City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Dauphin Island, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Dauphin Island - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,944
Residents
$64,615
Median income
$387,400
Median home
$1,083
Median rent (state)

Dauphin Island - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Dauphin Island lands in the 42nd percentile for household income and the 46th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

42nd
percentile, household income
76th
percentile, home value
27th
percentile, median rent
46th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Dauphin Island, AL

Dauphin Island is a small town in Alabama, home to 1,944 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Dauphin Island brings in $64,615 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.5%. Home values in Dauphin Island run a median of $387,400, and the median resident age is 60.9 years. Educational attainment runs 40.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 40.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 36 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 40% from five years earlier. Dauphin Island reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1501.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: the state registers 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,083 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Alabama's average monthly utility costs around $245 (state average). The average commute for Dauphin Island workers runs 28.5 minutes, with 72.2% driving alone and 12.3% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,944 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$64,615 /yr

Poverty 1.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Dauphin Island compare to other US cities?

Where Dauphin Island sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 42% higher than other cities
Home value 76% pricier than other cities
Median rent 27% pricier than other cities
Safety 46% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Alabama, Dauphin Island ranks #87 of 222 Alabama cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Dauphin Island's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Alabama, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

42ndIncome percentile
46thSafety percentile

42nd percentile nationally for median household income · 46th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Dauphin Island's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Dauphin Island's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 46 Avg. percentile National median
Dauphin Island's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Dauphin Island's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$387,400 24th percentile more affordable than 24% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Dauphin Island $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Dauphin Island, AL Dauphin Island, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dauphin Island, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Dauphin Island, AL median $64,615/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Dauphin Island, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Dauphin Island, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 40.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 40.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,944
Median Income
$64,615
Median Home Value
$387,400
Median Age
60.9
Poverty Rate
1.5%
Labor force participation
40.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
40.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1501.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
103.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1397.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,750 residents1,800 residents1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,784 residents 1,929 residents ▲ +8.1%
Dauphin Island's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
36
housing units authorized
Single-Family
36
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
18.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 60
2020 52
2021 56
2022 72
2023 49
2024 36

Permit volume decreased 40% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
28.5 minutes
Drive Alone
72.2%
Carpool
10.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
12.3%
Other
3.1%

Based on 709 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Dauphin Island sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,083/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Stevenson
1,947 people
Grove Hill
1,940 people
Bayou La Batre
1,977 people
Slocomb
1,995 people
Lillian
1,889 people
Sylvania
2,005 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dauphin Island's 1,944 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Shinnecock Hills, NY
1,944 people
Shippensburg University, PA
1,944 people
Berry Hill, TN
1,944 people
Central, TN
1,944 people
Isle of Hope, GA
1,945 people
Oxford, GA
1,945 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dauphin Island's $64,615 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Northwood, IA
$64,615 median income
Langeloth, PA
$64,615 median income
Calcium, NY
$64,613 median income
South Cleveland, TN
$64,607 median income
Brandon, MN
$64,625 median income
McConnell AFB, KS
$64,632 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dauphin Island, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Dauphin Island, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.9% White 91.8% Black or African American 2.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Dauphin Island compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Dauphin Island (this city) 1,944 $64,615
Stevenson 1,947 $48,214
Grove Hill 1,940 $49,223
Bayou La Batre 1,977 $40,667
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dauphin Island, AL?

What is the population of Dauphin Island, AL? +

1,944 people live in Dauphin Island, AL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dauphin Island, AL? +

In Dauphin Island, the typical household earns $64,615 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dauphin Island? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Dauphin Island; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

Is Dauphin Island, AL safe? +

Dauphin Island has a total crime rate of 1501.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Dauphin Island, AL? +

Homes in Dauphin Island carry a median value of $387,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.