2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Merritt Island, FL vs Gulf Shores, AL

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Highlights
- Household income in Gulf Shores, is 32% less than it is in Merritt Island and is 30% below the National Average.
- Merritt Island unemployment rate is 4.5%.
- Gulf Shores unemployment rate is 2.9%.
 Merritt Island, FLGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock2.9%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock3.3%1.6%
 Future Job Growth42.2%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes7.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock5.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$45,083  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$53,048$69,021
 Family Median Income$102,570  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Merritt Island, FLGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock8.9%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K4.4%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock11.8%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K5.9%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock9.9%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K7.2%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock7.1%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K13.2%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock11.8%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K8.6%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock5.4%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Merritt Island, FLGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Management, business, finance17.3%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock1.8%6.5%
 Community, social services2.2%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.8%1.2%
 Education, library6.1%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock3.7%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology7.7%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock1.2%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement2.6%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock9.5%5.4%
 Building maintenance1.7%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.8%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support19.5%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.0%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair7.3%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock3.2%13.1%
Reviews for Merritt Island    5 Reviews

Over 11 years ago

It can get hot in the summer, but you get a breeze off the ocean most afternoons. If you live on the waterways, it seems to be a little cooler. Winters are  More

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Over 14 years ago

New to the area, but soon to know more. Florida is a sunshine state  More

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Over 17 years ago

Coming from Virginia, the Merritt Island architecture leaves a lot to be desired. Hurricane season (June - November) causes me a lot of  More

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Reviews for Gulf Shores    6 Reviews

Over 4 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 14 years ago

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

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