The Town FilesDauphin Island, Alabama
Town in Mobile County · population 1,778 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $432,200
- Household income
- $67,206
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 62.2
Dauphin Island is a town of 1,778 people in Mobile County, Alabama. The median home is worth $432,200, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Alabama towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Alabama towns, more seaside character than 98% of Alabama towns.
How Dauphin Island ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dauphin Island is worth $432,200, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $67,206, which is more affordable than 1% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,844 a month. 97.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dauphin Island | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $432,200 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,844 | $834 |
| Median household income | $67,206 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 97.5% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 51.6% | — |
Who lives in Dauphin Island
| People | Dauphin Island | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 9.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.4% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 15.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 20.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 32.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Dauphin Island
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 46.1°F. About 61.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 4 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dauphin Island since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 25, 1982 about 2.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 19, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 24, 2010.
Severe weather in Mobile County since 1996
Mobile County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Hurricane | EM-3656: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
Jobs and pay in Mobile County
Mobile County had 175,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,700 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Dauphin Island itself the ACS puts it at 14.3%.
Public schools in Dauphin Island
1 public school with 58 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dauphin Island Elementary School | K-5 | 58 | 11.6 |
Towns near Dauphin Island
- Bayou La Batre, AL12.1 mi · 2,204 people · home $87,800
- Belle Fontaine, AL16.9 mi · 613 people · home $227,800
- Grand Bay, AL18.4 mi · 3,460 people · home $142,400
- Theodore, AL19.9 mi · 6,270 people · home $154,900
- Point Clear, AL22.5 mi · 2,076 people · home $867,500
- Tillmans Corner, AL23.0 mi · 17,731 people · home $166,700
- Pascagoula, MS24.2 mi · 22,010 people · home $144,700
- Moss Point, MS24.7 mi · 12,147 people · home $110,100
Dauphin Island questions
Is Dauphin Island, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dauphin Island scores better for retirees than 61% of Alabama towns and quieter than 91%. 36.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.2).
How much does a house cost in Dauphin Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Dauphin Island is valued at $432,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,206, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,844 a month.
What is the weather like in Dauphin Island?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 46.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Dauphin Island get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dauphin Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 25, 1982. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)