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US ZIP Code Profile

ZIP Code 36542
Gulf Shores, Alabama

ZIP code 36542 is in Gulf Shores, located in Baldwin County, Alabama, within the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metro area. Its 2020 Census population was 16,993. The estimated median adjusted gross income per tax return is $50,774, and about 8% of filers report $200,000 or more.

2020 Population
16,993
Census ZCTA
County
Baldwin
FIPS 01003
Median income (est.)
$50,774
IRS SOI 2022
Land Area
52.537 mi²
+ 22.843 mi² water

01Location & Geography

Authoritative geographic identifiers from the U.S. Census Bureau, ANSI, and FIPS standards.

Primary CityGulf Shores, AL
CountyBaldwin County (FIPS 01003)
StateAlabama (FIPS 01)
Metro Area (MSA)Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL Metro Area (19300)
Census Region / DivisionSouth Region · East South Central Division
Coordinates30.26965, -87.750626
Land / Water Area52.537 mi² land · 22.843 mi² water

02Income & Economics

Distribution of the 8,370 individual tax returns filed in 36542 by adjusted gross income bracket (IRS SOI, 2022).

< $25K
28.1%
$25K–$50K
21.5%
$50K–$75K
13.5%
$75K–$100K
9.6%
$100K–$200K
19.5%
$200K+
7.9%
The $200,000+ bracket accounts for 38% of 36542's total adjusted gross income, from 8% of returns — a concentration that drives the gap between the median ($50,774) and the average.
Estimated median = median adjusted gross income per tax return, interpolated from IRS SOI brackets. Differs from U.S. Census household income.

03Income Over Time

Year-over-year change in 36542's IRS income metrics, 2020–2022.

Median income (2021→2022)
$50,774
▲ 4.8%
Filers earning $200K+
7.9%
▼ 0.1 pt
Total filers
8,370
▲ 8.0%
GET /zipc/v2/zipcodes/36542/soi?year=… $42K 2020 $48K 2021 $51K 2022
Median = adjusted gross income per return, interpolated from IRS SOI brackets. Figures are nominal (not inflation-adjusted).

04Population Trend

Decennial U.S. Census population for the 36542 ZCTA.

2000
7,776
 
2010
12,705
▲ +63.4%
2020
16,993
▲ +33.8%

05USPS Postal Details

Delivery and facility attributes from the monthly USPS dataset.

ZIP ClassificationNon-Unique Zip
Facility TypePost Office
Carrier Route SortD
USPS Finance Number013780
City AliasesGulf Shores

06Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 36542 in?

ZIP code 36542 is in Baldwin County, Alabama (county FIPS code 01003).

What city is ZIP code 36542?

The primary USPS city for 36542 is Gulf Shores, AL.

What metro area (MSA) is 36542 in?

36542 is part of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL Metro Area (MSA code 19300).

What is the population of ZIP code 36542?

The 2020 Census population of 36542 was 16,993 residents.

What is the median income in ZIP code 36542?

Based on IRS Statistics of Income data, the estimated median adjusted gross income per tax return in 36542 is about $50,774, with around 8% of filers reporting $200,000 or more. Note that adjusted gross income is a tax measure and differs from U.S. Census household income.