What are the schools like in Gulf Shores, AL?

Gulf Shores is served primarily by Gulf Shores City. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.2:1.

What is the median household income in Gulf Shores?

The median household income in Gulf Shores, AL is $62,021 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

What is the weather like in Gulf Shores, AL?

Gulf Shores has an average high temperature of 61.0°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 67.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

Gulf Shores, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Gulf Shores, AL affordable or expensive?

Gulf Shores's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gulf Shores is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $331,300 and the median rent is $1,181 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Gulf Shores, AL?

Gulf Shores has a violent crime rate of 287.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1791.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gulf Shores, AL a Good Place to Live?

Gulf Shores is a small city of 15,178 in Alabama, with a median household income of $62,021 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Gulf Shores stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Gulf Shores is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gulf Shores 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: 97.6

Gulf Shores's overall cost of living index is 97.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gulf Shores costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Gulf Shores, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$331,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,181	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,021	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Gulf Shores's violent crime rate is 287.1 per 100,000 residents — 24% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

287.1 /100k

Property Crime

1791.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Gulf Shores is served primarily by Gulf Shores City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gulf Shores, AL	National Avg
School District	Gulf Shores City	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	38.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gulf Shores sees average highs of 61.0°F in January and 89.8°F in July, with 67.7 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Gulf Shores, AL
Average High — January	61.0°F
Average High — July	89.8°F
Annual Precipitation	67.7"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	Gulf Shores, AL	National Avg
Population	15,178	—
Median Age	50.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	14.3%	22.2%
65 and over	26.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bon Secour, AL 3 mi Orange Beach, AL 6 mi Foley, AL 9 mi Elberta, AL 9 mi Magnolia Springs, AL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

36542 36547

Gulf Shores vs Other Cities

Gulf Shores, AL vs Bon Secour, AL Gulf Shores, AL vs Orange Beach, AL Gulf Shores, AL vs Foley, AL Gulf Shores, AL vs Elberta, AL Gulf Shores, AL vs Magnolia Springs, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gulf Shores, AL affordable or expensive?

Gulf Shores's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Gulf Shores roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $331,300 and median rent is $1,181/month.

What is the crime rate in Gulf Shores, AL?

Gulf Shores's violent crime rate is 287.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1791.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gulf Shores?

Public schools in Gulf Shores are operated by Gulf Shores City. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. 38.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gulf Shores, AL a good place to live?

Gulf Shores, AL has a population of 15,178, a median household income of $62,021, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Gulf Shores?

Gulf Shores averages 61.0°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 67.7 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Gulf Shores?

Gulf Shores, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 36542, 36547.

What is the population of Gulf Shores?

The population of Gulf Shores, Alabama is 15,178 with a median age of 50.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gulf Shores?

Key numbers for living in Gulf Shores: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $331,300, median household income $62,021, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gulf Shores side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.