Gainesville receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Gainesville
Ocala
Opportunity
38 · Bottom 16%
vs41 · Bottom 21%
Growth
78 · Top 8%
vs79 · Top 7%
Climate
85 · Top 2%
vs84 · Top 3%
Physical resilience
36 · Bottom 25%
vs22 · Bottom 11%
Housing affordability
68 · Bottom 11%
vs73 · Bottom 14%
Access
73 · Bottom 44%
vs70 · Bottom 38%
Economic stability
34 · Bottom 25%
vs30 · Bottom 20%
Measured values
| Metric | Gainesville | Ocala | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 349,923 | 400,078 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,468 | $61,010 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,916 | $33,539 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 149/sq mi | 252/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $266,200 | $243,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,295 | $1,277 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.3% | 77.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 5.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 23.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 14.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,965 | 5,645 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.5 | 14.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 61.1% | -11.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 46°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.3" | 51.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 51 mi | 57 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 28.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.5 | 47.9 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Gainesville
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
Ocala
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Gainesville
59
Your Score
57
Area Score
Ocala
57
Your Score
55
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Gainesville, FL Metro Area · Ocala, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology