Gainesville vs Tucson
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $247,500 in Gainesville and $266,200 in Tucson.
- Households earn more in Tucson ($57,073 vs $46,195 median).
- Tucson has more scorching days: 158 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 90.
- Gainesville is growing faster: +5.3% since 2020 vs +1.1%.
- Commutes are shorter in Gainesville (19 vs 22 minutes each way).
- Florida has no state income tax on wages; Arizona's top rate is 2.5%.
Side by side
| Gainesville, FL | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 148,671 | 548,371 |
| Growth since 2020 | +5.3% | +1.1% |
| People per square mile | 2,323 | 2,264 |
| Median age | 26.5 | 34.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54% | 31% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $46,195 | $57,073 |
| Median home value | $247,500 | $266,200 |
| Home value to income | 5.4× | 4.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,296 | $1,145 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 96.7 | 96.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 93.0 | 91.8 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $72,500 | $72,700 |
| Homeowners | 38% | 52% |
| Top state income tax | None | 2.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.98% | 8.54% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 18.8 | 21.9 |
| Work from home | 15% | 14% |
| Take public transit | 5% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.5% | 6.2% |
| Poverty rate | 30.8% | 18.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 67° / 43° | 67° / 41° |
| July high / low | 91° / 72° | 100° / 76° |
| Precipitation per year | 48 in | 11 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 90 | 158 |
| Nights below freezing | 15 | 12 |
| Comfortable months | 7 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 90.3 | 99.1 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 89% | 34% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.2% | +1.9% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +42.7% | +39.5% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Gainesville: October to April. Tucson: February to April and November.
Full monthly tables: Gainesville weather by month and Tucson weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,500 in Gainesville and $72,700 in Tucson. Moving from Gainesville to Tucson, you would need about $75,100 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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