Foley

There is no universal answer, but Foley has several measurable strengths for relocation buyers. It is growing rapidly, has a typical home value below the Baldwin County figure reported by Zillow, sits close to Gulf Coast beaches, has a major local hospital, and offers substantial shopping, recreation and city services. The tradeoffs are equally real. Growth is creating traffic and infrastructure pressure and the climate is hot and humid in summer.

Foley is a strong fit for many buyers who want coastal access without living directly on the beach, but the right answer depends on budget, lifestyle and risk tolerance.

Two current market measures give useful context. Redfin reported a median sale price of $340,333 for the three months ending August 2026. Zillow reported a typical home value of $302,708 as of August 31, 2026 and a median sale price of $313,333 for July.

However, pricing varies greatly depending on the neighborhood. Buyers should use recent comparable sales for the specific property type and location rather than treating one citywide number as the value of every Foley home.

Foley feels more like a fast growing South Baldwin regional hub than a beach resort town. Residents have access to a historic downtown, major retail, OWA, parks, sports facilities, a new 40,000 square foot library and community center, healthcare, and quick routes toward Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The city also has a large adult over 65 population. (Census data shows 32.3 percent of residents are age 65 or older.) Daily life is generally car oriented, although Foley is adding sidewalks and pedestrian connections.

Foley, Alabama gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living score of 94.5, which means the total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 5.5% lower than the U.S. average and 12.4% lower than the average for Alabama. However, there is no single official Foley cost of living number that captures every household. Buyers should build a property specific monthly budget rather than relying on a generic cost of living index.

There is no single best area. A better approach is to compare areas by objective needs such as price, lot size, home age, HOA rules, golf access, downtown access, commute, flood zone and proximity to the Beach Express or Highway 59.

Foley includes many different types of communities:

1. GlenLakes is a strong option for buyers who want golf course living, newer homes and convenient access to the Foley Beach Express.

2. Historic Downtown Foley is an option for those who prefer older homes, established streets and greater access to downtown shops, restaurants, parks and civic amenities.

3. Live Oak Village is an age qualified 55+ community designed for buyers who want lower maintenance living and organized amenities.

4. Cottages on the Greene is a gated planned community with cottage style single family homes, smaller lots, sidewalks and community amenities that can include a pool, clubhouse and fitness facilities.

5. Hadley Village is a newer Foley subdivision that appeals to buyers prioritizing recent construction and single story floor plans.

Which Foley neighborhood is right for you?

The best next step is to compare homes based on the things that actually affect daily life and long term ownership, including location, commute, flood zone, insurance, HOA rules, future development and total monthly housing cost.

According to First Street, a leading provider of climate risk data, the city of Foley has minor risk from flooding. There are 1,424 properties in Foley at risk of flooding over the next 30 years. This represents 12.7% of all properties in Foley. Some properties can flood, but Foley does not have one single flood risk across the board.

We recommend using FEMA flood maps for address specific flood zones, remembering that online maps are a starting point rather than a substitute for official property data. Local drainage conditions, elevation, nearby wetlands and heavy rainfall can matter even outside the highest hazard areas. Every buyer should check the exact parcel before deciding that a Foley property is low risk.

A national study published in Travel and Leisure magazine found that Foley is the most cost-effective retirement location in the United States. The survey by GOBankingRates looked at the best and worst locations for a practical retirement.

Cities were ranked based on factors such as the average home value, property taxes, home health costs, the price of groceries and utilities and whether the community’s state taxed Social Security benefits.

Census data shows 32.3 percent of residents are 65 or older. The city operates an active Senior Center for residents age 50 and older, has nearby golf, beaches, and recreation, offers access to Baldwin Health, and has age qualified housing choices.

Alabama also exempts Social Security and several categories of retirement income from state income taxation. Retirement buyers should still price insurance carefully and consider healthcare needs, hurricane planning, driving patterns and whether they want age restricted or conventional housing.

Foley is inland, not beachfront, but it is close to both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Foley is located about 8 north of Gulf Shores and roughly 14 miles northwest of Orange Beach.

Foley to Gulf Shores: The drive usually takes 15 to 20 minutes via AL-59 South, depending on beach traffic.

Foley to Orange Beach: The drive  typically takes 20 to 27 minutes 

The drive depends heavily on the exact starting point, destination and seasonal traffic. For a relocation buyer, the practical test is to drive the route at the times of day and season that matter to you, especially during summer and event weekends.

Yes. Foley continues to have active subdivision and new home development. City planning records show multiple subdivision projects and lot approvals, while builders are actively marketing new homes in communities such as GlenLakes and Live Oak Village.

Because Foley has been managing unusually rapid residential growth, buyers should look beyond the model home and verify future phases, nearby undeveloped land, HOA documents, drainage design, road access and any planned commercial development.

Yes, very quickly. Foley ranked 14th among U.S. cities and towns with populations of at least 20,000 for percentage growth from July 2024 to July 2025, increasing 7.8 percent in that single year. The 2025 population estimate was 30,354. The city is responding with a new comprehensive plan, road work, drainage projects, a new library, future civic facilities and other capital investment. Buyers should view growth as both an opportunity and a due diligence issue because development can change traffic, nearby land use and infrastructure needs.

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