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CITY

Gulf Shores

Alabama · 17,394 residents (2025 est.) · 28.437 sq mi
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#314Oldest by median ageof 6,82650.8
The short version

Gulf Shores has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,188. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 11,357 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $382,700. With a median age of 50.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

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

Total population
16,401
+225%since 2000
from 5,044 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
577 / sq mi
+72%since 2009
from 335 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
50.8
+10%since 2000
from 46.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,394 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K6K10K14K18K1990201020202024Gulf Shores
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.7%(439)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93%(490)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(1,040)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.4%(1,378)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 242.9%(473)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349%(1,482)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.8%(1,939)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5415%(2,468)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(2,443)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7417.4%(2,855)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.1%(834)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.4%(560)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,188
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,826 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,509
+87%since 2000
from $24,356 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.5%
+24.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.421
−10%since 2010
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services11.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$382,700
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $161,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,483
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $705 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
29.4% rent
Vacancy rate
50.6%
−16.2 ptssince 2009
from 66.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.5%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.9
−16%since 2009
from 5.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
62
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Gulf Shores on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(4,880)
Black0.2%(11)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(62)
Asian0.3%(14)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.3%(14,318)
Black2.7%(439)
Hispanic / Latino6.1%(994)
Asian1.1%(187)
Other2.8%(463)
Diversity Score
29
+41%since 2009
from 21 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3%(493)
Chilean0.8%(130)
Guatemalan0.5%(79)
Colombian0.5%(78)
Spaniard0.4%(72)
Cuban0.2%(27)
Panamanian0.2%(26)
Puerto Rican0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Japanese1.1%(181)
Ancestry
American19.7%(3,235)
Irish17.3%(2,840)
German15.9%(2,612)
English12.4%(2,027)
Italian3.8%(621)
Scottish3.2%(517)
West Indian2.2%(358)
Jamaican2.2%(358)
French1.6%(260)
Welsh1%(156)
Norwegian0.9%(148)
Arab0.8%(131)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Lebanese0.8%(131)
Brazilian0.7%(114)
British0.7%(113)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(100)
Finnish0.4%(65)
Polish0.3%(55)
Dutch0.3%(52)
Portuguese0.2%(35)
Swedish0.2%(31)
Lithuanian0.2%(27)
Danish0.2%(25)
Hungarian0.1%(24)
Australian0.1%(11)
Swiss0.1%(11)
Austrian0.1%(9)
Belgian0.1%(9)
Russian0.1%(9)
Slovak0.1%(9)
Greek0%(8)
Czech0%(7)
Israeli0%(6)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.9%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 30.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.2%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 90.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.6%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.1 min
+70%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.4%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.1%
−10.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
19.8%
+17.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.4%
−6.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.1%
−7.0 ptssince 2011
from 66.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.8%
−26.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.1%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
55.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
7.5%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.4%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.4%
−67.2 ptssince 2013
from 79.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.8%
+28.5 ptssince 2017
from 65.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.5%
+4.1 ptssince 2016
from 88.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 4.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.9%(1,585)
Married58.9%(3,743)
Widowed2.7%(170)
Divorced13.5%(855)
Women 15+
Never married25.6%(2,067)
Married46.3%(3,739)
Widowed8.9%(722)
Divorced19.2%(1,551)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Compare Gulf Shores to nearby cities

GULF SHORES VS
Orange Beach
Income$97,736+25%
Home value$502,400+31%
Population8,798−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GULF SHORES VS
Foley
Income$66,336−15%
Home value$289,300−24%
Population30,354+75%
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GULF SHORES VS
Fairhope
Income$94,274+21%
Home value$430,900+13%
Population26,625+53%
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GULF SHORES VS
Warrington
Income$61,861−21%
Home value$212,000−45%
Population15,918−8%
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.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →