Gainesville, FL vs Tallahassee, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | GainesvilleGainesville, FL | TallahasseeTallahassee, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Soft | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Safe | Elevated | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
+0.3% job growth over the past year in Gainesville, FL and +2.8% in Tallahassee, FL, a 2.5-point gap that places Tallahassee in the 87th percentile for job growth and Gainesville in the 29th. 2023 Census figures show Tallahassee's per-capita income of $35,704 is 18% higher than Gainesville's $30,282, with Tallahassee in the 42nd percentile and Gainesville in the 22nd. Tallahassee's property crime rate of 2,362 per 100,000 people is 2.2× higher than Gainesville's 1,090, placing Tallahassee in the 85th percentile and Gainesville in the 36th, while violent crime in Tallahassee (628 per 100,000) is also 2.2× higher than Gainesville's 287, with Tallahassee in the 91st percentile and Gainesville in the 60th.
Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 2.2× higher in Gainesville at 29 compared to Tallahassee's 13, with Gainesville in the 75th percentile and Tallahassee in the 39th. Air quality index values differ, with Gainesville at 38 (26th percentile) and Tallahassee at 44 (59th percentile), a 16% higher reading. The nearest large city is 61 miles from Gainesville (43rd percentile) versus 912 miles from Tallahassee (86th percentile), a 14.9× difference. Tallahassee's cost of living index of 103 is 7% higher than Gainesville's 96, and its median home value of $276,000 is 17% higher than Gainesville's $235,000.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 9645th pctl | 10351st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Gainesville, FL 96; Tallahassee, FL 103; Tallahassee is 7% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $235,00039th pctl | $276,00050th pctl | Median home value: Gainesville, FL $235,000; Tallahassee, FL $276,000; Tallahassee is 17% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,21451st pctl | $1,23853rd pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $45,6117th pctl | $55,93123rd pctl | Median household income: Gainesville, FL $45,611; Tallahassee, FL $55,931; Tallahassee is 23% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $45,65638th pctl | $53,62250th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Gainesville, FL $45,656; Tallahassee, FL $53,622; Tallahassee is 17% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $67,11538th pctl | $78,82450th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Gainesville, FL $67,115; Tallahassee, FL $78,824; Tallahassee is 17% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Tallahassee needs about
$80,500
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 96 vs 103). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.8%57th pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.3%29th pctl | +2.8%87th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Gainesville, FL +0.3%; Tallahassee, FL +2.8%; Tallahassee is 2.5 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $30,28222nd pctl | $35,70442nd pctl | Per-capita income: Gainesville, FL $30,282; Tallahassee, FL $35,704; Tallahassee is 18% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 28.0%95th pctl | 23.2%89th pctl | Poverty rate: Gainesville, FL 28.0%; Tallahassee, FL 23.2%; Gainesville is 4.8 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 18.4 min16th pctl | 18.7 min19th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 12.4%60th pctl | 12.3%59th pctl | About the same |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 28760th pctl | 62891st pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Gainesville, FL 287; Tallahassee, FL 628; Tallahassee is 2.2 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,09036th pctl | 2,36285th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Gainesville, FL 1,090; Tallahassee, FL 2,362; Tallahassee is 2.2 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Gainesville, FL B; Tallahassee, FL D+; Gainesville is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Gainesville, FL D; Tallahassee, FL B+; Tallahassee is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Sweaty | Sweaty | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Florida, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Florida →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 61 mi43rd pctl | 912 mi86th pctl | Nearest large city: Gainesville, FL 61 mi; Tallahassee, FL 912 mi; Tallahassee is 14.9 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Gainesville, FL C+; Tallahassee, FL D-; Gainesville is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 916 mi93rd pctl | 848 mi93rd pctl | Distance to international border: Gainesville, FL 916 mi; Tallahassee, FL 848 mi; Gainesville is 8% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 53 mi22nd pctl | 38 mi19th pctl | Distance to coastline: Gainesville, FL 53 mi; Tallahassee, FL 38 mi; Gainesville is 39% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 143,61192nd pctl | 199,69695th pctl | Population: Gainesville, FL 143,611; Tallahassee, FL 199,696; Tallahassee is 39% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,24465th pctl | 1,94759th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Gainesville, FL 2,244; Tallahassee, FL 1,947; Gainesville is 15% higher. |
| Median age | 26.53rd pctl | 285th pctl | Median age: Gainesville, FL 26.5; Tallahassee, FL 28; Tallahassee is 1.5 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.7%81st pctl | 51.1%81st pctl | About the same |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.216th pctl | 2.216th pctl | About the same |
More about Gainesville's residents · Tallahassee's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | GainesvilleGainesville, FL | TallahasseeTallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+10 | R+8 |
| 2024 presidential | R +21.0 pts | R +18.0 pts |
Full politics data: Gainesville · Tallahassee
Moving between Gainesville and Tallahassee
- Median rent: $1,214 in Gainesville, $1,238 in Tallahassee
- Median home value: $235,000 in Gainesville, $276,000 in Tallahassee
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 96 in Gainesville, 103 in Tallahassee
- Median household income: $45,611 in Gainesville, $55,931 in Tallahassee
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $67,115 in Gainesville, $78,824 in Tallahassee
- Unemployment: 3.8% in Gainesville, 3.4% in Tallahassee
- Average commute: 18.4 min in Gainesville, 18.7 min in Tallahassee
- Violent crime per 100k: 287 in Gainesville, 628 in Tallahassee
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More places like Gainesville and Tallahassee
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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