Population 10,162 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Orange Beach
Household size in Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.46 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.14 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Orange Beach are small: just 2.29 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.41 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 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 Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.8 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.7 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 56.9 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.9 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Orange Beach skews older: half of its residents are older than 50.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.8, mirroring the country. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only three 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 Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.1% of households in Orange Beach, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only four of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Orange Beach
Renters in Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.1% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.4% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Orange Beach is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 45.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.1% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 61.1% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 58.1% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 49.4% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −12.7 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Orange Beach: 49.4% of homes are empty, 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. No other Alabama city with 5,000+ people has a higher vacancy rate.
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 Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1997 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1998 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1998 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2002 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Orange Beach is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2002, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1997 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the northeast. Only 12 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 Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,207 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,174 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,144 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,726 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$519 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Orange Beach costs $1,726 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $519 a month since 2006–10, up 43%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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 Orange Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.9% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.0% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.7% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 41.4% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Orange Beach than nationally: 41.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northwest.
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 Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.2% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Orange Beach: 97.0% 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 2.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only four 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 Orange Beach
| Period | Orange Beach | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Orange Beach has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Orange Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Miflin | 2.60 | 37.2 | 7.2% | 41.6% | 9.9% | 2004 | $1,386 | 18.9% | 91.9% | 3.8% |
| Perdido Beach | 2.19 | 61.7 | 1.2% | 3.8% | 30.3% | 1988 | $799 | 31.0% | 92.4% | 3.1% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| Warrington | 2.40 | 42.1 | 14.1% | 36.7% | 17.9% | 1972 | $1,155 | 22.8% | 91.2% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Munford, TN · Middletown, KY · Midland, NC · Milton, VT · Milton, WI · Mims, FL · Minerva, OH · Minnehaha, WA · Minnetrista, MN · Moab, UT
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 Orange Beach. 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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