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
median household income $78,188, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Gulf Shores
What changed most since 1990
Population3,029 → 16,401(+441%)US over the same years: +35%
White share99.7% → 87.3%(−12.4 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Gulf Shores's population equals 6.6% of Baldwin County's. Its number of people who work from home equals 12% of the county's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 12% of the county's.
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.8%(251)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era45.5%(577)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.8%(23)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
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
Over time
Gulf Shores, decade by decade
Gulf Shores population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
3,029
$68,212
$214,806
22.1%
0.7
2000
5,044
$76,193
$294,562
30.4%
7.9
2010
9,741
$65,888
$368,562
29.0%
21.3
2020
15,014
$64,491
$308,464
34.5%
30.1
2024
16,401
$78,188
$382,700
39.9%
29.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
