ZIP Code · FL

ZIP 32609

Part of Gainesville, FL

Pop. 19,752·Alachua County·633rd most expensive ZIP in Florida

Median rent (all units)

$1,438/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$494

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 32609 · $1,438

More affordable than 77% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,080

1 BR

$1,180

2 BR

$1,430

3 BR

$1,820

4 BR+

$1,890

Research median

$1,430/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 32609 is 2.2% below its high of $1,471 in February 2026, at $1,438 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Florida

Rent in ZIP 32609 changed +1.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 623 Florida ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($49,406) is $1,235 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,180); a 2-bedroom is $1,430.

Rank in Gainesville

2nd cheapest of 6 ZIP codes in Gainesville.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 32609. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,256/yr

At $1,438/mo median

Location

CityGainesville

StateFL

CountyAlachua County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.7% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 32609 (Gainesville, FL) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 27.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,752

Median income

$49,406

Median age

36.6

Renters

48.8%

Age distribution

19.4%

27.9%

23.5%

18.6%

Under 1819.4%

18–3427.9%

35–5423.5%

55–6410.6%

65+18.6%

Gender

52.9%

47.1%

Male52.9%

Female47.1%

Race & ethnicity

55.2%

35.2%

White55.2%

Black35.2%

Hispanic8.1%

Asian0.9%

Other0.6%

Education (25+)

16.4%

29.1%

27.4%

27.1%

No HS diploma16.4%

HS diploma29.1%

Some college27.4%

Bachelor's+27.1%

Housing tenure

51.2%

48.8%

Owner51.2%

Renter48.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 32609 in Gainesville, FL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,300 → $1,438

up 10.6%

Income

$40,619 → $49,406

up 21.6%

Population

19,542 → 19,752

up 1.1%

Renter share

46.7% → 48.8%

+2.1 pts

Bachelor's+

24.5% → 27.1%

+2.6 pts

Median age

34.8 → 36.6

+1.8 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 32609 in Gainesville, FL has shifted from $1,300 to $1,438, up 10.6% since 2023. Census figures show median household income at $49,406 today, compared with $40,619 five years earlier. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show ZIP 32609 in Gainesville, FL adding about 210 residents over the five-year window, up 1.1% on net. The renter share has risen from 46.7% to 48.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 24.5% to 27.1% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 32609

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 32609 covers Gainesville, FL. The median rent here is $1,438/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,180/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,430/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($49,406/yr), ZIP 32609 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 32609?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $58,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,438/mo in ZIP 32609. The local median household income is $49,406/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 32609?

Rent in ZIP 32609 has risen 1.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 2.2% below its high of $1,471 in February 2026.

How does ZIP 32609 compare to other ZIPs in Florida?

ZIP 32609 is one of the more affordable among Florida ZIP codes for rent, ranking #633 of 656 at $1,438/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 32609 changed +1.7%, against a typical +1.8% across the 623 Florida ZIP codes Zillow tracks.