Gilchrist County today
What this means
Home values here climbed 2.4% in a year.
Builders are pulling back: 44 homes permitted so far in 2026, down 44%.
Treat these as area figures and confirm rent with comps. Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| Gilchrist County | Compared with Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Population, 2025 estimate | 20,488 | 0.1% of Florida |
| Growth since 2020 | 14.7% | +5.8 pts |
| Median home value | $199,900 | 44% lower |
| Median gross rent | $926 | 45% lower |
| Median household income | $63,523 | 15% lower |
| Owner occupied homes | 85.7% | +18.1 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 20.2% | -1.1 pts |
| Average commute | 32 min | 13% higher |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 21.9% | +7.7 pts |
| Housing units permitted in 2025 per 1,000 residents | 4.6 | 39% lower |
| Veterans, share of adults | 9.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $1,302 | 52% lower |
| Average homeowners insurance with wind | $2,513 |
Census figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; see sources and methods.
Living in Gilchrist County
Three things set apart Gilchrist County: a high share of manufactured homes (49.8%); fewer renters than most of Florida (14.3% of homes); and rents below the state median ($926 vs $1,669).
Largely rural north central county along the Santa Fe River and its springs, with farming and timber roots. The county was formed in 1925 and is governed from Trenton.
The population centers are Trenton, Fanning Springs and Bell. Trenton alone has about 2,320 residents.
Formed in 1925, it was the last Florida county created. Trenton is the hub, State Road 47 runs north to the state farmers market, and the Nature Coast State Trail follows an old rail line. The county is part of the Gainesville metro area.
What anchors the area
- Economy: farming; timber
- Known for: Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park; Ginnie Springs; Hart Springs
Growth and where it is heading
From 17,860 residents in 2020 to 20,488 in 2025: that is 14.7%, compared with 8.9% statewide. The 2024 to 2025 change was +1.77%.
| 2025 building permits | Units |
|---|---|
| Single family | 94 |
| 2 to 4 units | 0 |
| 5 or more units | 0 |
| Total | 94 |
| Per 1,000 residents | 4.6 (well below Florida, 7.6) |
Newer housing dominates: 21.9% built since 2010. New subdivisions often add HOA dues and a CDD assessment to the payment. CDD fees explained
More on corridors and rents: Northeast and North Central investor guide.
Risks to price in
Gilchrist County has had no hurricane landfall since 2000, though passing storms still bring wind and flooding.
State data puts the typical homeowners policy with wind at $2,513 a year in Gilchrist County.
Manufactured homes are 49.8% of housing; foundation and title rules decide financing. Manufactured home loans
Flood, storms and jobs
| Gilchrist County | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes in a FEMA high risk flood zone | 808 (10.5%) | 13.3% |
| Homes with federal flood insurance | 180 (2.3%) | 13.7% |
| Insured share inside high risk zones | 17.6% | |
| Flood insurance claims since 2000 | 107, $1,411,555 paid | |
| Costliest flood events for insured homes | Other or unnamed flooding ($691,054); Hurricane Frances ($459,253); Hurricane Jeanne ($114,394) | |
| Major federal disasters declared since 2000 | 15 (10 hurricane, 2 severe storm, 1 tropical storm) |
Federal flood policies here pay full rates, since the county (unincorporated areas) has no CRS class. Flood map date: 01/19/18.
Where people work: health care and social assistance (20%), hotels and restaurants (19%), construction (16%), out of 2,222 private jobs in Gilchrist County (2023). Tourism signal: 19% work in hotels and restaurants, well above the state's 13%.
Buying a home in Gilchrist County
| 2026 loan limit, one unit | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA | $541,287 |
| Conforming (above this is jumbo) | $832,750 |
The median priced home fits under the FHA limit with room to spare. FHA limits
Homes cost 3.1 times the median household income here, versus 4.8 statewide. That makes ownership easier to reach than in most of the state.
Loans made here in 2025
| Loan type | Loans | Share | Florida share | Average loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 253 | 63.1% | 72.2% | $179,704 |
| FHA | 92 | 22.9% | 17.8% | $246,413 |
| VA | 49 | 12.2% | 9.9% | $312,347 |
| USDA | 7 | 1.7% | 0.2% | $230,714 |
| Purpose | Share of 2025 loans |
|---|---|
| Home purchase | 55.1% |
| Cash out refinance | 18.2% |
| Rate and term refinance | 10.2% |
| Home improvement | 8.2% |
That is up 16.2% from 345 loans in 2024. FHA share runs well above the state.
Loans that fit the local numbers
- Conventional: the default choice here (63.1% of 2025 loans).
- FHA: median price $199,900 vs limit $541,287.
- VA: veterans are 9.6% of adults (Florida 7.4%).
- USDA: zero down for eligible rural addresses; check each one on the USDA map.
Down payment help and taxes
Assistance with cash to close is offered statewide by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Median property tax here: $1,302, or 0.65% of the median value. Homestead and tax caps
Investing in Gilchrist County
DSCR loans often price above this rate. Method. DSCR loans
Run your own numbers
Long term rentals
| Gilchrist County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 14.3% | -18.1 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 25.4% | -9.8 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 2.4% | -5.2 pts |
Few rentals sit empty.
Short term rentals
| Item | Here |
|---|---|
| County tourist tax | 3% |
| Plus state sales tax | 6% (plus any county surtax) |
| Homes held for seasonal use | 4.8% (-3.0 pts vs Florida) |
A home only works as a vacation rental if zoning and the HOA both allow it. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 47.7% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 0.4% |
| Manufactured homes | 49.8% |
| 2025 loans on 2 to 4 unit properties | 0.25% |
Largest cities and towns in Gilchrist County
| Place | Population | Median value | Median rent | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | 2,320 | $183,500 | $927 | $49,350 |
| Fanning Springs | 942 | $187,100 | $859 | $53,618 |
| Bell | 563 | $171,800 | $963 | $65,938 |
| Spring Ridge | 555 | $333,800 | Not reported | $65,568 |
Census places, including unincorporated communities. Linked places have their own guide.
Compare with neighboring counties
Gilchrist County has the fastest growth in its group; 5 of its 6 neighbors are cheaper by median value.
| County | Median value | Median rent | Growth since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilchrist County | $199,900 | $926 | 14.7% |
| Alachua County | $288,800 | $1,339 | 4.1% |
| Columbia County | $194,900 | $976 | 6.3% |
| Dixie County | $132,000 | $695 | 7.6% |
| Lafayette County | $157,200 | $896 | 6.9% |
| Levy County | $190,600 | $850 | 13.1% |
| Suwannee County | $171,600 | $884 | 10.8% |
Other Florida markets
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5 year estimates. 2020 to 2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Vintage 2025. July 1, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual. 2025.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, originated loans. 2025 and 2024.
- LendingTree: 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida by county (HUD figures). 2026.
- Florida Realtors: FHFA sets 2026 conforming loan limits. 2026.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research: 2026 local option tourist tax rates. 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, July 2026 Insurance Stability Unit report (average homeowners premium with wind, as of March 31, 2026). March 31, 2026.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. week of October 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia: List of counties in Florida. checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file. 2024.
- Wikipedia county article and statewide lists (colleges, teams, airports); Florida Defense Support Task Force installation map. checked October 2026.
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. September 2026.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (county annual, metro and state quarterly, all transactions). through Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, January to September 2026 and 2025. September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. as of August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (2000 to 2026). as of September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book (Community Rating System class). August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries (2000 to 2026). October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. 2023.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024, median gross rent by bedrooms (B25031). 2020 to 2024.
- Hurricane landfalls: Wikipedia, List of Florida hurricanes (2000 to present). checked October 2026.
Estimates from public data; they change over time. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice, and not a loan offer. Methods and assumptions.