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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Gulf Shores

Alabama · 5,044 residents · 28.4 sq mi
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The short version

Gulf Shores is a city of 5,044 people in Alabama. At a median age of 46.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Since 1990 the city has risen by half, up 2,015 people. Households here earn about 23% more than in Alabama as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 1990, reaching $161,700. 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 46.3
US median: 35.2
More educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,044
+67%since 1990
from 3,029 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
46.3
−11%since 1990
from 51.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
28.4 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K6K10K14K18K19902000201020202024Gulf Shores
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 53.1%(157)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 94.2%(214)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.7%(288)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 195.1%(259)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.9%(247)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.9%(548)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.9%(702)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5415.1%(762)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6413.9%(703)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 7414.2%(718)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 847.7%(389)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.1%(57)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,826
+12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $28,421 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,356
+40%since 1990
from $17,414 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
9.9%
+1.5 ptssince 1990
from 8.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$161,700
+37%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $89,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$705
+13%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $474 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
72.6%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 71.7% in 1990
27.4% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic99.7%(3,020)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(4,880)
Black0.2%(11)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(62)
Asian0.3%(14)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.4%
+8.3 ptssince 1990
from 22.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
90.8%
+3.5 ptssince 1990
from 87.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
9.8%
+1.2 ptssince 1990
from 8.6% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.0 min
−33%since 1990
from 19.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married17%(356)
Married68.3%(1,427)
Widowed0.4%(9)
Divorced14.3%(298)
Women 15+
Never married16.1%(369)
Married60.6%(1,394)
Widowed10.7%(247)
Divorced12.6%(289)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
12.4%
−8.0 ptssince 2013
from 20.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
47.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 44.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
27.8%
+4.0 ptssince 2020
from 23.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
27.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 25.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
8.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 9.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 4.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
73.4%
+3.9 ptssince 2020
from 69.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
34.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
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)
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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Gulf Shores

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Pop 16,892
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Pop 16,141
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Pop 15,115
Seminole
Pop 18,997
Places similar to Gulf Shores
Head to head

Compare Gulf Shores to nearby cities

GULF SHORES VS
Orange Beach
Income$97,736+134%
Home value$502,400+211%
Population8,798−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GULF SHORES VS
Foley
Income$66,336+59%
Home value$289,300+79%
Population30,354+75%
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GULF SHORES VS
Fairhope
Income$94,274+125%
Home value$430,900+166%
Population26,625+53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GULF SHORES VS
Warrington
Income$61,861+48%
Home value$212,000+31%
Population15,918−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Gulf Shores, Alabama?

Gulf Shores, Alabama has about 5,044 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Gulf Shores, Alabama?

The typical household in Gulf Shores, Alabama earns about $41,826 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 $161,700, and the typical rent is about $705 a month.

How educated are people in Gulf Shores, Alabama?

About 30.4% 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 9.9% 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 2,015 residents, a change of about 67 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 →