Zip code 36542: Gulf Shores, Alabama

Q: What city is zip code 36542?

36542 is assigned to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 36542 in?

36542 is in Baldwin County, Alabama.

Q: What is the population of 36542?

About 18,906 people live in 36542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 36542?

The median household income in 36542 is $79,639.

Q: What zip codes are near 36542?

The closest zip codes to 36542 are 36511, 36547, 36535, 36555, 36561.

Residential delivery areaBaldwin CountyCentral Time

Population

18,906

Median household income

$80K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$384K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,502/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

52 sq mi

363 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 36542

36542 is a small-town zip code in Gulf Shores, Alabama (Baldwin County), covering 52 sq mi of land. About 18,906 people live here, or 363 per square mile. The median resident is 50 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $79,639 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 10.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $383,500, or 4.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,502 a month.

39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.4 minutes each way, and 18% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; management; and office and administrative support. 21% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 36542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy56.6%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · AL 14.5%8th of 606 in AL
Self-employed workers20.7%
98th
U.S. 10% · AL 9.1%26th of 612 in AL
Median age50
95th
U.S. 38.9 · AL 39.389th of 616 in AL
Residents 65 and older25.7%
93rd
U.S. 17.2% · AL 17.8%83rd of 616 in AL
Veterans9.5%
87th
U.S. 6.2% · AL 7.7%121st of 615 in AL
Uninsured rate11.9%
80th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · AL 9.2%149th of 614 in AL
Work from home18.2%
72nd
U.S. 15.1% · AL 8.8%31st of 612 in AL
Bachelor's degree or higher38.9%
64th
U.S. 35.7% · AL 28.4%61st of 612 in AL
Per capita income$44,566
62nd
U.S. $44,673 · AL $36,08764th of 614 in AL
Homeownership rate72.6%
60th
U.S. 65.2% · AL 70.2%412th of 605 in AL
Median home value$383,500
59th
U.S. $332,700 · AL $209,90022nd of 565 in AL
Broadband access93.1%
58th
U.S. 91% · AL 87.5%89th of 605 in AL
Median gross rent$1,502
56th
U.S. $1,413 · AL $1,00718th of 503 in AL
Median household income$79,639
50th
U.S. $80,734 · AL $63,99989th of 582 in AL
Poverty rate10.4%
47th
U.S. 12.5% · AL 15.6%438th of 607 in AL
Foreign-born residents6.8%
38th
U.S. 14.1% · AL 4%53rd of 616 in AL
Rent-burdened renters47.4%
37th
U.S. 51.1% · AL 48.8%263rd of 568 in AL
Income inequality (Gini)0.419
36th
U.S. 0.483 · AL 0.479385th of 603 in AL
Government workers11.5%
31st
U.S. 14.5% · AL 16.6%466th of 612 in AL
Population18,906
29th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AL 5,086,76878th of 616 in AL
Population density363/sq mi
28th
U.S. 95/sq mi · AL 100/sq mi136th of 616 in AL
Average commute22.4 min
25th
U.S. 26.4 min · AL 25.5 min470th of 587 in AL
Residents under 1818.2%
20th
U.S. 22% · AL 22.2%457th of 616 in AL
Median earnings per worker$39,426
20th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · AL $43,396343rd of 605 in AL
Diversity index24.2
17th
U.S. 61.4 · AL 52.8428th of 616 in AL
Unemployment rate2.4%
9th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · AL 4.7%432nd of 612 in AL
Healthcare workers5.8%
7th
U.S. 9.7% · AL 9.9%464th of 612 in AL
Tech workers0.3%
4th
U.S. 3.8% · AL 2.7%395th of 612 in AL

Measure	36542	Baldwin	AL	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AL
Housing vacancy	56.6%	25.5%	14.5%	10.1%	99th	8th of 606
Self-employed workers	20.7%	14.1%	9.1%	10%	98th	26th of 612
Median age	50	43.9	39.3	38.9	95th	89th of 616
Residents 65 and older	25.7%	21.7%	17.8%	17.2%	93rd	83rd of 616
Veterans	9.5%	10.1%	7.7%	6.2%	87th	121st of 615
Uninsured rateWeakness	11.9%	8.3%	9.2%	8.4%	80th	149th of 614
Work from home	18.2%	11.6%	8.8%	15.1%	72nd	31st of 612
Bachelor's degree or higher	38.9%	33.7%	28.4%	35.7%	64th	61st of 612
Per capita income	$44,566	$42,357	$36,087	$44,673	62nd	64th of 614
Homeownership rate	72.6%	77.6%	70.2%	65.2%	60th	412th of 605
Median home value	$383,500	$316,900	$209,900	$332,700	59th	22nd of 565
Broadband access	93.1%	90.6%	87.5%	91%	58th	89th of 605
Median gross rent	$1,502	$1,277	$1,007	$1,413	56th	18th of 503
Median household income	$79,639	$78,775	$63,999	$80,734	50th	89th of 582
Poverty rate	10.4%	10.1%	15.6%	12.5%	47th	438th of 607
Foreign-born residents	6.8%	4.1%	4%	14.1%	38th	53rd of 616
Rent-burdened renters	47.4%	47.2%	48.8%	51.1%	37th	263rd of 568
Income inequality (Gini)	0.419	0.456	0.479	0.483	36th	385th of 603
Government workers	11.5%	13.5%	16.6%	14.5%	31st	466th of 612
Population	18,906	246,989	5,086,768	334,922,499	29th	78th of 616
Population density	363/sq mi	155/sq mi	100/sq mi	95/sq mi	28th	136th of 616
Average commute	22.4 min	27 min	25.5 min	26.4 min	25th	470th of 587
Residents under 18	18.2%	21.1%	22.2%	22%	20th	457th of 616
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$39,426	$47,328	$43,396	$49,666	20th	343rd of 605
Diversity index	24.2	33.7	52.8	61.4	17th	428th of 616
Unemployment rateStrength	2.4%	3%	4.7%	5.2%	9th	432nd of 612
Healthcare workers	5.8%	9.5%	9.9%	9.7%	7th	464th of 612
Tech workers	0.3%	1.6%	2.7%	3.8%	4th	395th of 612

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

15%

5–17

18–24

25–34

11%

35–44

15%

45–54

15%

55–64

17%

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

18.2%

65 and over

25.7%

Race and ethnicity

White87%
Black2%
Hispanic5%
Asian1.0%
Native American0.4%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

24.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

6.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

37.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.7%

Other

Households

Households: 8,347
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 62.2%
Married couples: 49.3%
Living alone: 32%
Veterans (of adults): 9.5%
Male / female: 45% / 55%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

19%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

36542

$79,639

Baldwin Co.

$78,775

Alabama

$63,999

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$44,566

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

17.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.419

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

36542

$383,500

Baldwin Co.

$316,900

Alabama

$209,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

36542

$1,502

Baldwin Co.

$1,277

Alabama

$1,007

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

48%

2–4 units

5–19 units

14%

20+ units

28%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.2%

Housing units: 19,232
Owner-occupied: 72.6%
Vacant: 56.6%
Median year built: 2000
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 47.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 25.1%
Home value to income: 4.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

75%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.4%

Bicycle

Worked from home

18%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

20%

10–19

37%

20–29

16%

30–44

13%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

58.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

14%

Management

12%

Office and admin

12%

Cleaning and personal care

10%

Food service

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Business and finance

Healthcare

Education

Production

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Computer and math

0.3%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Retail

13%

Restaurants and hotels

12%

Finance, insurance and real estate

11%

Health care and social assistance

Construction

Education

Professional and technical services

Manufacturing

Arts and recreation

Other services

Admin, support and management

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Information

Wholesale

0.6%

Agriculture and mining

0.2%

Median earnings per worker

$39,426

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

20.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

11.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	36542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$72,544	$74,888
Service	$25,140	$26,804
Sales and office	$35,145	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$42,927	$49,199
Production and transportation	$35,547	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

22%

Some college

27%

Associate's

Bachelor's

25%

Graduate

14%

High school graduate or higher: 96.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 38.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 13.6%
Households with broadband: 93.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 74.9%
No internet access: 3.5%
Without health insurance: 11.9%
Limited-English households: 2.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Gulf Shores
State: Alabama
County: Baldwin County
Center point: 30.2696° N, 87.7506° W
Land area: 52 sq mi
Water area: 23 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Gulf Shores51% of zip
Foley3% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 36542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
36511	Bon Secour, AL	2.5 mi	769	$87,607	—
36547	Gulf Shores, AL	5.9 mi	0	—	—
36535	Foley, AL	7.8 mi	40,628	$66,714	$282,700
36555	Magnolia Springs, AL	9.1 mi	1,099	$86,705	$435,200
36561	Orange Beach, AL	11 mi	9,528	$98,295	$574,500
36536	Foley, AL · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
36580	Summerdale, AL	15 mi	6,638	$62,802	$262,100
36530	Elberta, AL	15 mi	7,409	$63,393	$280,100
36532	Fairhope, AL	16 mi	38,108	$89,694	$432,600
36533	Fairhope, AL · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—
36564	Point Clear, AL	17 mi	0	—	—
36576	Silverhill, AL	18 mi	4,492	$81,048	$248,300

Zip codes like 36542 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Panama City Beach, FL

Questions about 36542

What city is zip code 36542?

36542 is assigned to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 36542 in?

36542 is in Baldwin County, Alabama.

What is the population of 36542?

About 18,906 people live in 36542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 36542 in?

36542 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 36542?

The median household income in 36542 is $79,639.

What zip codes are near 36542?

The closest zip codes to 36542 are 36511, 36547, 36535, 36555, 36561.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 36542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.