Moving to Foley: Pros, Cons & What to Know
Moving to Foley means moving to Baldwin County's real, working commercial and retail hub -- genuinely distinct from the beachfront resort towns nearby -- with a striking growth rate, a strong retiree draw, and meaningfully more affordable housing than the immediate Gulf Coast.
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Learn moreFoley is Baldwin County's real retail and commercial hub
Tanger Outlets Foley, at nearly 600,000 square feet with more than 100 stores, is described directly by its own operator as "the number one retail attraction visited along the Alabama coast each year." Foley's own yearly retail sales average nearly $600 million -- a genuinely large commercial economy for a city of this size (City of Foley, Tanger Inc., retrieved 2026-08-24).
Real, striking population growth
Foley's population grew from 20,975 at the 2020 Census to a 2026 projection of 32,147 -- a real, striking 53.26% five-year increase, an annual growth rate of 5.91%, among the fastest of any Baldwin County town documented in this project's Alabama coverage.
A meaningfully more affordable inland alternative to the immediate coast
Foley's median home price runs $328,000 (January 2026, Redfin), well below Gulf Shores' $452K-$458K figures documented elsewhere in this project -- a real, practical option for buyers who want proximity to the Gulf Coast beaches without paying beachfront prices.
A strong, well-supported retiree community
Foley's median age is 52.7, and 32.3% of residents are 65 or older -- a genuine, substantial retiree presence worth understanding before relocating here, whatever your own life stage.
Key takeaways
- Tanger Outlets Foley anchors a real, large commercial economy -- nearly $600 million in annual retail sales for the city.
- Foley's population grew a striking 53.26% since the 2020 Census (20,975 to 32,147 projected for 2026).
- Foley's $328,000 median home price runs well below Gulf Shores' figures documented elsewhere in this project.
- Foley carries a strong, well-supported retiree demographic (32.3% of residents 65+) -- worth understanding before relocating.
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