32609 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
32609
32641
Opportunity
29 · Bottom 7%
vs24 · Bottom 4%
Growth
74 · Top 10%
vs74 · Top 10%
Climate
85 · Top 9%
vs85 · Top 9%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 33%
vs43 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 28%
vs52 · Bottom 14%
Schools
35 · Bottom 29%
vs25 · Bottom 16%
Access
84 · Bottom 27%
vs79 · Bottom 20%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 9%
vs20 · Bottom 3%
Measured values
| Metric | 32609 | 32641 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,752 | 13,963 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $49,406 | $35,223 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $27,276 | $20,107 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 168/sq mi | 203/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $178,900 | $144,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,258 | $1,006 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.2% | 57.0% | 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 | 27.1% | 20.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 27.8% | 30.7% | 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 | 33 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 23.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.6 | 39.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.20 | 20.51 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 47.9% | 40.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 47.9% | 46.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 57.3% | 60.7% | 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
32609
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
32641
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
Full profiles: 32609 — Gainesville, FL · 32641 — Gainesville, FL · How this is calculated: methodology