Slightly OT - Questions about Gainesville, FL

[froggy33]

Hello all!

My whole reasoning behind this question is that it is butt cold here (Kansas) and I am tired of it. Plus, I just LOVE WDW. So, I am trying to convince my DH that sometime in the future (depending on job situations) I would like to move somewhere warmer - and while we're at it closer to the mouse. Orlando is a bit pricey for cost of living, but I was looking at Gainesville and it has a similar price range as where we are from.

So, for all those from Gainesville, could you tell me a little about it. Is is affordable? Does it have good schools? How is the job market(if I work it will be in biological research, my husband in operations/business)? How is the weather (hurricanes)? Does it really have a college feel? How would it be for two young adults with young children?

Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It had a college feel when I was there. Former classmates I know--live outside of Gainesville...Like in Alachua or other surrounding towns.

I did love living there. Driving by it--it is getting so big though.

Florida gets a bad rep for hurricanes b/c of the 2004 season...Gainesville is rather inland and considered North Florida--so aside from some extremely blustery weather, a direct hit from a 'cane is quite unlikely. It would be good to investigate insurability of any property in that area from Wind damage...b/c any damage from a hurricane that covers the state will not be coverd without that rider.

I don't know how many students UF has now--but when I was there it was about 40,000 and that was 10 years ago. I think they have a larger student population by now and most live within the city limits.

Yes it is quite possible to raise a family there. You might also look at Ocala (south of Gainesville), Micanopy (south of Gainesville)...you could map the area and find other towns in that area.

 

[salmoneous]

DB just moved there. While the "town average" cost of housing might not be all that high, the cost of housing in the "newer neighborhood with good schools" parts of town was surprisingly costly.

The schools seem to be good - but not super amazing. Some crowding, but not the horrible problems many booming cities have.

Folks do seem real friendly.

 

[vettechick99]

I lived in G-ville for 2 yrs and loved it! Of course I was fresh out of college so I was still into the party scene, but I'd move back in a second now that I'm married with a bun in the oven.

Cost of living was very reasonable. I lived just outside of G-ville in High Springs (minutes from Alachua, the other town mentioned). High Springs is a great small town - but I mean small town. If you want some land and don't mind driving into town (like 15 mins on 75) then its a great area. Same for Alachua.

There is a lot to do in G-ville - the college brings in a lot of culture, shopping and eating. You will find all your major stores (Best Buy, Target) and your big city eateries (Outback, etc) plus a lot of small independent bistros near/in downtown.

The very best part of G-ville is the location to Disney. We would call on Thursday and reserve a room for that weekend at least once a month. Only once or twice were things booked up. I think the drive is like 1h 45m and it's a breeze.

As for work, I do remember there being a biological research type place in Alachua (might also have a G-ville address). You might google and poke around. I want to say it was a tissue bank or something?

It's a great town, definitely worth checking out!

 

[froggy33]

Thank you everyone for your help! I'm just trying to do some research for the hope that mabye someday we can live somewhere warm!!!!

Vettechick - congrats on the bun in the oven. I've read your trip reports - you are hilarious. Good luck with the little one!!!

 

[Golf4food]

The best reason to go to visit or live in Gainesville, by far, is that you are closer to the Grandy's on University. Yummy! DW and I drive down to Gainesville from Jacksonville every few months to visit the museums and eat at Grandy's (they also catered our rehearsal dinner for our wedding). Plus Gainesville still has a Fazoli's Italian place last I checked, and all the ones in Jacksonville closed down a few years ago - so we go to G-ville for a Fazoli's and Grandy's fix.

It's a beautiful town - some hilliness to it, lots of old trees, some nice houses. It has good character - not entirely a cookie-cutter town. Plus with the university there is usually stuff going on - concerts, museum exhibits, sporting events, etc. and you aren't that far away from Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, etc. for other regional events.

If I weren't a Seminole fan I wouldn't mind living in Gainesville.

 

[andromedaslove]

I suggest you just move to Jacksonville. At least here there's a chance to get away from all of those GATORS!!

 

[DRLuvMD]

Off topic but I have a question for froggy. I noticed in another one of your posts that you enterprise did not charge you an underage fee for a car rental. I was wonering how you went about reserving the car so that they didn't charge the fee.