Grand Bay is a small town of 3,607 in Alabama, with a median household income of $72,125
and a 4.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Grand Bay stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Grand Bay is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Grand Bay city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.4
Grand Bay's overall cost of living index is 89.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Grand Bay costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Grand Bay, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$133,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$990
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$72,125
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Grand Bay's violent crime rate is 569.7 per 100,000 residents
— 50% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
569.7 /100k
Property Crime
1605.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Grand Bay is served primarily by Mobile County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Grand Bay, AL
National Avg
School District
Mobile County
—
Elementary Schools
53
—
Middle Schools
17
—
High Schools
17
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Grand Bay sees average highs of 59.7°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 68.7 inches of annual precipitation
.
Grand Bay's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Grand Bay roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $133,300 and median rent is $990/month.
Grand Bay's violent crime rate is 569.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1605.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Grand Bay are operated by Mobile County.
The district has 53 elementary, 17 middle, and 17 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1. 14.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Grand Bay, AL has a population of 3,607, a median household income of $72,125, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Grand Bay averages 59.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 68.7 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Grand Bay, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36541.
The population of Grand Bay, Alabama is 3,607 with a median age of 41.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Grand Bay: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $133,300, median household income $72,125, crime index 121 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Grand Bay side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.