2026 Compare Cities Economy:
Columbia, TN vs Gulf Shores, AL

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Highlights
- Household income in Gulf Shores, is 4% more than it is in Columbia and is 30% below the National Average.
- Columbia unemployment rate is 5.6%.
- Gulf Shores unemployment rate is 2.9%.
 Columbia, TNGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock2.9%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock3.3%1.6%
 Future Job Growth49.2%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes9.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock5.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$27,308  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$53,048$69,021
 Family Median Income$63,750  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Columbia, TNGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock8.9%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K3.4%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock11.8%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K13.1%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock9.9%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K7.7%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock7.1%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K14.7%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock11.8%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K3.8%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock5.4%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Columbia, TNGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Management, business, finance8.1%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock1.8%6.5%
 Community, social services1.2%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.8%1.2%
 Education, library4.7%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock3.7%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology6.9%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock1.2%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.2%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock9.5%5.4%
 Building maintenance4.8%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.8%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support23.4%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.0%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair11.0%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock3.2%13.1%
Reviews for Columbia    7 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

I was disturbed when I say old comments on this page. I recently moved to Columbia, TN. I saw associations with crime and other things that do not reflect what is by far  More

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Over 17 years ago

The jobs in Columbia, Tennessee are scarce in comparison to cities. It has been that way since the '90's. In the 90's General Electric and other major companies left the  More

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Over 18 years ago

Small old fashioned city. Not very progressive. great weather adequate schools no job growth. reasonable housing costs close to Nashville very few  More

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Reviews for Gulf Shores    6 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

Owned a place there for 20 years and spend a few weeks each season there. Heading back in a few weeks! Lows: Spotty internet for work. Saturday traffic. Hurricanes.  More

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I know that there are a few people out there that would just as soon throw rotten tomatoes at me for saying what I’m about to say, but I hate, hate, HATE living in Gulf  More

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Over 15 years ago

Gulf Shores offers many sunny days, compared to the rest of Baldwin County.  More

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