Baldwin County Claims the 4 Oldest Cities in Alabama, Fueling a Healthcare Boom

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — When it comes to age, Baldwin County stands apart from the rest of Alabama. The four oldest cities in Alabama, measured by median age, are all in Baldwin County, led by Foley at 52.7 years, followed by Gulf Shores at 50.8, Orange Beach at 50.6 and Fairhope at 48.2.

The rankings, which compare Alabama cities with at least 1,000 residents, reflect the county’s long-standing appeal to retirees and older adults drawn by its beaches, mild weather and active coastal communities. That demographic profile is also one of the major forces behind a wave of new hospitals, emergency rooms and medical offices across the county.

What the numbers show

Median age is the midpoint of a community’s population: half of residents are older and half are younger. A median age above 50, as in Foley, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, means more than half of the people living in those cities are past their 50th birthday.

Behind Baldwin County’s four cities, the next oldest communities on the list are scattered across the state, from Sheffield in north Alabama to Demopolis in the Black Belt. Saraland, in neighboring Mobile County, ranks seventh. Here are the 25 Alabama cities with the highest median ages, from oldest to youngest:

• Foley (Baldwin County) – 52.7 years
• Gulf Shores (Baldwin County) – 50.8 years
• Orange Beach (Baldwin County) – 50.6 years
• Fairhope (Baldwin County) – 48.2 years
• Sheffield (Colbert County) – 45.8 years
• Demopolis (Marengo County) – 45.1 years
• Saraland (Mobile County) – 43.7 years
• Bessemer (Jefferson County) – 43.3 years
• Ozark (Dale County) – 43.1 years
• Mountain Brook (Jefferson County) – 42.9 years
• Anniston (Calhoun County) – 42.8 years
• Pell City (St. Clair County) – 42.0 years
• Alexander City (Tallapoosa County) – 41.8 years
• Vestavia Hills (Jefferson County) – 41.7 years
• Monroeville (Monroe County) – 41.3 years
• Scottsboro (Jackson County) – 41.2 years
• Athens (Limestone County) – 40.9 years
• Talladega (Talladega County) – 40.9 years
• Cullman (Cullman County) – 40.8 years
• Trussville (Jefferson County) – 40.3 years
• Dothan (Houston County) – 40.2 years
• Pelham (Shelby County) – 40.0 years
• Opelika (Lee County) – 39.9 years
• Decatur (Morgan County) – 39.7 years
• Alabaster (Shelby County) – 39.6 years

At the other end of the spectrum, Auburn has the youngest population among Alabama’s major cities, a reflection of the large student body at Auburn University.

Why retirees choose the coast

Baldwin County has been one of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties for years, and much of that growth has come from people relocating from other states and regions. The beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the bayfront charm of Fairhope and the shopping, golf and amenities around Foley have made south Baldwin a natural landing spot for retirees and second-home owners. The area’s comparatively mild winters are another draw for people leaving colder climates.

As those residents settle in, they bring growing demand for medical care, particularly specialized and high-level services that once required a trip to Mobile or beyond.

A healthcare building boom

Health systems and city governments across the county have responded with major investments aimed at keeping advanced care close to home. Among the projects:

• Foley: Baldwin Health completed a major expansion that included a multi-story patient tower, doubling its intensive care capacity, adding advanced surgical suites and opening a new Specialty Surgical Center. The city of Foley also created a Medical Overlay District and the Fern Avenue Medical Park to attract specialists, outpatient centers and clinics.
• Fairhope: Infirmary Health’s Thomas Hospital expanded with a new patient care tower that added inpatient beds and enhanced cardiovascular services. The hospital is home to Baldwin County’s only open-heart surgery program.
• Gulf Shores: The city partnered with Baldwin Health to open a freestanding emergency department that operates around the clock and set aside land near the airport for a planned Medical Village, giving residents and visitors faster emergency care without driving farther north.
• Orange Beach: The city is converting municipal facilities into Orange Beach Medical Center South, which will operate alongside the Orange Beach Medical Arts building to expand specialty care options for local residents.

For older residents, closer access to emergency rooms, cardiac care and surgical services can mean shorter travel times in a crisis and fewer long drives for routine specialist visits. The facilities also serve the large number of tourists who visit the Alabama Gulf Coast each year.

Signs of a younger future

While the county’s popularity with retirees pushes the median age up, other trends could gradually pull it back down. New industry and business investment tends to bring younger workers and families, and Baldwin County has seen a steady stream of both.

• Manufacturing and aerospace: Employers such as Collins Aerospace in Foley provide skilled technical jobs that attract engineers and technicians early in their careers.
• Logistics and industrial parks: Projects including the North Foley Industrial Park site, the Baldwin Cold Logistics facility and industrial development around Robertsdale offer steady employment for younger workers.
• Infrastructure and commercial growth: Continued investment in roads, light manufacturing and commercial corridors is helping diversify the local economy beyond tourism and retirement.

Schools are another factor. Newly established schools across Baldwin County, with modern facilities and strong academic performance, have become an attraction for working parents. As more young families move in, future census figures could show a gradual decline in the county’s median age.

What it means for residents

For now, Baldwin County’s age profile shapes much of daily life, from the kinds of housing being built to the services local governments provide. It is a key reason hospitals continue to grow, and it influences planning for everything from transportation to recreation.

Residents looking for information about local healthcare options can contact Baldwin Health, Infirmary Health’s Thomas Hospital or their city government for details on new and planned facilities. Population and demographic data for Alabama cities is published by the U.S. Census Bureau at data.census.gov.