At a glance
| Typical home value | $327,300 (−2.1% in a year, Zillow, Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| County | Alachua County |
| Population | 10,574 (2020 Census) |
| Area | 36.56 square miles |
| Incorporated | 12 April 1905 |
| Main ZIP | 32615 (City Hall, 15100 NW 142nd Terrace) |
| City utilities | Electric, water and wastewater |
| Preliminary 2026 millage | 21.4446 total |
Alachua at a glance
Alachua sits northwest of Gainesville, with Interstate 75 passing west of downtown and US 441 running through the center. The town was founded in 1884 when the railroad bypassed nearby Newnansville, and it incorporated as a city on 12 April 1905. It is the second most populous city in Alachua County and part of the Gainesville metro area.
Main Street is the core of the Downtown Historic District. The city's other anchor is Progress Corporate Park, home to the UF Innovate Sid Martin Biotech incubator and San Felasco Tech City, which together make up one of the state's larger life science business clusters. Distribution centers are concentrated near the I-75 interchange.
Is Alachua, FL a good place to live?
Alachua suits a buyer who wants a small city with its own government and utilities, a historic Main Street and a large employment base in life sciences, within the Gainesville metro. Its 2020 Census population of 10,574 was up from 9,059 in 2010. It suits someone who wants to be close to the UF campus or downtown Gainesville less, since most trips there are by car on I-75 or US 441.
On costs, Zillow's typical home value of $327,303 is above Gainesville's, but the city's preliminary 2026 millage of 21.4446 is slightly below Gainesville's 21.9243. A home in unincorporated land near Alachua pays county millage instead, so check each parcel.
Homes and prices in Alachua
What homes cost
Zillow's typical home value for Alachua was $327,303 in August 2026, down 2.1% from a year earlier. That is above Gainesville's $295,760 (down 1.2%) and close to Newberry at $329,546 (down 2.0%).
| Place | Zillow typical home value, Aug 2026 | 1-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua | $327,303 | -2.1% |
| Newberry | $329,546 | -2.0% |
| Gainesville | $295,760 | -1.2% |
A falling typical value gives buyers more room to negotiate, but it is an average across very different homes. Ask a local agent for closed sales in the subdivision you are considering, and see the Gainesville housing market page for metro days to pending and price-cut trends.
Types of homes
The 2020 Census counted 4,504 housing units in the city, from early 20th-century homes in the downtown historic district to newer subdivisions. It found a homeowner vacancy rate of 2.6% and a rental vacancy rate of 5.7%.
Areas in and around Alachua
Downtown Historic District and Main Street
Main Street is the heart of the City of Alachua Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The residential part of the district lies mostly west of Main Street, south of US 441, with homes built mainly in the early 20th century. Ask the city about any design rules before you plan exterior changes.
The US 441 corridor
US 441 runs east-west through the city along the old rail line, lined with businesses heading west toward I-75 and east toward Gainesville. Homes near the corridor are closest to shopping and the interstate.
Near Progress Corporate Park and San Felasco
East on US 441 is Progress Corporate Park, home to the UF Innovate Sid Martin Biotech incubator. The northern entrance of San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park is reached through the park entrance and via San Felasco Parkway, built in 2019.
Unincorporated land with an Alachua address
The city covers only about 24.5% of the land in ZIP 32615. Homes on the remaining land use Alachua mailing addresses but pay county millage and may have well and septic rather than city utilities.
Living in Alachua
Schools
Alachua County Public Schools operates W.W. Irby Elementary (K to 2), Alachua Elementary (3 to 5), A.L. Mebane Middle School and Santa Fe High School in the city, and Alachua Learning Academy is a K to 8 public charter school. Confirm zoned schools for the exact address with the district.
Parks and recreation
City recreation centers on the Hal Brady Recreation Complex and Legacy Park, with youth sports, adult classes and an open gym at the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center. San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park borders the city.
Events
The city hosts a Fourth of July celebration it bills as the largest small-town fireworks display in America, and Holiday Nights on Main with a tree lighting and parade.
Jobs
Alachua has one of Florida's largest bio and life science clusters, and distribution centers sit mainly in the southwest of the city near the I-75 interchange. The Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies is across from Progress Corporate Park.
ZIP codes and city limits
City Hall's address is in ZIP 32615, but a 32615 address does not mean a home is inside the city. Census Bureau data show the City of Alachua covers only about 24.5% of the land in the 32615 ZIP area, with most of the rest unincorporated. A small part of 32653 is also inside city limits.
This matters for taxes, utilities and permits. Check the parcel on the Alachua County Property Appraiser's site to confirm whether it is in the city, and see the Gainesville ZIP code guide for the surrounding areas.
Costs and taxes
Property tax
The Alachua County Property Appraiser's preliminary 2026 table lists a total millage of 21.4446 for the City of Alachua, including the city's 6.2500 operating rate. That compares with 21.9243 inside Gainesville and 18.7624 in unincorporated areas of the same water district. Final rates are set each September, and exemptions such as homestead reduce the taxable value. The Alachua County property tax guide explains the rest of the bill.
City utilities
The City of Alachua provides electric, water and wastewater service inside its service area, so your utility bill comes from the city rather than Gainesville Regional Utilities. The city also levies a 10% utility tax on electric, gas and water charges. Ask the seller for 12 months of utility bills.
Flood and insurance
Check the parcel on FEMA's flood map and ask the seller for any elevation certificate. FEMA notes that most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, so price a separate flood policy even outside a high-risk zone, and get insurance quotes before your inspection period ends.
Getting to Gainesville
Alachua sits northwest of Gainesville, with I-75 passing just west of downtown Alachua and US 441 running through the center toward Gainesville. ZIP 32653, north of Gainesville, overlaps both cities, so some homes sit close to the line between them.
By car
Most commuters drive I-75 or US 441. Drive the route to your workplace at rush hour before you commit, and on a UF home football weekend if you will head toward campus.
By bus
RTS is the City of Gainesville's bus system. Check the current RTS route map for any service to your address before relying on transit.
Pros and cons of living in Alachua
Pro: lower city millage than Gainesville
21.4446 against 21.9243 in the preliminary 2026 tables.
Pro: local jobs
Progress Corporate Park and the distribution centers near I-75 give the city an employment base of its own.
Pro: a historic downtown
Main Street and the surrounding early 20th-century homes are on the National Register.
Con: higher typical price than Gainesville
$327,303 against $295,760 (Zillow, August 2026).
Con: a drive to Gainesville
Campus, downtown and UF Health trips are by car for most residents.
What to check before you move
- City or county. Confirm the taxing district and utility provider for the parcel.
- Schools. Santa Fe High School is in Alachua. Confirm zoned schools for the exact address with Alachua County Public Schools.
- Commute. Drive the route to your workplace at rush hour on I-75 or US 441 before you commit.
- New construction. Ask about impact fees, HOA dues and any special district assessment. The Gainesville new construction guide explains CDD checks.
For the wider move, see the Gainesville relocation guide.
Common questions
How much is a house in Alachua, FL?+
Zillow's typical home value for Alachua was $327,303 in August 2026, down 2.1% from a year earlier. That is higher than Gainesville's $295,760 and similar to Newberry's $329,546. Prices vary widely by subdivision, age and lot size, so ask a local agent for recent closed sales near the home you like.
Is Alachua, FL part of Gainesville?+
No. Alachua is a separate city, incorporated in 1905, with its own government and utilities. It is part of the Gainesville metropolitan area and sits northwest of Gainesville on I-75 and US 441. Its 2020 Census population was 10,574, making it the second most populous city in Alachua County.
What are property taxes in Alachua, FL?+
The Alachua County Property Appraiser's preliminary 2026 table lists a total millage of 21.4446 for the City of Alachua. On $300,000 of taxable value that is about $6,433 in ad valorem tax before non-ad valorem charges. Homestead and other exemptions lower the taxable value, and final rates are adopted in September.
Who provides utilities in Alachua, FL?+
The City of Alachua runs its own electric, water and wastewater utilities, so homes inside its service area are billed by the city instead of Gainesville Regional Utilities. The city also levies a 10% utility tax on electric, gas and water charges. Confirm the provider for a specific address before you buy.
Is Alachua, FL a good place to live?+
It depends on your priorities. Alachua is a city of 10,574 people (2020 Census) with its own utilities, a historic Main Street, a life science business park and preliminary 2026 millage of 21.4446, slightly below Gainesville's. Zillow's typical home value was $327,303 in August 2026. Most trips to Gainesville are by car on I-75 or US 441.
What schools are in Alachua, FL?+
Alachua County Public Schools operates W.W. Irby Elementary (K to 2), Alachua Elementary (3 to 5), A.L. Mebane Middle School and Santa Fe High School in the city, and Alachua Learning Academy is a K to 8 public charter school. School zones can change, so confirm the zoned schools for an exact address with the district.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Alachua, Florida
- City of Alachua: Official website
- City of Alachua: Economic development
- Alachua County Property Appraiser: Preliminary 2026 millages (4 August 2026)
- Gainesville Regional Utilities: FY26 residential rate sheet (effective 1 October 2025)
- US Census Bureau: 2020 ZCTA to place relationship file
- FEMA FloodSmart: Flood insurance basics
- Zillow: Home Value Index and market data (August 2026)
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Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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