Newberry, Alachua County
- 2023 Population: 8,503
- Population Growth (2022-2023): 5.4%
- Average home price: $336,951
- Median rent: $2,181
- Average salary: $39,099
- Median household income: $90,547
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research, ZipRecruiter, Zillow
The town of Newberry in Alachua County grew by 65% from 2013 to 2023, starting with 5,148 residents and reaching 8,503 residents in 2023, according to data from the University of Florida.
Newberry’s proximity to UF — about 15 miles away — contributes to the town’s appeal, says Mayor Jordan Marlowe.
“I think Newberry offers a nice balance across the board,” says Marlowe, a fourth-generation Newberry resident who has been the mayor for seven years and teaches at Newberry High School. “We’re still a small town and have small-town values … but we also have more than just a fast-food restaurant in town.”
Anne Polo, director of communications and marketing for the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, moved with her family to Newberry from Monticello four years ago, drawn by smaller class sizes and more affordable housing.
In addition to UF, proximity to Santa Fe College, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and UF Health Shands Hospital all provide jobs for local residents, says Timothy Becker, executive director of the Kelley A. Bergstrom Real Estate Center at UF’s Warrington College of Business.
A larger population has brought construction of a Publix to town as well as more restaurants and recreational options, Marlowe says.
At the same time, Newberry’s growth has led to infrastructure concerns, such as ensuring that roads, utilities and schools can keep up with that growth, Becker says. This includes an increasingly long commute to places like UF, which can take as long as 50 minutes depending on what time you leave Newberry, he adds.
“The challenge is how to balance that growth with the small-town way of life that’s also a draw to our community,” Marlowe says.
Yet Marlowe views the growth as a way to keep more talent in the area. He mentions Newberry’s agricultural roots and an agricultural tech research program underway in a partnership with UF. “We need those best and the brightest to see agriculture not as their grandpa’s ag, out on a tractor in the dust. We need to see agriculture as drone technology, cutting-edge fertilizers and water conservation,” he says.
“Not everyone wants to see Newberry change, never mind that it’s in an effort to keep our youth and our dollars local by creating more opportunities,” Polo says.