Moving to Orange Beach?

So you’re thinking about making the big move to Orange Beach?  What an exciting decision!  Most everyone knows that Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are very popular with tourism but our residential population is growing every year as well.  As a Realtor for 13 years, I see tons of folks moving to lower Alabama annually.  Many are retirees but all walks of life are continually attracted to our beautiful city.  

Whether you’re moving from Ohio or from across town, it can be a daunting task to take up roots in another area.  That’s why this page, The Ultimate Guide to Life in Orange Beach, was created for you.  So, if you’re moving to Orange Beach yourself or you know someone who is, read this article first!  

This resource is packed with information to help make your destination a little more familiar.  

Here’s What You’ll Find Below:

• Facts & Figures
• Beautiful Surroundings
• Strong Economy & Jobs
• Thriving Community
• Outdoor Activities
• Easy Commute
• Restaurants & Entertainment
• Weather & Climate
• Public Safety
• Schools & Programs
• Real Estate
• Final Thoughts

The Ultimate Guide to Life in Orange Beach

I hope that you’ll find great value in this resource.  Sure you could find information on Orange Beach all over the web but here you won’t have to sift through dozens of pages and spend countless hours trying to find what you want.  So let’s get moving!

I know, reading over the facts and figures of a city can be uneventful so let’s get them out of the way so we can get to the fun stuff.  They are important though, at least for only the next few minutes.

• Population: 5,850
• Total Area: 15.95 square miles (1.25% of that is water)
• Median Home Price: $238,000  
• Median Household Income: $57,750
• Sales Tax: 10%
• State Income Tax: 5%
• Median Age: 48.2
• Average Commute Time: 19.24 minutes

Out of the six major cities in Baldwin County (Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, Foley, Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores), Orange Beach is the smallest with 5,791 full time residents.  Population growth has been strong with an increase of 54.60% increase since 2000.  While you will see a lot of tourists during the hot season, you’ll find that Orange Beach gives you the feeling of a low-keyed, layed-back coastal town.

Orange Beach is the southeastern-most city in Orange Beach and lies between Gulf Shores and Florida.  You’ll read more about traveling around the city in the Easy Commute section below.  You can see that, land-wise, the city isn’t very big at all but many of the residents of Orange Beach get to enjoy beautiful waterviews every day.

In addition to the Gulf of Mexico, here are the other bodies of water that lie near Orange Beach:

• Intracoastal Waterway
• Wolf Bay
• Ingram Bayou
• Roberts Bayou
• Arnica Bay
• Bay La Launch
• Terry Cove
• Johnson Cove
• Cotton Bayou
• Old River

For some reason crime is “Not Given” in Niche’s score but I’ll go more into that in the Public Safety section below.

Here are a couple of reviews taken from Niche.com:

Interesting Facts & Accolades

• Orange Beach got its name from large citrus groves that once grew here prior to 1926.  The crops eventually died out due to several hard freezes and tainted seedlings brought in by a salesman.
• The 112 foot tall ferris wheel at The Wharf is the largest in the southeast.
• Our beautiful white beaches were made from quartz that has filtered down from the Appalachian Mountains over 1,000 years ago.
• There are 4 islands just north of Perdido Pass:  Bird Island, Gilchrist Island, Robinson Island, and Walker Island.  There’s nothing there but vegetation and sand, providing boaters and jet skiers a great place to stop to relax a little.
• Coastal Living – Best Beaches in the USA
• Huffington Post – 10 Best Beach Cities in America

When you move to Orange Beach, you’re re-establishing yourself in one of the most gorgeous places in the country, where the sand is white and the water is clear.

Can you imagine walking this beach with your significant other whenever you want?

You get to take your pick, sunrise or sunset…..

The beautiful surroundings of Orange Beach will be your next home!

The bulk of the Orange Beach economy is fueled by tourism all through the year.  For the past 6 years in a row, the Alabama Gulf Coast has experienced record setting years in visitors and revenue.  Last year over 6.3 million people visited the beach, spending about $4.2 billion before leaving.  That’s pretty powerful!

Employment By Industry

Interesting Employment Facts:

• The unemployment rate in Orange Beach is 5.6% with a positive job growth of 1.78%.
• The unemployment rate is lower than the state and national averages.
• The poverty level is 42% lower than the national average.
• Income per capita in Orange Beach is 26% higher than the national average.
• The median household income is 8% higher than the national average.

Jobs

According to Glassdoor.com, there are 875 jobs within 15 miles from Orange Beach.

The top 5 positions that are being hired for in the area are:

• Welder
• Resident Property Manager
• Accounting
• Phlebotomist
• Warehouse

If you’re moving to Orange Beach and not retired, there are many opportunities in our small town.

Although Orange Beach is a small city, it’s big on appeal.  With only a little over 5,000 full time residents Orange Beach continues to grow as a community.  I think for a community to thrive there has to be a balance of livability, low crime rates, a strong economy, great schools, entertainment, planning, and development.  Many of these factors are being covered in this article.

With the massive amount of tourism that flows into the city every year, Orange Beach does a great job at maintaining this balance for its residents. 

One of the ways that Orange Beach shows a strong sense of community is how business is incorporated throughout the city.  You’ll find very few national fast food chains here with most of the restaurants being owned and operated by the locals. 

There are a couple of strip shopping centers here with grocery stores but other than a few locally owned shops, Orange Beach is not known as a the shopping mecca of the south.  That’s okay though.  Orange Beach trys hard to cater to its residents as well as take care of the many tourists who visit the area all year long.  

Don’t get me wrong though.  You’re not going to be deprived if you need a new bathing suit or patio set.  You just won’t see a McDonald’s on every corner.  One of the ways that Orange Beach has excelled in creating a thriving community is The Wharf…….

The Wharf

The largest shopping district of Orange Beach can be found at The Wharf, located at the intersection of the Foley Beach Expressway and Canal Rd.  This is quite an impressive place to visit and stay.  I say stay because The Wharf is like a city within the city.  You not only have dozens of cool shops and restaurants to visit but you also will find a large condo community at The Wharf offering well-appointed condos with great water views.  Whether you want to live here full-time or just visit for the week, you should definitely look into this great community.

Please visit the link above to find a full write up on what The Wharf has to offer.

Quality of Life

I believe Orange Beach has created balance by taking into account residential living, outdoor activities, a strong economy based on tourism, and quality of life.

Areavibes gives Orange Beach a Livability Ranking of 74 which is much higher than the rest of the state and the US

The Beach

Our beautiful beach and teal-green waters of the Gulf will forever draw people to our little area in lower Alabama.  The very nature of it all is a magnet for not only those who are visiting us for a short time but mainly for the residents who call Orange Beach their home.  That’s why the beach has to be included in why Orange Beach is a thriving community.

If you’re moving to Orange Beach and love the outdoors, well, you’ve just hit a home run!  There is so much going on where you can be active and catch some Vitamin D at the same time.

Boat Tours

There are over 100 fishing charter captains on the Alabama Gulf Coast to give you an experience of a lifetime.  Orange Beach boat tours are great for deep sea fishing trips, dolphin/whale watching, and enjoying one of our beautiful sunsets on the Gulf. Here are the Top 10 charters as rated by TripAdvisor.com.

• The Fun Boat Dolphin Cruises
• Distraction Charters
• Sail Wild Hearts
• Orange Beach Private Family Dolphin Tours & Boating Safaris
• Cruise Orange Beach Dolphin Cruises
• Blue Dolphin Cruises
• Hudson Marina
• Orange Beach Sailing Charters
• Dolphin Cruise aboard the Cold Mil Fleet
• Getaway Charters

Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail

The Backcountry Trail is a staple in Orange Beach for exploring the beauty of the area and taking in some incredible outdoor activities.  

Whether you’re into hiking and biking over 15 miles of trails or discover nature in the 6 distinct eco-systems, you are shown to be blown away with what Orange Beach has to offer with this natural escape.

Watersports

Do you enjoy being active in the water?  Orange Beach has a plethera of options to have fun.  Many of the Boat Tour companies above offer water sports activities as well but here’s a list of locals that focus on getting wild and wet!

Below you’ll find options for paddle boarding, kayaking, parasailing, banana boat rides, pontoon rentals, jet skis, skim boarding, scuba diving, and surfboarding.

• OB Watersports
  251-981-2527
• Pleasure Island Divers
  251-301-8010
• Perdido Paddle Board Company
• Perdido Key Watersports & Little Heads Kayak Rentals
  251-284-5107
• Perdido Beach Services
  251-981-4807
• Paddled By-You
  251-752-9250
• Alabama Extreme Watersports
  251-345-1301
• Coyote Beach Sports
  251-228-2080
• Flora-Bama Marina & Watersports
  251-980-5222
• Gulf Coast Paddle Company
  251-550-7235
• Go Go Kayaks
  251-752-5500
• Happy Harbor Watersports
  251-981-6111
• Ike’s Beach Service
  251-948-3757

Orange Beach Parks

Waterfront Park – Lighted kids park, walking paths, pavilions, picnic areas with grills, 400 foot fishing pier.  Open year around.  Located 26425 Canal Road (1/4 mile east of Hwy 161).

The BackCountry Trail – 7 hiking and biking trails spanding 15 miles, 6 eco-systems, guided eco-tours, campsites, and segway tours.  Located at 3801 Orange Beach Blvd.

Dog Park – “Unleashed in Orange Beach” – Separate fenced in areas for small and large dogs.  3/4 acre dog park has water stations, disposal stations, and benches.  Located at 27920 Canal Road (1.3 miles east of Hwy 161).

Bird Island Park & Robinson Island – The islands are located just north of the Perdido Pass Bridge.  The islands are only accessible by boat or jet ski and are often used by residents and visitors as a park.

Orange Beach Canoe Trail – There are 10 designated canoe trail landing sites along the shores of Cotton Bayou, Bayou St. John, Arnica Bay, Bay La Launch, and Wolf Bay.  Here are where the landing sites are located:

• Cotton Bayou
• Boggy Point
• Wilson Boulevard
• Look Rook Rd
• Mississippi Ave
• Harrison Park
• Palmetto Extension
• Waterfront Park
• Cypress Ave
• Gulf Bay Road

Download and print your copy of the Canoe Trail here.

Disc Golf Course Park (Frisbee Golf) – 9 holes Par 27.  Located at 27920 Canal Rd next to the dog park.

Orange Beach Sports Complex – The Sports Complex has hosted a number of events from high school softball to collegiate soccer events.  Located at 4389 Wilson Silvers Pkwy.

Orange Beach Tennis Center – The Tennis Center has 8 lighted, medium speed hardcourts and pro shop.  Located at 4851 Wilson Blvd.  Lessons are provided for senior adults, adults, and kids.

Golf

There are quite a few great golf courses on the Alabama coast but most of them are located in Gulf Shores.  Here’s information for golfing in Orange Beach.

Orange Beach Golf Center – Located at 4700 Easy St.  This is a 9 hole course with driving range.  Green fees are very reasonable and low annual memberships are available.

Getting around in Orange Beach isn’t that complicated.  There’s just 2 routes that will take you into the city from the west: Canal Rd and Perdido Beach Blvd.  From the Florida state line there is just 1, Perdido Beach Blvd.

If you’re traveling through Gulf Shores or wanting to go to Foley, you can take a short cut through the Gulf State Park.  The “cut through” isn’t pictured here but the state park is the left portion of the green area above, adjacent to Backcountry Trail.

Here are some common places along with their distances to Orange Beach:

• Downtown Pensacola – 25.8 miles
• The Hangout (downtown Gulf Shores) – 6.8 miles
• Foley – 15.8 miles
• Walmart – 7.8 miles
• The Wharf – 5.3 miles
• OWA Theme Park – 11.5 miles
• Waterville USA – 7.5 miles
• Target – 9 miles
• Tanger Outlets – 13.4 miles

American

Seafood

Italian

Mexican

Asian

Cajun/Creole

Fast Food

Dessert/Coffee