Cost of Living in Orange Beach, AL

Population 8,244 · Alabama · Data vintage 2023

134
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Orange Beach is a smaller Alabama community of around 8000 residents, where median household incomes of $89,034 and housing costs ($476,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape.

Geographically, Orange Beach is about 40 miles southeast of Mobile, the nearest large metro. Median home values run roughly 180% higher than Mobile's $170,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 156
Rent 102

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Orange Beach

The median home value in Orange Beach is $476,000 — 56% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,339/month, 2% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $89,034/year is 19% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 3.9%, below the national average of 4.8%. Alabama's top state income tax rate is 5.0% and the combined sales tax is 9.2%. Overall, Orange Beach has a cost of living index of 134 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 34% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$476,000
56% above avg
Zillow Home Value
$385,960
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,339/mo
2% above avg
Zillow Rent
$2,961/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.6x
Favors renting
Property Tax Rate
0.4%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$646
1 BR
$688
2 BR
$857
3 BR
$1,132
4 BR
$1,309
Owner-occupied 63.6%
Renter-occupied 36.4%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,339
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,953/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
27.4 min
1% above avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
19.6%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
70.9%
Carpooled
8.6%
Walked
0.9%
Work from home
19.6%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 5.0%
Total Sales Tax 9.2%
State rate 4.0%
Avg local rate 5.2%
Property Tax 0.4%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$89,034
19% above avg
Per Capita Income
$55,769
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
20% below avg
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Labor Force Participation
63.0%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 22.9%
Graduate degree 14.8%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 51.1
Male median age 51
Female median age 51.2

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 43 — Good
68%
Good air days/yr
90
Max AQI recorded
239
PM2.5 days
108
Ozone days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Orange Beach, AL?

Orange Beach has a cost index of 134 (100 = national average). It is 34% above the national average.

What is average rent in Orange Beach, AL?

The median gross rent in Orange Beach is $1,339 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Orange Beach?

The median home value in Orange Beach is $476,000 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Orange Beach?

The median household income in Orange Beach is $89,034 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Orange Beach, AL?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Orange Beach is 9.2%. The Alabama state income tax top rate is 5.0%.

Is Orange Beach, AL affordable?

Orange Beach is above average in cost of living, with an index of 134 — about 34% higher than the national average.

Orange Beach at a Glance

Population
8,244
Median Income
$89,034
Home Value
$476,000
Median Rent
$1,339/mo
Unemployment
3.9%
Sales Tax
9.2%
View all cities in Alabama →
🗺️ County data for Alabama

Explore county-level cost of living data

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