Best Neighborhoods to Live in Gainesville, FL

Living in “The Swamp” might not sound appealing, but hold onto your alligators. Gainesville, FL, makes college town living fun and affordable. While the city grew around the University of Florida, people kept coming and staying for excellent healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and countless things to do. Gainesville may be a city, but it has a suburban feel with few high rises, streets draped in oak trees, and sprawling neighborhoods.

Take a closer look at why people are moving to this north-central Florida town. Then, to help your home search, we’ve chosen a few top neighborhoods to live in Gainesville.

Why live in Gainesville, FL?

Located in north central Florida, Gainesville started as a small Florida town that grew into a city. Still, it never forgot its roots, giving Gainesville its special character. Southern charm and hospitality, plus the surrounding rural countryside and small towns, might make you think you’re in Georgia or Alabama.

Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County and home to the University of Florida, one of the nation’s best universities. The sprawling campus houses museums, performing arts centers, and sporting venues like “The Swamp,” the nickname for the football stadium. The University of Florida is on the list of top 30 universities in the country and ranked number 16 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 list of Best Colleges for Veterans.

It’s hard to extricate the city’s identity from UF, but as Gainesville grows, it’s becoming more than a college town. The city has a population of over 131,000 people and spans over 62 square miles. It can feel busier and more crowded during the semester, especially around the campus. But it’s not the only reason people come to Gainesville. It’s become a shopping, dining, and recreation destination for surrounding north Florida communities.

Gainesville’s cost of living is noticeably lower than other Florida cities and the national average. In fact, Gainesville was ranked number five on Livability.com’s 2019 list of the Most Affordable Cities in America. Sperling’s Best Places Index had it 13% cheaper than the state of Florida, with housing at 22% below average. That’s good news for your wallet, whether you’re a student, professional, or retiree.

The healthcare scene is strong in Gainesville with two nationally recognized hospitals by U.S. News & World Report: Shands at the University of Florida and North Florida Regional Medical Center. These hospitals attract top talent to the area. Residents can rest easily knowing they have access to quality care near home.

Gainesville is home to great art and entertainment venues, ranging from live music at the Bo Diddley Plaza, outdoor movies in the park, farmers markets, and unique festivals like the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire.

Residents enjoy no shortage of outdoor recreation options. The city maintains more than 100 parks, 14 nature trails, and bike paths. Plus, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is just south of the city.

With so many things to do, a lively college town atmosphere, and a stable economy, no wonder people stick around Gainesville. If you’re interested in finding a place to live, check out these top neighborhoods.

Duckpond

With a name like Duckpond, you can be assured this community has an interesting history and character.

If you walk down any street in the Duckpond, it feels as though you have been transported back in time. This is one of Gainesville’s oldest neighborhoods, and its buildings reflect architectural styles from Florida prevalent between 1880 to 1950. The original section of this historic district was platted back in 1854!

Sweetwater Branch is a spring-fed creek that begins northwest of the neighborhood. It was dammed and turned into a pond, providing the neighborhood’s namesake and central focal point.

Duckpond is close to downtown Gainesville and features a vibrant arts scene with several galleries, shops, and live music venues. The Thomas Center Gardens are an oasis in the city with gorgeous spring blooms.

Expect to find Colonial-style and old Florida architecture homes. The December 2022 market had 13 homes for sale listed at a median of $343,800. The most expensive listing was $949,400.

Haile Plantation

Haile Plantation is a master-planned community inspired by the New Urbanism movement. It’s conveniently located about seven miles southwest of Gainesville. The neighborhood was built on a cotton plantation once owned by the Haile family in 1854. You can still visit the historic homestead for a step back in time.

Developed into 2,600 homes starting in the 1970s, it still retains its old Florida charm. A quaint village downtown hosts the neighborhood farmer’s market every Saturday morning. Residents come to the downtown for its charming shops and restaurants. Walkable trails crisscross a dozen sub-neighborhoods. Four different community associations provide activities for the Haile Plantation neighborhoods.

Hawkstone Country Club, a private golf course, is part of Haile Plantation. It’s surrounded by a nature preserve and wetlands.

The architecture here ranges from modern to plantation-style, with homes built over the past few decades. You’ll find everything from single-family homes to townhomes and condos.

Hazel Heights

Blend walkability and affordability in this central Gainesville neighborhood. Home to around 1,600 people, the area is beside Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park. The 70-acre park preserves natural wetlands you can see from the nature trails. Or, spend the day at one of the picnic pavilions or playgrounds.

You’ll still need a car to get around town, but Hazel Heights is on North 13th Street, giving locals a direct line to the UF Campus.

Prices are significantly lower here, making it a hot market in late 2022. A median list price of just $289,900 in December 2022 for the eight homes on the market makes owning a home possible. Many homes range from 1,200-1,700 sq ft and have a midcentury or 1970s Florida style.

Highland Court Manor

Highland Court Manor is a small neighborhood spanning just a few blocks, but it’s popular among retirees and young professionals seeking a quiet, out-of-the-way neighborhood with affordable homes.

Just minutes from downtown Gainesville via Main Street, the convenience makes this one of the city’s most appealing neighborhoods. Nearby are golf courses and conservation parks. The UF East Campus is two blocks over on Highway 24. Northside Shopping Center meets residents’ daily grocery and essential needs.

The homes in the community predominantly date back to 1960-1980, as demonstrated by their styles and architecture. Affordability is their hallmark, as the six listings had a median price of $209,500 in December 2022.

Pleasant Street Historic District

Get a glimpse of the city’s past in this National Historic District. Just west of downtown, the neighborhood was a thriving black community in Florida during the early 1900s during the post-Civil War reconstruction era. Many prominent black residents lived here and built their homes. Today, around 259 contributing historic homes add to the neighborhood’s character.

The residential community revolves around Pleasant Street: an eight-block street lined with charming Colonial Revival, bungalow, shotgun, and Stick-style residences. The neighborhood has grandeur with its broad avenues and sidewalks containing tall trees and small house gardens. The lawns are adorned with white picket fences, giving the area a vintage look.

The residential blocks are surrounded by commercial development that brings life and liveliness to this side of town. It’s just northeast of the UF Campus, adding to its appeal.

Prices here range significantly depending on size, but the four listings in December 2022 ranged from $99,000 to $324,000. They included vacant lots and single-family historic homes.

Suburban Heights

The feel is in the name: Suburban Heights. This residential neighborhood straddles Newberry Road, with some homes facing a six-acre greenway park. Around 1,500 people call this community home.

Suburban Heights has quick access to I-75 for commuters and is near Gainesville’s top attractions, such as Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Oaks Mall, and the UF Bat Houses.

Some recent developments are giving this area more modern styles and amenities, but most homes here are brick ranch-style houses built in the 1960s. The larger lots feature more spacious homes compared to central Gainesville neighborhoods. This provides excellent variety for those looking for an affordable home in Gainesville. The five listings in December 2022 had a median price of $422,500. Home sizes ranged from 1,800-3,957 sq ft.

Sugarfoot

If you’re looking for a place to call home that’s both safe and convenient, look no further. Located close enough to downtown Gainesville to be an easy drive, Sugarfoot feels like a world apart from the bustling UF campus. Just minutes from I-75 and State Route 121, it’s perfect for anyone who wants easy access to the city. Plus, its friendly atmosphere means you’ll always feel right at home.

Sugarfoot is the perfect place for nature lovers, as it’s situated near Clear Lake Nature Park. Additionally, Green Acres Park lies to its south, and John Mahon Nature Park is north of Sugarfoot. An active community association hosts events like an annual picnic near the end of October.

Most residences are wood frame and brick structures built starting in the 1950s. It’s one of the lesser-known neighborhoods in town, but prices hint at its appeal. The two listings in December 2022 had a median price of $366,900.

University Park

University Park is the most coveted neighborhood in Gainesville for college students and employees. This upscale residential community is on the northern end of the UF campus and near Shands Hospital.

The area surrounding the university provides many opportunities for employment and education, as well as casual eateries, bars, and nightclubs. Once you make it known you live in UP, you’ll have many friends, as you’re close to the school’s sports stadiums, where parking is a crunch on game day.

There are many top attractions and activities in this neighborhood that you can easily walk to, such as the Florida Museum of Natural History, a golf course, Lake Alice, and much more.

The homes here are varied, mixing old construction and new construction. Yes, there are condos and apartments, but there are also single-family homes in all styles. December 2022 had 12 listings at a median of $494,300.

Westmoreland

Westmoreland stands out for its longtime residents and large and well-tended homes. It’s a small area, with just over 500 people living here in 2022, but it is one of the more amenity-convenient neighborhoods in Gainesville.

The shopping areas like Oaks Mall and the big box stores are balanced by the other amenities in the vicinity: gyms, churches, and medical centers. If you’re feeling outdoorsy, Split Rock Conservation Area has pedestrian and bicycle trails waiting to be explored. Or, take a walk through ancient oak trees at Clear Lake Nature Park.

The streets are lined with live oaks, and each house has plenty of character, from the historic to the modern. Many homes were developed in the 1950s, but construction continued through the 1980s. Bungalows sit next to mid-century ranches. Home sizes range from 1,179-2,324 sq ft. Two homes were for sale in December 2022, ranging from $274-$300K.

Living in Gainesville’s Best Neighborhoods

If you’re looking for an affordable place to live with unique attractions, excellent schools, and quick access to downtown Gainesville, look no further. Whether it’s Duckpond, Pleasant Street Historic District, or University Park—you’ll find something here for everyone. Each neighborhood is unique in its own way and has different offerings in terms of cost and amenities. So take some time to explore Gainesville and see what each of these neighborhoods has to offer!