Residential delivery area · Alabama
ZIP Code 36542: Gulf Shores, AL
ZIP code 36542 is in Gulf Shores, Alabama, entirely in Baldwin County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 19,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the more populous of Gulf Shores's 2 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $79,639 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 51% of its land lies in Gulf Shores, and 3% in smaller places; 46% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Gulf Shores · 2 residential ZIPs
- County
- Baldwin County
- Census places
- Gulf Shores
- Metro area
- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL
- House district
- AL-1 119th Congress
- State
- Alabama
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 52.0 sq mi · 364 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 36542?
36542 centers on 30.270°, -87.751° and covers 52.0 square miles of land plus 22.5 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 36511, 36547, 36535, 36561, 36530.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 36542, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 36542 compare with the rest of Gulf Shores?
| Measure | 36542 | In Gulf Shores | In Baldwin County | In AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 18,906 | 1st of 2 | 6th of 24 | 78th of 656 |
| Median household income | $80k | 1st of 1 | 7th of 14 | 65th of 370 |
| Median home value | $384k | 1st of 1 | 5th of 16 | 19th of 386 |
Its median household income is higher than in 62% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 69% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 36542?
The 2020 Census counted 16,993 people in 36542; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 18,906. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 33.8% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 18,906
- 2020 Census count
- 16,993+33.8% since 2010 (12,705)
- Households
- 8,347
- Median age
- 50.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 36542?
Of the 18,906 people the ACS estimates in 36542, 18.2% are under 18 and 25.7% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (86.8%).
- Under 1818.2%
- 18 to 6456.1%
- 65 and older25.7%
- White, not Hispanic86.8%
- Hispanic or Latino5.3%
- Other or two or more4.6%
- Black, not Hispanic2.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 36542 earn?
Median household income is $79,639 (ACS 2020-2024), the 7th highest of the 14 ranked ZIP codes in Baldwin County. It rose from $66,002 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $79,639
- Income per person
- $44,566
- Below the poverty line
- 10.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.4%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 38.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $88,8478,370 returns; wages 50% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 36542?
FHFA's house price index for 36542, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 124% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 59% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +0.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $383,500
- Median gross rent
- $1,502
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 72.6%
- Housing units
- 19,232
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 36542?
688 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 124 more than in 2018; the most are in accommodation and food services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Accommodation and food services112
- Retail trade101
- Real estate and rental and leasing100
- Construction69
- Other services (except public administration)63
- Professional, scientific, and technical services48
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 36542?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36511 | Bon Secour | 769 | $88k | 2.5 mi |
| 36547 | Gulf Shores | 0 | – | 5.9 mi |
| 36535 | Foley | 40,628 | $67k | 8.0 mi |
| 36561 | Orange Beach | 9,528 | $98k | 10.8 mi |
| 36530 | Elberta | 7,409 | $63k | 15.1 mi |
| 36555 | Magnolia Springs | 1,099 | $87k | 9.1 mi (near) |
| 36580 | Summerdale | 6,638 | $63k | 14.7 mi (near) |
| 36532 | Fairhope | 38,108 | $90k | 16.0 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.