The Cox Furniture Store (also known as the Simonson Opera House or Edwards Opera House or New Baird Theater) c. 1890 is a historic site in Gainesville, Florida, United States.

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44 on the National Register · #6 in FLHistoric places →

Know Gainesville

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Gainesville

City in Florida, United States

1853Established

141,085Population

63.5 sq miArea

177 ftElevation

Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Alachua County, Florida, United States. It is the most populous city in North Central Florida with a population of 141,085 at the 2020 census, while the Gainesville metropolitan area has an estimated 360,000 residents. Gainesville is home to the University of Florida, the third-largest public university campus by enrollment in the United States as of the 2023–2024 academic year. The university is represented by the Florida Gators sports teams in NCAA competitions.

Official town website ↗

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

How Gainesville ranks

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#26Shortest commute in FL #73Most educated in FL #74Closest to a top hospital in FL All FL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code32601, 32602, 32603

Area code352

Living in Gainesville

Housing in Gainesville

$296K▼ 1.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Gainesville home is worth about $296,000, down 1.2% in a year, 21% below the Florida typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market42

Sale-to-list96.7%

Sold in May156

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Gainesville

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Gainesville's police department reported only 2023 and 2024, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Gainesville 7.4

Florida 2.6

U.S. 3.6

Property crime per 1,000

Gainesville 27

Florida 12.6

U.S. 17.7

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Gainesville

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53% of Gainesville’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Jacksonville (5%), Alachua (3%) and Tallahassee (1%). Half commute less than 5 miles.

Jacksonville

Alachua

Tallahassee

Ocala

53%Work in townlive and work in Gainesville 5 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 92,423Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Gainesville →

Health in Gainesville

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 68% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 97% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Florida

11better than FL·7worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 8 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▲ 2▼ 2 close Habits 1▲ 1▼ 2 close Care 1▲ 3▼ 3 close Mind 1▲ 1▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.2%Fewer adults who have had cancerFL 9.1% · better 4.5%Fewer adults with heart diseaseFL 7.5% · better 21.3%More adults in frequent mental distressFL 15.8% · worse

Care nearby

Uf Health Shands HospitalGainesville · 2.7 mi · ER

Aza HealthGainesville · 2.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

2 hospitals · 2 health centers in Gainesville →

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Gainesville

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities.

🌀 Hurricanes🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

57Does Gainesville flood?paid flood claims since 1988 11Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Gainesville

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

Climate in Gainesville

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Gainesville has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 43°, and snow is almost unheard of.

70° / 45°Winter

82° / 56°Spring

91° / 71°Summer

82° / 60°Fall

How much snow does Gainesville get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Dec 2, with the last in spring around Mar 3.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 Gainesville →

Schools in Gainesville

All Gainesville schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Gainesville’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.

#216Best public schoolsof 488 in FL

DistrictALACHUASchools40

Littlewood Elementary School B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 714 students William S. Talbot Elem School A-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 573 students C. W. Norton Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 540 students Carolyn Beatrice Parker Elementary B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 501 students W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 463 students Glen Springs Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 429 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.