North Central Florida neighborhoods, Lake City to Cedar Key. Know what matters before you buy.
This is the Florida that still prices like the Southeast instead of the Sunbelt: Lake City and Live Oak anchor the I-75/I-10 crossroads economy, the Suwannee River towns offer acreage and airpark living for a fraction of metro pricing, and the Nature Coast — Cedar Key, Yankeetown, Inglis — is old-Florida waterfront that has never been master-planned. Buyers here are trading commute and retail density for land, quiet, and some of the lowest carrying costs in the state.
The diligence list is different in this market: well and septic condition, flood elevation in the coastal and river towns, manufactured-versus-site-built financing implications, and the realities of insurance on older frame construction. Every guide below is built around those questions, plus the honest pros and cons of each town.
156 community guides, organized by town — the largest towns show their most active communities here, with every community on the town page. Start with the interactive Neighborhood Finder if you'd rather browse the whole map.
Lake City (49)
See all 49 Lake City communities → (36 most active shown here)
Live Oak (15)
Fort White (8)
Wellborn (2)
McAlpin (1)
O'Brien (4)
Branford (11)
Dowling Park (1)
Lake Butler (28)
Sanderson (15)
Chiefland (9)
Bronson (5)
Williston (5)
Inglis (3)
Straight answers
Why is property so much cheaper in North Central Florida?
Distance from metro employment and limited retail/medical density — not hidden defects. For buyers without a daily commute the math is compelling; for a daily commute it usually only works near Lake City or Live Oak proper.
What should I know about buying near the Suwannee River?
River flood plains are mapped and well-documented — elevation and flood-zone status decide insurability and financing. Our riverfront guides flag where this is decisive.
Is Cedar Key practical for full-time living?
About 3,000 people do it, with one road in and out and real storm exposure. It rewards a specific buyer — our Cedar Key guides are blunt about who that is.
Homes for sale now in North Central Florida
2,120 live listings in this area, 209 listed in the last 7 days. A selection, newest first:
- 1700 SW 16TH Court #D24, Gainesville · $109,000 · 1 bd · 574 sq ft · Courtesy of REMAX SELECT PARTNERS
- 14637 NE 145TH Avenue, Waldo · $206,000 · 4 bd · 1,654 sq ft · Courtesy of WATSON REALTY CORP- TIOGA
- 13723 NW 150TH Circle, Alachua · $336,500 · 4 bd · 1,820 sq ft · Courtesy of ADAMS HOMES REALTY, INC.- GAINESVILLE
- 12650 SE 98TH Lane, Dunnellon · $750,000 · 3 bd · 2,299 sq ft · Courtesy of ROCK N' REALTY LLC
- 19451 SE 2ND Street, Williston · $1,395,000 · 5 bd · 5,511 sq ft · Courtesy of WALDEN & CO REALTY LLC
- 14295 NW 162ND Place, Alachua · $349,990 · 5 bd · 2,653 sq ft · Courtesy of WJH BROKERAGE FL LLC
- 14388 NW 162ND Place, Alachua · $314,990 · 4 bd · 1,774 sq ft · Courtesy of WJH BROKERAGE FL LLC
- 24209 NW 10TH Place, Newberry · $317,990 · 4 bd · 1,774 sq ft · Courtesy of DR HORTON REALTY OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA
- 2811 SW Archer Road #J-80, Gainesville · $79,900 · 2 bd · 1,226 sq ft · Courtesy of FLORIDA'S CHOICE REALTY
- 4952 SW 64TH Road, Gainesville · $469,900 · 4 bd · 2,085 sq ft · Courtesy of KELLER WILLIAMS GAINESVILLE REALTY PARTNERS
- 16659 NW 110TH Court, Alachua · $339,990 · 5 bd · 2,014 sq ft · Courtesy of DR HORTON REALTY OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA
- 23685 SW 2ND Place, Newberry · $374,900 · 4 bd · 1,876 sq ft · Courtesy of NEW HOME STAR FLORIDA LLC
- 23552 SW 2ND Place, Newberry · $379,900 · 4 bd · 2,692 sq ft · Courtesy of NEW HOME STAR FLORIDA LLC
- 17913 NE 136TH Avenue, Waldo · $249,900 · 3 bd · 1,493 sq ft · Courtesy of INSPIRE FLORIDA REAL ESTATE, INC.
- 6518 SW 96TH Way, Gainesville · $474,018 · 3 bd · 1,716 sq ft · Courtesy of ENGEL & VOLKERS OCALA
- 8932 SW 89TH Lane, Gainesville · $474,900 · 3 bd · 1,862 sq ft · Courtesy of BHHS FLORIDA REALTY
- 3272 SW 120TH Drive, Gainesville · $565,000 · 3 bd · 2,001 sq ft · Courtesy of KELLER WILLIAMS GAINESVILLE REALTY PARTNERS
- 2300 SW 43RD Street #N5, Gainesville · $143,000 · 2 bd · 1,133 sq ft · Courtesy of ABBA REALTY SVC INC
- 4436 NW 27TH Terrace, Gainesville · $235,000 · 2 bd · 1,026 sq ft · Courtesy of BHHS FLORIDA REALTY
- 8145 SW 51ST Road, Gainesville · $449,000 · 4 bd · 2,528 sq ft · Courtesy of VANBEEK REALTY, LLC
- 8563 NW 40 Terrace, Gainesville · $145,000 · 2 bd · 966 sq ft · Courtesy of CMP REAL ESTATE
- 5010 NE Waldo Road #Lot #20, Gainesville · $37,700 · 3 bd · 880 sq ft · Courtesy of TRC REALTY GROUP
- 10810 SW 17TH Lane, Gainesville · $819,900 · 4 bd · 2,827 sq ft · Courtesy of BOSSHARDT REALTY SERVICES LLC
- 2425 SE 9TH Place, Gainesville · $250,000 · 3 bd · 1,478 sq ft · Courtesy of HOMETOWN REALTY OF NORTH FLORIDA, INC
Just listed, updated hourly: New in Central & West Florida · New in Northeast Florida
Live MLS listings, refreshed hourly; listings held by other brokerages are marked with the listing broker. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.