Alachua ( ə-LATCH-oo-ay) is the second-most populous city in Alachua County, Florida, and the third-largest in North Central Florida. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 10,574, up from 9,059 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. Alachua has one of the largest bio and life sciences sectors in Florida and is the site for the Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Alachua ranks

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#3Rent easiest to afford in FL #66Most conserved land in FL #111Most active in FL All FL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code32615, 32616

Area code386

Living in Alachua

Housing in Alachua

$327K▼ 2.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Alachua home is worth about $327,000, down 2.1% in a year, 13% below the Florida typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market63

Sale-to-list99.1%

Sold in May23

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Alachua

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Most working residents leave Alachua for work: only 10% work in town. The top destinations are Gainesville (45%), Jacksonville (5%) and High Springs (3%). Half commute less than 13 miles.

Gainesville

45%

Jacksonville

High Springs

Ocala

10%Work in townlive and work in Alachua 13 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 8,612Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Alachua →

Health in Alachua

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 75% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Florida

9better than FL

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▲ 8 close Habits 1▲ 3 close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind 2▲ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10.7%Fewer uninsured adultsFL 15.9% · better 9.1%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethFL 12.7% · better

Care nearby

Hca Florida North Florida HospitalGainesville · 9.4 mi · ER

Palms Medical Group - High SpringsHigh Springs · 4.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Alachua · CMS · HRSAHealth in Alachua →

Natural hazards in Alachua

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 68% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌀 Hurricanes🔥 Wildfire

20Does Alachua flood?paid flood claims since 1998 9Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Alachua MapAlachua vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Alachua →

Climate in Alachua

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Alachua has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 42°, and snow is almost unheard of.

69° / 44°Winter

82° / 56°Spring

91° / 71°Summer

82° / 60°Fall

How much snow does Alachua get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Dec 4, with the last in spring around Mar 4.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Alachua →

Schools in Alachua

All Alachua schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Alachua’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 55% of Florida’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Alachua’s schools compare in FL →

DistrictALACHUASchools4

W. W. Irby Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–2 · 372 students Alachua Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades 3–5 · 323 students A. L. Mebane Middle School CMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 385 students Santa Fe High School B-High · Grades 9–12 · 1,132 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within FL. Ratings are from neighbors.