At a glance
| Location | Unincorporated Alachua County, between Gainesville and Newberry on SR 26 |
|---|---|
| Approximate extent | Parker Road (122nd Street) west to about 170th Street |
| Subdivisions | Amelia Fields, Town of Tioga, Arbor Greens, Strawberry Fields, Wyndsong |
| Parks | Jonesville Park; planned West End park on a 75-acre former golf course |
| Fire rescue | Alachua County Fire Rescue Station 24 |
| Name origin | John Joseph Jones, first postmaster when the post office opened in 1875 |
Jonesville at a glance
Jonesville stretches along State Road 26 (Newberry Road), County Road 241 and SW 8th Avenue west of Gainesville. Its eastern edge is usually given as 122nd Street (Parker Road), and it runs west to around 170th Street, short of Newberry. The name comes from John Joseph Jones, an Alabama farmer who arrived in the 1850s and became the first postmaster when the post office opened in 1875.
Over the last four decades the area has filled in with subdivisions as Gainesville grew west. Named neighborhoods include Amelia Fields, Town of Tioga, Arbor Greens, Strawberry Fields and Wyndsong, with shopping at the Steeple Chase plaza and Tioga Town Center.
Is Jonesville a good area to live?
Jonesville suits a buyer who wants a suburban subdivision west of Gainesville, county rather than city millage and quick access to State Road 26. It suits someone who wants to walk to downtown or campus less, since daily life here is by car.
Because Jonesville is a string of separate subdivisions, the right answer depends on which one. Each has its own association, age of homes and utility setup, so compare them one by one.
Homes and prices in Jonesville
Established subdivisions
Named neighborhoods include Amelia Fields, Arbor Greens, Strawberry Fields and Wyndsong, built as Gainesville grew west over the last four decades. Ask a local agent for closed sales in the specific subdivision rather than an area average.
New custom homes in Town of Tioga
Town of Tioga had new custom homes listed from $695,500 to $1,310,520 in September 2026.
How prices compare
Compare with Gainesville's typical home value of $295,760 and with Newberry to the west, where Zillow's typical value was $329,546 in August 2026.
Living in Jonesville
Jonesville Park
Jonesville Park offers baseball fields, a track, disc golf and tennis courts.
The West End park project
Alachua County has also bought a 75-acre former golf course at 12830 W. Newberry Road, which operated from 1969 to 2019, for a new park known as the West End project. In September 2024 commissioners considered $900,000 in added funding toward a projected fiscal 2025 budget of $6.78 million, with construction expected in phases.
If you are buying near the West End site, ask the county for the latest park plan, since traffic and lighting will depend on the final design.
Shopping
Shopping is at the Steeple Chase plaza and Tioga Town Center along SR 26.
Fire rescue
Alachua County Fire Rescue Station 24 serves the area.
Schools
School zones do not follow neighborhood or ZIP lines, and they change as new homes are built. Check the zoned schools for the exact address with Alachua County Public Schools before you buy, and again before you sign a builder contract.
Costs: property tax, utilities and flood
City vs county millage
Because Jonesville is unincorporated, you pay county rather than city millage. The Alachua County Property Appraiser's preliminary 2026 table shows a total of 18.7624 mills for unincorporated parcels in the Suwannee River water district, against 21.9243 mills inside Gainesville city limits in the same district.
On $300,000 of taxable value, that works out to about $5,629 a year in ad valorem tax in Jonesville versus about $6,577 inside the city, before exemptions. Non-ad valorem charges such as fire, solid waste and any HOA or special district assessments are billed on top, so compare full tax bills, not just millage. Final rates are adopted each September.
Utilities
Ask whether the home is on central water and sewer or a well and septic system. If Gainesville Regional Utilities serves the address, GRU adds a 10% surcharge on electric and a 25% surcharge on water and wastewater for customers outside city limits, plus a 10% county utility tax on most charges.
Flood
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.
Pros and cons of Jonesville
Pro: county millage
About 3 mills below city limits in the preliminary 2026 table, roughly $948 a year less on $300,000 of taxable value.
Pro: parks and new public space
Jonesville Park is in place, and the county is developing the 75-acre West End park.
Con: car-dependent
Shops, schools and work are reached by car along SR 26.
Con: utility surcharges outside the city
If GRU serves the home, out-of-city surcharges can offset part of the tax saving.
What to check before you buy
- HOA and assessments. Each subdivision has its own association and dues. Read the non-ad valorem lines on the tax bill.
- Utilities. Ask whether the home is on central water and sewer or a well and septic system.
- Taxes. County millage applies; see the Alachua County property tax guide.
- Schools. Confirm the zoned schools for the exact address with Alachua County Public Schools.
Common questions
Is Jonesville, FL a city?+
No. Jonesville is an unincorporated community in Alachua County between Gainesville and Newberry. County government handles services and permits, and county millage applies. The Alachua County Property Appraiser's preliminary 2026 table lists an unincorporated total of 18.7624 or 18.6722 mills, depending on the water management district.
What neighborhoods are in Jonesville?+
Subdivisions in the Jonesville area include Amelia Fields, Town of Tioga, Arbor Greens, Strawberry Fields and Wyndsong. The area runs roughly from Parker Road (122nd Street) west to about 170th Street along State Road 26, with shopping at Steeple Chase and Tioga Town Center.
What is the West End park in Jonesville?+
Alachua County bought a 75-acre former golf course at 12830 W. Newberry Road to build a new park. The course operated from 1969 to 2019. In September 2024 the county projected a fiscal 2025 budget of $6.78 million, with design taking about a year and construction in phases as money allows.
Why is it called Jonesville?+
The area is named for John Joseph Jones, a young Alabama farmer who moved there in the early 1850s. When a post office opened in 1875, Jones became the first postmaster, and the community took his name. The area has since grown into a string of suburban subdivisions west of Gainesville.
Is Jonesville cheaper than living in Gainesville city limits?+
On property tax, usually. The preliminary 2026 millage for unincorporated parcels in the Suwannee River water district was 18.7624, against 21.9243 inside Gainesville, about $948 less a year on $300,000 of taxable value. GRU charges out-of-city surcharges where it serves, and HOA dues vary, so compare full bills.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jonesville, Florida
- WUFT: Alachua County commissioners to vote on additional funding for West End park project (September 2024)
- Tioga Realty: Town of Tioga new construction
- Alachua County Property Appraiser: Preliminary 2026 millages (4 August 2026)
- Gainesville Regional Utilities: FY26 residential rate sheet (effective 1 October 2025)
- 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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