Rents are 17% below what Gainesville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,619 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Gainesville, GA is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 27.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gainesville, GA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Gainesville, GA stood at $1,283 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,619, reflecting a 26.2% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $57,258 in 2021 to $66,974 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 7.9% since 2021, moving from about 41,730 residents to roughly 45,032. Renters now make up 60.8% of households, compared with 57.1% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Gainesville, GA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Gainesville on your salary?
At $1,619/mo, how Gainesville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gainesville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gainesville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gainesville
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Gainesville is $1,619/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,180/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,520/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,373/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,833/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($66,974/yr), Gainesville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gainesville an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Gainesville?
Which Gainesville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Gainesville rent compare to other cities in Georgia?
What percentage of Gainesville residents rent vs. own?
How does Gainesville rent compare to the national average?
At $1,619/mo, rent takes ~29% of Gainesville's median household income ($66,974/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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