Orange Beach, Ala. — (GSN) — Baldwin County is home to the four cities with the oldest average population ages in Alabama: Foley (median age 52.7), Gulf Shores (50.8), Orange Beach (50.6), and Fairhope (48.2). Driven by coastal lifestyle appeal, mild climate, and vibrant communities, these municipalities have naturally become top destinations for retirees and older adults.

This distinct demographic landscape is one of the primary catalysts behind the recent unprecedented expansion of healthcare and medical services across Baldwin County. As the population ages, local leaders and regional healthcare providers have responded by making substantial investments to ensure specialized, high-acuity, and accessible care close to home.

To support an aging resident base, major health systems and municipal governments across Baldwin County have undertaken sweeping infrastructure projects:

• Foley & South Baldwin Health System Expansion: Baldwin Health completed a major expansion, opening a multi-story patient tower that doubled its ICU capacity, added advanced surgical suites, and opened a new Specialty Surgical Center. To support surrounding growth, Foley established a dedicated Medical Overlay District and Fern Avenue Medical Park to attract specialists, outpatient centers, and clinics.
• Fairhope & Eastern Shore Medical Growth: Infirmary Health’s Thomas Hospital in Fairhope expanded its facilities with a new patient care tower, featuring extra inpatient beds, enhanced cardiovascular care, and Baldwin County’s only open-heart surgery program.
• Gulf Shores Freestanding Emergency Care: Gulf Shores partnered with Baldwin Health to open a freestanding 24/7 emergency department and set aside land for a dedicated Medical Village near the airport, providing rapid emergency response without requiring travel farther north.
• Orange Beach Medical Center Hub: Orange Beach is converting municipal facilities into Orange Beach Medical Center South to operate alongside the Orange Beach Medical Arts building, expanding specialty healthcare options for local residents.

While retirement destination appeal pushes the median age higher, the ongoing introduction of new business models, industrial projects, and manufacturing facilities typically acts as a natural counterweight to reduce the county's average age over time.

New commercial and industrial developments generate career opportunities that attract younger workers, technical professionals, and families to the area:

• Manufacturing & Aerospace: Facilities such as UTC/Collins Aerospace supply high-skilled technical jobs that attract early-to-mid-career engineers and technicians.
• Logistics & Industrial Parks: Recent industrial investments—including the North Foley Industrial Park site, Baldwin Cold Logistics’ facility, and regional development in Robertsdale—bring steady employment for a younger workforce.
• Infrastructure & Tech Opportunities: Municipal investments in infrastructure, light manufacturing, and commercial corridors continue to diversify the local economy beyond tourism and retirement, creating a more balanced demographic distribution across Baldwin County.

In addition to expanding economic and employment opportunities, the strong academic performance and modern facilities of newly established schools across Baldwin County are playing a key role in attracting young families to the area. As high-performing educational institutions continue to draw working parents and children, this sustained influx of younger residents is expected to influence local demographic trends—meaning future demographic reports may well reflect a gradual shift toward a lower average age across the county.

Here are the cities in Alabama ranked by median age, from oldest to youngest:

1. Foley (Baldwin County) – 52.7 years
2. Gulf Shores (Baldwin County) – 50.8 years
3. Orange Beach (Baldwin County) – 50.6 years
4. Fairhope (Baldwin County) – 48.2 years
5. Sheffield (Colbert County) – 45.8 years
6. Demopolis (Marengo County) – 45.1 years
7. Saraland (Mobile County) – 43.7 years
8. Bessemer (Jefferson County) – 43.3 years
9. Ozark (Dale County) – 43.1 years
10. Mountain Brook (Jefferson County) – 42.9 years
11. Anniston (Calhoun County) – 42.8 years
12. Pell City (St. Clair County) – 42.0 years
13. Alexander City (Tallapoosa County) – 41.8 years
14. Vestavia Hills (Jefferson County) – 41.7 years
15. Monroeville (Monroe County) – 41.3 years
16. Scottsboro (Jackson County) – 41.2 years
17. Athens (Limestone County) – 40.9 years
18. Talladega (Talladega County) – 40.9 years
19. Cullman (Cullman County) – 40.8 years
20. Trussville (Jefferson County) – 40.3 years
21. Dothan (Houston County) – 40.2 years
22. Pelham (Shelby County) – 40.0 years
23. Opelika (Lee County) – 39.9 years
24. Decatur (Morgan County) – 39.7 years
25. Alabaster (Shelby County) – 39.6 years

In case you were wondering, Auburn is the city with the youngest major population in Alabama.

* Ranking provided by GIS MAP: cities in each state ranked by income, home values, affordability, rent, education, poverty, density, population, median age, population growth (2010-2020 and 2020-2024), temperature, snowfall and precipitation, plus county rankings by FEMA natural hazard risk and expected annual losses. Each ranking lists the top 25 places (cities need at least 1,000 residents), with a page of all rankings for every state.