The Town FilesGulf Shores, Alabama
City in Baldwin County · population 15,014 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,700
- Household income
- $78,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 50.8
Gulf Shores is a city of 15,014 people in Baldwin County, Alabama. The median home is worth $382,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of Alabama towns, hipper than 96% of Alabama towns, better for retirees than 94% of Alabama towns.
How Gulf Shores 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 Gulf Shores is worth $382,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $78,188, which is more affordable than 5% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,483 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gulf Shores | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,700 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,483 | $834 |
| Median household income | $78,188 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.3% | — |
Who lives in Gulf Shores
| People | Gulf Shores | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 19.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Gulf Shores
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 38.9°F. About 69.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gulf Shores since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 13, 2001 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 19, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 10, 2021.
Severe weather in Baldwin County since 1996
Baldwin County has been included in 39 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 |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Baldwin County
Baldwin County had 85,118 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,157 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Gulf Shores itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Gulf Shores
3 public schools with 2,644 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Shores Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,162 | 17.3 |
| Gulf Shores High School | 9-12 | 882 | 16.0 |
| Gulf Shores Middle School | 6-8 | 600 | 20.7 |
Towns near Gulf Shores
- Orange Beach, AL6.5 mi · 8,095 people · home $502,400
- Foley, AL8.5 mi · 20,335 people · home $289,300
- Robertsdale, AL19.3 mi · 6,708 people · home $229,300
- Fairhope, AL19.9 mi · 22,477 people · home $430,900
- Pensacola Station, FL23.5 mi · 5,532 people · home —
- Warrington, FL25.5 mi · 15,218 people · home $212,000
- Myrtle Grove, FL25.6 mi · 17,224 people · home $186,100
- Daphne, AL26.2 mi · 27,462 people · home $323,400
Gulf Shores questions
Is Gulf Shores, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gulf Shores scores better for retirees than 94% of Alabama towns and quieter than 40%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.8).
How much does a house cost in Gulf Shores?
The median owner-occupied home in Gulf Shores is valued at $382,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,188, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,483 a month.
What is the weather like in Gulf Shores?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 38.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 69.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Gulf Shores get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gulf Shores since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 13, 2001. 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)