Population 15,607 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gulf Shores
Household size in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.19 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.13 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Gulf Shores is a place of small households, averaging 2.23 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.30, in line with the national trend. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only five have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.5 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.6 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.1 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.5, Gulf Shores is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 45.5, as it has nationally. Only six of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.4% of households in Gulf Shores, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Gulf Shores has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Alabama cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Gulf Shores
Renters in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.5% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.0% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.3% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.7% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in Gulf Shores rent their homes (27.7%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 44.3% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 7.9 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.7% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.7% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 33.0% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.4% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −16.4 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 30.4% of the housing in Gulf Shores, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 16.4 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1998 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1996 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1997 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2001 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Gulf Shores is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2001, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south. Only 14 of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $945 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $910 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,063 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,424 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$479 | +$375 | +$606 |
Rent in Gulf Shores runs $1,424 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Alabama overall ($1,091). Rent has climbed $479 a month since 2006–10, up 51%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.1% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Gulf Shores
Bachelor's degrees in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.9% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.7% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.4% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Gulf Shores (40.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 11.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.4% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.8% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.2% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.7% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Gulf Shores: 96.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Gulf Shores
| Period | Gulf Shores | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Gulf Shores has been low: just 1.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 13 of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 5.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Gulf Shores compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Shores | 2.23 | 49.5 | 7.4% | 27.7% | 30.4% | 2001 | $1,424 | 40.5% | 96.7% | 1.6% |
| Bon Secour | 2.27 | 43.6 | 11.1% | 35.6% | 20.5% | 2007 | $1,221 | 29.4% | 93.1% | 5.0% |
| Foley | 2.30 | 46.4 | 6.9% | 23.3% | 11.3% | 2000 | $1,345 | 24.1% | 89.2% | 5.0% |
| Miflin | 2.60 | 37.2 | 7.2% | 41.6% | 9.9% | 2004 | $1,386 | 18.9% | 91.9% | 3.8% |
| Orange Beach | 2.29 | 50.9 | 5.1% | 23.9% | 49.4% | 2002 | $1,726 | 41.4% | 97.0% | 3.1% |
| Josephine | 2.04 | 58.8 | 3.2% | 8.4% | 31.2% | 1997 | $1,163 | 30.6% | 88.6% | 0.2% |
| Palmetto Beach | 1.94 | 68.1 | 6.8% | 1.2% | 92.3% | 2000 | $1,180 | 32.0% | 96.4% | 0.0% |
| Perdido Beach | 2.19 | 61.7 | 1.2% | 3.8% | 30.3% | 1988 | $799 | 31.0% | 92.4% | 3.1% |
| Lillian | 2.21 | 59.8 | 3.4% | 9.2% | 20.0% | 1995 | $1,144 | 25.3% | 94.5% | 5.5% |
| Perdido Key | 2.28 | 35.3 | 15.6% | 36.6% | 27.3% | 1997 | $1,579 | 27.1% | 93.4% | 3.7% |
| Ocean Springs | 1.84 | 58.5 | 10.1% | 20.7% | 73.2% | 2003 | $2,100 | 62.5% | 98.3% | 1.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bolivar, MO · Wilmington Island, GA · Willowick, OH · Williamsburg, KY · Benton, KY · Wilkinsburg, PA · Bexley, OH · Whitmore Lake, MI · Bloomfield, NM · Blountville, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Gulf Shores. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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