Alabama and Florida Panhandle Real Estate September 1, 2023 | Kaiser Sotheby's International Realty

The idyllic beaches of Alabama are no longer only a popular destination for summer vacations; they’re quickly becoming a place to call home. From the sugar-white sands of Gulf Shores to the quaint charm of Fairhope and Foley, more and more people are choosing the Gulf Coast as the place to lay down roots.

The numbers are staggering. Four of Alabama’s 10 fastest-growing cities in the last decade have been at or near the coast, with Baldwin County, home to the Gulf Coast beaches, being the fastest-growing county in the state. Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, and Daphne - from Orange Beach to Bay Minette - have all seen a population growth of at least 25 percent between 2010 and 2020.

Why are so many people flocking to Alabama’s beaches? For starters, they’re an outdoor lover’s paradise. Beautiful beaches, year-round sunshine, and an abundance of outdoor activities make the coastal lifestyle an attractive proposition for many. But beyond those features, it’s the small-town atmosphere, the laid-back culture, and the tight-knit communities along the coast that draw people in.

As a local real estate agent puts it, “People are looking for a life that has a balance of work and leisure, and coastal Alabama offers that in spades. Between the culture, the ample outdoor activities and the coastal communities themselves, it’s easy to see why so many people are choosing to make the beaches of Alabama their home.”

It’s an exciting time for the Gulf Coast, and the increased population growth shows no signs of slowing down. Whether it’s the allure of the beach life or the opportunities that come with living close to the coast, more and more people are choosing to make it their home, making the Alabama beaches one of the hottest places to live and buy real estate in the country.

Fairhope 

• Pop. Estimate 2022: 23,859 
• Change 2021 to 2022: +574
• Change 2020 to 2022: +1,167

GULF SHORES

• Pop. Estimate 2022: 16,193
• Change 2021 to 2022: +490
• Change 2020 to 2022: +1,015