Gainesville, FL · standard
ZIP Code 32609
Alachua County, Florida - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 18,756
- 65/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $49,406
- Median income Below-median income area
- $178,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 27.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Gainesville pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.
- 14th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 38th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 65
- people per sq mi
- 51%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 32609 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 32609 (Gainesville, FL) rose +2.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 350.9 in 2023 to 359.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 32609 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, home to 18,756 residents across 290.8 square miles, a density of 65 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 32609 reports a modest median household income of $49,406 (36% below the average Florida ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,276. The poverty rate is 27.8%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $178,900 (52% below the average Florida ZIP), and median rent is $1,258; owner occupancy is 51.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 27.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.6, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Alachua County, so 32609 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 32609
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gainesville, FL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 32609.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
136 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
90 establishments
- Construction
Construction
68 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
56 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 46
Professional, scientific, and technical services
46 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 32609, Gainesville, FL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
18,756
Population
290.8
Area (sq mi)
65
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 32609?
36.6
Median Age
52.9%
Male
47.1%
Female
3.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$49,406
Median Household Income
-36% vs state ZIP avg
$27,276
Per Capita Income
27.8%
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Unemployment Rate
20.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 32609 ranks among Florida ZIPs
Gainesville, FL household income vs. every Florida ZIP code
Median household income among 946 reporting Florida ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$49,406 11th percentile higher than 11% of 946 Florida ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Florida ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,497housing units
8,497
Total Housing Units
7,743
Occupied Units
754
Vacant Units
2.31
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$178,900
Median Home Value
-52% vs state ZIP avg
$1,258
Median Rent
1979
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+2.4%
YoY Change (2024)
359
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+259%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 32609 have increased 2.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +259% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.5% | 235 |
| 2021 | +12.2% | 264 |
| 2022 | +20.6% | 318 |
| 2023 | +10.2% | 351 |
| 2024 | +2.4% | 359 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 657 business establishments in ZIP 32609, employing approximately 9,003 people with a combined annual payroll of $457,969,000.
657
Businesses
9,003
Employees
$458.0M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 136 | 20.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 90 | 13.7% |
| Construction | 68 | 10.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 56 | 8.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 46 | 7.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 45 | 6.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 37 | 5.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 36 | 5.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 33 | 5.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 31 | 4.7% |
| Manufacturing | 30 | 4.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 16 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 13 | 2.0% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.8% |
| Information | 6 | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 32609 vs 32653 →
ZIP 32609 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 32605
Gainesville (32605)
22,925 residents
- 32609
Gainesville (32609)
18,756 residents
- 32601
Gainesville (32601)
18,585 residents
- 32641
Gainesville (32641)
14,291 residents
- 32653
Gainesville (32653)
12,844 residents
- 32603 6,741
Gainesville (32603)
6,741 residents
- 32612 5,458
Gainesville (32612)
5,458 residents
- 32694 2,142
Waldo (32694)
2,142 residents
- 32044 2,060
Hampton (32044)
2,060 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 32609 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 32609 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 32653
Gainesville (32653)
$93,913 median income
- 32605
Gainesville (32605)
$86,714 median income
- 32622
Brooker (32622)
$72,639 median income
- 32658
La Crosse (32658)
$53,568 median income
- 32609
Gainesville (32609)
$49,406 median income
- 32044
Hampton (32044)
$46,338 median income
- 32694
Waldo (32694)
$43,537 median income
- 32641 $35,223
Gainesville (32641)
$35,223 median income
- 32601 $30,352
Gainesville (32601)
$30,352 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 32609 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32653 | Gainesville, FL | 12,844 | 7.0 mi |
| 32694 | Waldo, FL | 2,142 | 7.8 mi |
| 32601 | Gainesville, FL | 18,585 | 8.8 mi |
| 32622 | Brooker, FL | 1,294 | 9.3 mi |
| 32641 | Gainesville, FL | 14,291 | 9.4 mi |
| 32605 | Gainesville, FL | 22,925 | 8.5 mi |
| 32658 | La Crosse, FL | 308 | 8.5 mi |
| 32603 | Gainesville, FL | 6,741 | 9.4 mi |
| 32612 | Gainesville, FL | 5,458 | 9.7 mi |
| 32044 | Hampton, FL | 2,060 | 9.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 32609, both outside FL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (18,756 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Alachua County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 32609 in?
ZIP code 32609 (Gainesville) is located in Alachua County, Florida. Alachua County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/alachua-fl.
What is the population of ZIP code 32609?
ZIP code 32609 in Gainesville, FL has a population of 18,756 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 32609?
The median household income in ZIP 32609 is $49,406, which is 35% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 32609?
The median home value in ZIP 32609 is $178,900, which is 36% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 32609?
The largest racial group in ZIP 32609 is White at 55.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 32609?
ZIP code 32609 has 657 business establishments employing approximately 9,003 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 32609?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 32609 are: Retail trade (136), Other services (except public administration) (90), Construction (68). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 32609?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 32609 increased by 2.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 259%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 32609?
In ZIP code 32609, 56.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 27.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 32609?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 32609 is 20.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 32609?
In ZIP code 32609, approximately 51.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 48.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 32609?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 32609 is 27.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 32609's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 32609 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Gainesville, FL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.