 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 13.8 | 13.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 102.1% | 102.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 43°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.3" | 48.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 32 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 25.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.5 | 46.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 1 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.99 | 15.08 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 45.3% | 34.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
32605
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
32653
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
Full profiles: 32605 — Gainesville, FL · 32653 — Gainesville, FL · How this is calculated: methodology