Gainesville, FL vs Seaside, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Gainesville
68
#1355 nationally
Seaside
63.7
#1750 nationally
Seaside leads in median household income ($80,239 vs $43,783). Gainesville leads in cost of living index (104 vs 158). Seaside leads in crime level (14.1 vs 20.2).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Seaside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68 (#1355) | 63.7 (#1750) |
| Population | 145,812 | 31,317 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $298,659 | $800,284 |
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $80,239 |
| Average Commute | 18.8 min | 21.8 min |
| Walk Score | 37 | 53 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 14.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | 158 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+21.0 | D+29.9 |
D+
68 Score
Gainesville, FL
Mid-size Florida city with community character
Median Home
$298,659
Population
145,812
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Southeast
View Gainesville, FL →
D
63.7 Score
Seaside, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$800,284
Population
31,317
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
53
Pacific
View Seaside, CA →
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