Property Tax in Alachua County, Florida
Homeowners in Alachua County, Florida pay a median of $2,623 a year in real estate taxes, on a median home value of $266,800. Those are the Census Bureau's published medians for the county (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023) — the typical bill and the typical home value for owner-occupied households.
What the Alachua County numbers mean
A median is the middle household: half of owner-occupied households in Alachua County pay more than $2,623, and half pay less. Your own bill is set by your home's assessed value, the exemptions you qualify for, and the local taxing districts your property sits in — so individual bills vary widely around the median.
Dividing the median tax by the median home value gives a derived effective rate of 0.98% for Alachua County. It is an estimate built from two survey medians, not the county's official rate, but it is a fair way to compare the local tax burden with other counties where home values are very different.
Alachua County by the numbers
| Measure | Alachua County | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid | $2,623 | $2,555 | $2,969 |
| Median home value | $266,800 | $325,000 | $303,400 |
| Derived effective rate* | 0.98% | 0.79% | 0.98% |
| Median tax per month | $219 | $213 | $247 |
*Estimate derived from Census medians (tax ÷ value), not an official rate.
Alachua County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Florida: #16 of 67 counties
- Median home value rank in Florida: #32 of 67
- Population rank in Florida: #24 of 67 (281,751 residents)
- Population density rank: #24 of 67 (322 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Florida: #22 of 67 (875 sq mi, 1.6% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $219; per $1,000 of home value: $0.98
How Alachua County compares
The median tax bill in Alachua County is about the same as the state median ($2,555 for Florida) and about 12% lower than the US median ($2,969 nationally). By median taxes paid, the county ranks #16 out of 67 Florida counties with published Census data — 15 counties in the state have a higher median bill.
Comparisons cut both ways: a county can have a modest rate but high bills because homes are expensive, or a high rate but modest bills because homes are cheaper. Alachua County's derived rate of 0.98% sits above the derived US figure of 0.98%.
Some extra context for Alachua County: the median bill works out to about $219 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $983 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 281,751 people — the #24 most populous county in Florida, spread over 875 square miles, a density of about 322 people per square mile. Its median home value, $266,800, ranks #32 among the state's 67 counties with data.
Nationally, Alachua County's median bill of $2,623 ranks #620 of 3133 counties with published data — inside the top 20% of counties by tax paid. The county accounts for about 1.3% of Florida's population, its median home value is about 18% below the state median, and at the derived rate the median home would hand over roughly 9.83% of its value in tax across a decade. Within the state, the distance from Alachua County to the most expensive county, Monroe County ($3,943), is $1,320 a year.
Counties nearest Alachua County in the Florida ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County, FL | $2,699 | $326,300 | 0.83% |
| Flagler County, FL | $2,628 | $333,400 | 0.79% |
| Charlotte County, FL | $2,581 | $291,000 | 0.89% |
| Nassau County, FL | $2,558 | $351,100 | 0.73% |
How the tax is worked out
As an illustration of the arithmetic: at Alachua County's derived rate of 0.98%, a home valued at $400,000 would carry a tax bill of roughly $3,932 a year. That is only an illustration using the derived rate — a real bill is computed from the property's assessed value, its exemptions, and the combined rates of its specific taxing districts, so it can be higher or lower.
The usual sequence is: the local assessor values the property; exemptions are applied; the taxable value is multiplied by the combined local rates; and the county bills and collects the tax, distributing it to the schools, municipalities and districts that levied it.
Checking your assessment in Alachua County
If your bill looks wrong, work through these steps:
1. Get your property record card from the assessor and check the basics — living area, lot size, bedrooms, condition, and any exemptions you should have.
2. Compare your assessed value with recent sale prices of similar homes in Alachua County.
3. Talk to the assessor's office informally first; clear errors are often fixed without a hearing.
4. If needed, file a formal appeal with the local review board before the deadline on your assessment notice, with your evidence attached.
5. Keep paying the bill as issued while the appeal runs, unless your notice says otherwise — unpaid taxes accrue penalties regardless of an appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Alachua County, Florida?
The median real estate tax paid in Alachua County, Florida is $2,623 per year, on a median home value of $266,800 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Alachua County, Florida?
Dividing Alachua County's median tax bill ($2,623) by its median home value ($266,800) gives a derived effective rate of 0.98%. This is an estimate computed from two Census survey medians — it is not the county's official tax rate.
How does Alachua County compare with the rest of Florida?
By median taxes paid, Alachua County stands at #16 among the 67 Florida counties the Census publishes figures for. Its $2,623 median bill is about the same as the state median ($2,555), and 15 counties in the state record a higher median.
How are property taxes calculated in Alachua County, Florida?
The assessor estimates your property's market value; exemptions (such as a homestead exemption) reduce the taxable amount; and the result is multiplied by the combined rates of the local taxing districts — county, municipality, school district and any special districts. In Alachua County, the median outcome of that process is a bill of $2,623 on a median home value of $266,800.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Alachua County, Florida?
Yes — appeals are handled locally. Start with the Alachua County assessor's property record card for your home, correct any factual errors, and back your case with comparable recent sales. Formal appeals go to the review board named on your assessment notice and must be filed by its deadline, typically within 30 to 90 days.