The Town FilesGrand Bay, Alabama
Community in Mobile County · population 3,460 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,400
- Household income
- $62,112
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 37.4
Grand Bay is a community of 3,460 people in Mobile County, Alabama. The median home is worth $142,400, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more seaside character than 100% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 81% of Alabama towns, better for families than 72% of Alabama towns.
How Grand Bay 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 Grand Bay is worth $142,400, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $62,112, which is more affordable than 83% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $951 a month. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Bay | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,400 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $951 | $834 |
| Median household income | $62,112 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Grand Bay
| People | Grand Bay | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 47.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Grand Bay
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 39.9°F. About 68.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Bay since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 9, 2011 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 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 Grand Bay itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Grand Bay
3 public schools with 1,637 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Bay Middle School | 6-8 | 753 | 19.3 |
| Breitling Elementary School | PK-5 | 460 | 17.0 |
| Cora Castlen Elementary | PK-5 | 424 | 19.3 |
Towns near Grand Bay
- Theodore, AL10.4 mi · 6,270 people · home $154,900
- Tillmans Corner, AL10.9 mi · 17,731 people · home $166,700
- Moss Point, MS11.7 mi · 12,147 people · home $110,100
- Escatawpa, MS12.0 mi · 3,254 people · home $107,900
- Pascagoula, MS14.8 mi · 22,010 people · home $144,700
- Gautier, MS19.3 mi · 19,024 people · home $166,400
- Mobile, AL19.5 mi · 187,041 people · home $193,300
- Vancleave, MS20.2 mi · 5,592 people · home $247,400
Grand Bay questions
Is Grand Bay, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grand Bay scores better for retirees than 40% of Alabama towns and quieter than 71%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Grand Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Bay is valued at $142,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,112, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $951 a month.
What is the weather like in Grand Bay?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 39.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 68.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Grand Bay get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 9, 2011. 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)