Baldwin County, Alabama: commercial real estate data.
Baldwin County, Alabama had an estimated 261,608 residents on July 1, 2024, up 12.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 231,767, across 1,590 square miles. County output reached $13.45 bn in 2024, 6,409 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 234 7(a) approvals worth $165.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Baldwin County
How many people live in Baldwin County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024246,989
- Households98,574
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$78,775
- Median age43.9
- Median gross rent$1,277 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$316,900
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over177,628
- Population under 1852,190
- Share under 1821.1 percent
- Population 65 and over53,523
- Share 65 and over21.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64141,276
- Civilian labor force117,463
- Unemployment rate3.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.3 percent
- Rank by population among Alabama counties4th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included291st of 3,222
Baldwin County is the 4th largest of 67 Alabama counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 21.7 percent against 21.1 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Baldwin County
Is Baldwin County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024261,608
- Census 2020 base population231,767
- Population change since the 2020 census base12.88 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20247,501
- Births, 20242,505
- Deaths, 20242,655
- Natural change, 2024-150
- Net domestic migration, 20246,570
- Net international migration, 20241,075
- Total net migration, 20247,645
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202427,126
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents90th of 3,144
The county has grown 12.88 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Baldwin County
Where are people moving to Baldwin County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving7,773
- People arriving, from those returns14,916
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,089
- Net household movement2,684
- Adjusted gross income arriving$720.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$388.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$92,632
- Average income of a leaving household$65,218
- Largest single originMobile County (996 households)
- Largest single destinationMobile County (800 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile County | 996 | 1,821 | $74.0 m |
| Escambia County | 456 | 841 | $26.0 m |
| Jefferson County | 193 | 342 | $17.8 m |
| Shelby County | 137 | 265 | $14.3 m |
| Santa Rosa County | 103 | 196 | $12.1 m |
| Tuscaloosa County | 92 | 174 | $8.0 m |
| Madison County | 84 | 145 | $9.4 m |
| Escambia County | 75 | 158 | $3.4 m |
Households arriving report $27,414 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Mobile County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Baldwin County
What is the Baldwin County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$13.45 bn
- County GDP, 2023$12.72 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.7 percent
- GDP change over five years53.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Alabama areas BEA publishes7th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes351st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$54,441
Output grew 5.7 percent in the latest year and 53.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Baldwin County
Employment by industry in Baldwin County
- Covered employment, annual average85,118
- Establishments reporting8,757
- Average annual pay$51,157
- Average weekly wage$984
- Retail trade, employment14,980
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,604
- Accommodation and food services, employment14,327
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$28,446
- Health care and social assistance, employment11,003
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$57,259
- Construction, employment5,859
- Construction, average annual pay$70,798
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment4,185
- Manufacturing, employment4,089
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 14,980 | 1,132 | $38,604 |
| Accommodation and food services | 14,327 | 772 | $28,446 |
| Health care and social assistance | 11,003 | 998 | $57,259 |
| Construction | 5,859 | 957 | $70,798 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 4,185 | 573 | $43,463 |
| Manufacturing | 4,089 | 296 | $65,180 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 3,086 | 1,004 | $76,619 |
| Other services, except public administration | 2,451 | 551 | $48,580 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 14,980 jobs, 17.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Baldwin County
How many businesses are in Baldwin County?
- Establishments, all industries6,409
- Employment at those establishments72,022
- Annual payroll$3.25 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Baldwin County
Building permits in Baldwin County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20243,883
- Declared construction value permitted$1.22 bn
- Single family units authorized3,394
- Multifamily units authorized489
- Multifamily share of units12.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$315,129
- Units authorized per 1,000 households39.4
Single-family homes are 87.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Baldwin County
SBA loans in Baldwin County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded234
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$165.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$707,540
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,011,900
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,958
- Jobs per approval12.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active62
- Distinct industries receiving approvals120
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms33
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter180
- Franchise loans46
- Franchise share of approvals19.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (13)
- Most active lenderLive Oak Banking Company (18)
- 504 approvals recorded74
- 504 gross approval dollars$51.7 m
- Average 504 approval$698,703
- Median 504 approval$550,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval10.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.2
- Most active CDCSouthern Development Council (29)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$217.3 m
The average approval of $707,540 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Baldwin County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Baldwin County
Do SBA loans in Baldwin County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded32
- Paid in full26
- Charged off6
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans18.8 percent
- Status: Paid in full26
- Status: Exempt from disclosure156
- Status: Charged off6
- Status: Cancelled36
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed10
Of the 32 loans that have reached a final outcome, 18.8 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Baldwin County
SBA lending by place in Baldwin County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending16
- Daphne, approvals44
- Foley, approvals37
- Fairhope, approvals35
- Orange Beach, approvals31
- Gulf Shores, approvals29
- Spanish Fort, approvals18
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Daphne | 44 | $22,775,800 |
| Foley | 37 | $28,633,700 |
| Fairhope | 35 | $21,268,300 |
| Orange Beach | 31 | $40,395,700 |
| Gulf Shores | 29 | $16,324,100 |
| Spanish Fort | 18 | $13,122,400 |
| Robertsdale | 13 | $5,199,900 |
| Summerdale | 5 | $5,958,500 |
| 8 other borrower cities | 22 | $11,886,000 |
Daphne accounts for 44 approvals against 37 in Foley. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Baldwin County
How large is Baldwin County?
- Land area1,590 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Alabama counties1st of 67
- Width, east to west37.8 mi
- Height, north to south74.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land155
- Establishments per square mile4.03
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Baldwin County
Flood risk in Baldwin County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Baldwin County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 015000
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book15
- Of those, participating in the NFIP15
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class4
- Radon levels in Baldwin County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Baldwin County (community 015000), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Baldwin County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Baldwin County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Baldwin County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024246,989
- Households98,574
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$78,775
- Median age43.9
Common questions
Baldwin County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Baldwin County, Alabama?
The Census Bureau estimates 261,608 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 246,989, in 98,574 households, ranking 4th of 67 Alabama counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Baldwin County's population growing?
The population has grown 12.88 percent since the 2020 census base of 231,767, to 261,608 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,505 births against 2,655 deaths, with net migration of 7,645. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Baldwin County?
$78,775. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $316,900, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,277 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Baldwin County?
6,409 establishments, employing 72,022 people with an annual payroll of $3.25 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Baldwin County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 14,980 jobs, 17.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 85,118 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,157, or $984 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Baldwin County?
234 7(a) approvals totaling $165.6 m since FY2020, across 62 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 74 504 approvals worth $51.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Baldwin County get paid back?
Of the 32 loans that have reached a final outcome, 26 were paid in full and 6 charged off, a charge-off rate of 18.8 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Baldwin County?
3,883 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.22 bn. Multifamily was 12.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Baldwin County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Baldwin County come from?
The largest single origin is Mobile County, with 996 households. Arriving households report an average income of $92,632 against $65,218 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Baldwin County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Baldwin County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Baldwin County
Cities and places in Baldwin.
20 Census places lie wholly or partly in Baldwin County. All 20 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne | city | 29,453 | 44 | Wholly in this county |
| Fairhope | city | 24,190 | 35 | Wholly in this county |
| Foley | city | 24,026 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Gulf Shores | city | 16,401 | 29 | Wholly in this county |
| Spanish Fort | city | 10,662 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Orange Beach | city | 8,407 | 31 | Wholly in this county |
| Bay Minette | city | 8,295 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Robertsdale | city | 7,194 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Loxley | city | 4,357 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Stapleton | CDP | 3,009 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Bon Secour | CDP | 2,789 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Elberta | town | 2,293 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Summerdale | town | 1,593 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Point Clear | CDP | 1,511 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lillian | CDP | 1,460 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Magnolia Springs | town | 1,130 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Silverhill | town | 863 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Perdido | CDP | 676 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Perdido Beach | town | 642 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stockton | CDP | 356 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 234 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Baldwin County, the largest being Dlaphne (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby