What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Gainesville, Florida?

Found all throughout Florida are several major cities and tourist hubs. In the North Central region of the state, Gainesville is the place to be.

Sports fans are likely familiar with the city of Gainesville to some degree. Still, even they may not know enough about the city’s unique characteristics. We’re here to tell you more about Gainesville and what you can expect if you opt to move there.

The cost of living expenses in Gainesville are more affordable compared to state levels. Its natural beauty and strong economy also serve as real reasons to consider moving there. Unfortunately, Gainesville is plagued by high crime rates so you must keep that in mind before deciding on your move.

Should you consider living in Gainesville long-term? There’s a case to be made for and against it. Learn more about those respective cases by continuing with this article.

Cost of living expenses in Florida tends to be on the high side. Housing prices, groceries, and transportation-related expenses are usually expensive. Those aforementioned items often come out more expensive relative to the rest of the country.

High cost of living expenses typically come part and parcel with the experience of living in Florida. We say typically because there are exceptions. The city of Gainesville happens to be one of those exceptions.

Most of the essential expenses in Gainesville are more affordable compared to the rest of Florida. House prices in particular are quite low. The median price for a new home in Gainesville is about $182,000. For the rest of the state, that number is closer to $237,000. It’s not difficult to imagine how helpful those savings will be.

With affordable housing available throughout the city, selecting a home will be more enjoyable. You can look through more options and target specific neighborhoods if you so choose.

Beyond housing, transportation expenses and groceries are also more affordable in Gainesville. The savings you get from the transportation expenses are especially substantial. Utilities and healthcare costs remain expensive in Gainesville. The good news is that they aren’t far above the country average. They are still manageable expenses for the most part.

Gainesville is proudly home to the University of Florida. The University of Florida is one of the largest public universities in the entire country. To say it has a huge impact on the city of Gainesville would be no exaggeration.

The University of Florida has received plenty of recognition for its achievements in the field of academics. It routinely ranks highly among public universities overall. The same can be said for its research rankings in terms of the Carnegie Classification.

Students who choose to attend the University of Florida have a wide range of degree programs to choose from. Your kids won’t be lacking options if they decide to continue their studies there.

The school also has a reputation for being a powerhouse in the world of college sports. Known as the Florida Gators, the school has won numerous national championships. The University of Florida also boasts a long list of college players that have gone on to star in professional leagues.

If your child is hoping to attend a top-level college, the University of Florida will not disappoint them. You can introduce them to the school early on by moving to Gainesville.

Nature lovers will not regret their decision to move to Gainesville. The city has so much to offer if you prefer to spend your free time outdoors.

Are you looking for peaceful spots where you can be one with nature? The Morningside Nature Center and Kanapaha Botanical Gardens are great for that.

If you’re interested in getting to know the wildlife in the area, Gainesville has spots for you too. Visit Payne’s Prairie Preserve State Park and the Ichetucknee Springs State Park to watch the Gainesville wildlife from a safe distance.

Gainesville is also home to some unique natural attractions. The Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park and the Butterfly Rainforest are famous for offering unique experiences to their visitors. You can also find beaches close to Gainesville if you’re looking to have fun near the water.

The city of Gainesville is paradise for natural lovers. You won’t find a lot of other cities that can outdo Gainesville in that regard.

The status of the economy in Gainesville is another reason to consider living there long-term. Recent events have had an enormous impact on the economies of cities throughout the United States. Gainesville has been affected as well, but the impact is not as pronounced.

The unemployment rate in the city is at 4.4 percent. That’s well below the country-wide mark of 6.0 percent.

A big part of the reason why the economy has mostly remained stable in Gainesville is because of the major industries there. Healthcare companies and the University of Florida are among the biggest employers in the city. They have offered stability at a time when it is very much needed.

The outlook for the job market in Gainesville is also positive. It’s expected to grow at a faster rate than the rest of the country. Future job opportunities may become even easier to come by for residents of the city.

High crime rates have been recorded fairly consistently in Gainesville. You will also have to be on guard against criminal activity if you’re thinking of moving there.

According to Neighborhood Scout, both the property and violent crime rates in Gainesville are high. Even if you’re just comparing them to Florida, they are still on the high side.

Living in a city with high crime rates is a real challenge. That is especially true if you have kids.

Setting up an elaborate security system will certainly help stop criminals from targeting your home. However, you still have to worry whenever you’re outside your home to run errands. Consider the crime rates carefully before deciding if Gainesville is for you.

Florida is probably the most humid state in the country. Even though Gainesville is located in the North Central region of the state, humidity remains an issue there.

The humidity gets really bad during the months of July, August, and September. Those are the rainiest months of the year in Gainesville. When you combine plenty of rain with the heat in Gainesville, you get an incredibly humid environment.

Sweating through your clothes is almost inevitable during that time of the year. Even taking a shower frequently may not save you from sweating.

The solution to the humidity problem in Gainesville is probably to use some appliances. A whole-house dehumidifier can keep you nice and comfortable even when the humidity levels are at their highest. Running that dehumidifier all day will cost a lot of money though so be prepared for that.

If you’d prefer not to run up your utilities due to the dehumidifier, there are other ways to combat the humidity. Proper home maintenance is going to help out a lot. Clean out your gutters and fix any leaks to help with the humidity issue.

You could also try changing the layout of your home interior. Open up space and the windows so the humidity doesn’t get trapped inside your home.

Dealing with humidity is going to be a constant in your life if you move to Gainesville. Learn how to handle it now so you can settle in faster.

Related Questions

What Other Industries Are Emerging in Gainesville?

The healthcare and education industries are the major employers in Gainesville. That has been the case for a long time. Still, there are other businesses that are turning into major players within the city.To be more specific, the tech industry is really starting to make its presence felt in Gainesville. Startup tech companies have become more prevalent in the city and they are becoming key elements of the community.Gainesville is far from being considered as a major player in the tech industry at this point in time. However, you can clearly see that the foundation is there. If you have an idea for a tech startup of your own, moving to Gainesville may be a good idea.

How Do Residents Move around Gainesville?

Living in Gainesville is easier if you have your own car. Many of the important locations in the city are spread far apart. You won’t have to rush as much if you can use your own vehicle.That isn’t to say that the public transportation in the city is lacking. Gainesville actually has one of the larger public transportation systems in Florida.Those public utility vehicles tend to get crowded though. Using public transportation during rush hour can be a rough experience.