4 Most Affordable Gainesville Suburbs to Live In

Whether you want to call it by its nickname, “Hogtown,” or just by its name, Gainesville is a great area to live in on the Gulf Coast. This coastal city is known for many things including its parks, nature, and historic architecture.

If you’re looking to buy a home in Gainesville, expect to see the median home sale price coming in at $259,500 and the average sale price per square foot is $177. And if you’re looking to rent an apartment in Gainesville, the average rent price for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,491.

Don’t worry if those prices don’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. To help you find the right city, we’ve collected a list of the 4 best affordable Gainesville suburbs to check out. And they’re all less than 35 minutes away from the city. No matter where you live, you’ll still be close enough to Gainesville to explore all the city has to offer without the price of living there. 

#1: Starke

Median home price: $149,900 
Average sale price per square foot: $165 
Driving distance from Gainesville: 35 minutes
Starke, FL homes for sale
Starke, FL apartments for rent

With a median home sale price of $149,900, Starke is the most affordable Gainesville suburb on our list. About 5,800 people live in this suburban area and you’ll only be about a 35-minute drive away from downtown Gainesville. If you’re considering moving to this area make sure to explore the Bradford County Fair, check out the charming downtown, or visit Crosby Lake.

#2: High Springs

Median home price: $274,900 
Average sale price per square foot: $193 
Driving distance from Gainesville: 35 minutes
High Springs, FL homes for sale
High Springs, FL apartments for rent

Just a little more expensive than Starke is High Springs. About a 35-minute drive away from downtown Gainesville, you can explore the Butterfly Rainforest and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in no time. When living in this suburb of 6,200 people, you can also spend the day checking out the downtown High Springs area.

#3: Newberry

Median home price: $310,990 
Average sale price per square foot: $175 
Driving distance from Gainesville: 35 minutes
Newberry, FL homes for sale
Newberry, FL apartments for rent

Just 35 minutes away, you’ll find the suburb of Newberry. Even with a population of about 7,300, there are plenty of unique spots to visit in Newberry. If you move to the third most affordable suburb, make sure to explore Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Area where you’ll find a pond and walking trails. 

#4: Alachua

Median home price: $357,245 
Average sale price per square foot: $181 
Driving distance from Gainesville: 25 minutes
Alachua, FL homes for sale
Alachua, FL apartments for rent

Only slightly more expensive than Newberry is none other than Alachua. There are several top attractions you may want to check out in Gainesville suburb. Make sure to visit Turkey Creek Preserve or check out one of the golf courses.

Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Gainesville and under a 35-minute drive from downtown Gainesville. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com March 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.

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