United States › Alabama › Gulf Shores CITY
Gulf Shores Alabama · 17,394 residents (2025 est.) · 28.4 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Gulf Shores is a city of 16,401 people in Alabama. At a median age of 50.8, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Since 2000 the city has roughly tripled, up 11,357 people. Households here earn about 22% more than in Alabama as a whole. 7% of locals were born outside the United States. Owners hold 71% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 50.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 30%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 5,044 in 2000
17,394 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
577 / sq mi
+72%since 2009
from 335 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 46.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 6K 10K 14K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Gulf Shores Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $78,188
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,826 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $24,356 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Public administration 4.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing 0.5%
Education & health services 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.3%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$382,700
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $161,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,483
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $705 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 72.6% in 2000
29.4% rent
from 66.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.17 people
−13%since 2009
from 2.48 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 5.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.7%(4,880)
Hispanic / Latino 1.2%(62)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 87.3%(14,318)
Hispanic / Latino 6.1%(994)
from 21 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 30.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 90.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 66.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 70.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 20.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 65.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 96.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 88.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 24.9%(1,585)
Women 15+
Never married 25.6%(2,067)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 20.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 44.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 23.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 25.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 9.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 69.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 34.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 23.7%(301)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.8%(251)
Share of the 1,268 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Gulf Shores Head to head
Compare Gulf Shores to nearby cities GULF SHORES VS
Orange Beach
Income $97,736 +25%
Home value $502,400 +31%
Population 8,798 −49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GULF SHORES VS
Foley
Income $66,336 −15%
Home value $289,300 −24%
Population 30,354 +75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GULF SHORES VS
Fairhope
Income $94,274 +21%
Home value $430,900 +13%
Population 26,625 +53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GULF SHORES VS
Warrington
Income $61,861 −21%
Home value $212,000 −45%
Population 15,918 −8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Gulf Shores, Alabama? Gulf Shores, Alabama has about 16,401 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Gulf Shores, Alabama? The typical household in Gulf Shores, Alabama earns about $78,188 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Gulf Shores, Alabama expensive? In Gulf Shores, Alabama, the median home is worth about $382,700, and the typical rent is about $1,483 a month.
How educated are people in Gulf Shores, Alabama? About 39.9% of adults age 25 and over in Gulf Shores, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Gulf Shores, Alabama? About 11.5% of people in Gulf Shores, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.
Has Gulf Shores, Alabama grown since 1990? Yes, Gulf Shores, Alabama has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,372 residents, a change of about 441 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 