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University of Florida anchors Gainesville with about 53,372 students, and the whole town moves to the rhythm of the Gators. Game days at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, better known as The Swamp, shut the place down in the best way, with traditions like singing We Are the Boys after the third quarter and the Tom Petty tribute in the fourth. Campus is a draw too: Lake Alice sits in the middle with resident alligators and the world's largest occupied bat houses, where thousands stream out at dusk. Just south, Paynes Prairie spreads into open savanna with bison and trails. The student core runs west along University Avenue into Midtown, walkable and loud on weekends. Most students walk, bike, or ride the bus near campus.
UF does not require freshmen to live on campus, though plenty of underclassmen do because dorm space near the action is convenient and social. Once students move off, they spread into the dense ring of complexes and houses around campus.
The off-campus scene here is large and competitive, with lots of by-the-bed student complexes along the SW 13th Street and Archer Road corridors, walkable apartments in Midtown, and houses in the surrounding neighborhoods. Because it is a by-the-bed market, you typically sign for one bed with individual liability, get matched with roommates if you need them, and pay separately for parking. Many leases run a full 12 months even though you are a student, and furnished and unfurnished options price differently.
Confirm whether utilities are bundled or capped and what parking costs before you sign. Check whether the term covers the summer, since that can change your real monthly number a lot.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with University of Florida before signing a lease.
Gainesville runs on an early, aggressive leasing cycle, the kind a big football school produces. Preleasing for the next August opens in the fall, sometimes as early as September, and the best buildings, especially walkable Midtown and the closest by-the-bed complexes, fill through the winter. Most students start searching in January and sign by late winter for the strongest selection.
Wait until spring and you are picking from leftovers; wait until summer and you are scrambling. Classes start in late August and most leases begin August 1, so the calendar is predictable. The walkable Midtown and closest complexes clear earliest, so commit fast if those are your target.
If you are late, look farther out along SW 13th Street or Archer Road where supply is deeper, and watch for spots opening when leases fall through. Consider a sublet, since spring and summer subleases are common in a town this student-dense. A short-term bridge is realistic if you miss the main rush.
Just west of campus along University Avenue, the most walkable and liveliest student zone, and priced for it.
The highest density of by-the-bed complexes, a quick bus or bike to class.
More big complexes and a bit more space, popular with students who want amenities.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A private bedroom in a by-the-bed complex near UF usually runs $700-$1,100/month per person, often with amenities included. Sharing a two-bedroom works out around $750-$1,050/month per person, while studios and one-bedrooms in Midtown run higher, roughly $900-$1,400/month. Parking and summer terms can add to the total.