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

vs

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