ZIP 36542 · Baldwin County

Gulf Shores, AL Homeowners Insurance

According to U.S. Treasury FIO 2022 filings, homeowners insurance in ZIP 36542, Gulf Shores, Alabama averages $3,580/yr.

13.3%
Loss ratio
0.17%
Nonrenewal rate
#5 of 544
Alabama rank
93
Policies

The verdict

ZIP 36542 (Gulf Shores, AL) is #750 of 25,593 for homeowners premium and #21,475 of 21,752 for nonrenewal, per 2022 FIO filings. The two ranks do not match.

$3,580
Avg premium (2022)
#750
of 25,593 on premium
#21,475
of 21,752 on nonrenewal
97th
national percentile

Premium rank counts ZIPs with a reported average premium, highest first. Nonrenewal rank counts ZIPs with a reported nonrenewal rate, highest first. The two boards are different extracts.

According to U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office data. How we calculate the percentile and national comparison: methodology.

Insurance Livability Score

D
PlainInsure Livability Score
40/100
36542 - Gulf Shores, AL

PlainInsure's own composite of Treasury FIO premium/market data and FEMA National Risk Index hazard data, each dimension percentile-ranked against the full national corpus. Not an official government score, and not a substitute for an actual insurance quote.

Affordability F
$3,580/yr
Avg premium, 3rd cheapest nationally (Treasury FIO)
Market Stability A+
0.00%
Nonrenewal rate -- insurers dropping coverage (Treasury FIO)
Disaster Risk F
96.7
County FEMA National Risk Index score
Community Resilience A+
93.0
County FEMA NRI community-resilience score

Where ZIP 36542's premium sits nationally

Average annual homeowners premium across 25,593 tracked ZIP codes, as of 2022

$3,580 Higher than most more expensive than 97% of 25,593 ZIP codes

tracked ZIP codes, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.25K-wide band; taller bars hold more ZIP codes. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office · 2022

The local market map

Premium and nonrenewal do not always move together

The highlighted dot is ZIP 36542. Each other dot is a deterministic sample of ZIPs in Alabama, spread across the premium range. Crosshairs mark the published state averages, so this is a comparison of two reported measures, not a quote or a forecast.

State ZIP peer map

Highlighted: ZIP 36542; crosshairs: Alabama averages

Lower premium / higher nonrenewalHigher on bothLower on bothHigher premium / lower nonrenewal$1246.7$2309.5$3372.3$4435.1$5497.90.1%0.5%1.0%1.4%1.9%Average annual premiumNonrenewal rate
Source: U.S. Treasury FIO 2022 ZIP-level homeowners insurance filings. The matrix samples 50 ZIPs across the state premium distribution and retains this ZIP.
Read the plotted ZIP values
  • ZIP 36832 · Auburn $1,440/yr · 0.55%
  • ZIP 36201 · Anniston $1,600/yr · 0.87%
  • ZIP 35004 · Moody $1,625/yr · 0.49%
  • ZIP 35466 · Gordo $1,640/yr · 0.70%
  • ZIP 36867 · Phenix City $1,663/yr · 0.64%
  • ZIP 35184 · West Blocton $1,683/yr · 0.44%
  • ZIP 35085 · Jemison $1,697/yr · 0.48%
  • ZIP 36874 · Salem $1,710/yr · 0.45%
  • ZIP 35903 · Gadsden $1,716/yr · 1.06%
  • ZIP 36036 · Grady $1,723/yr · 1.72%
  • ZIP 36081 · Troy $1,740/yr · 1.17%
  • ZIP 36740 · Forkland $1,749/yr · 1.32%
  • ZIP 35614 · Athens $1,760/yr · 0.89%
  • ZIP 36067 · Prattville $1,769/yr · 0.70%
  • ZIP 35044 · Childersburg $1,774/yr · 0.70%
  • ZIP 35180 · Warrior $1,784/yr · 0.53%
  • ZIP 36862 · Lafayette $1,790/yr · 1.16%
  • ZIP 35211 · Birmingham $1,802/yr · 0.98%
  • ZIP 35114 · Alabaster $1,811/yr · 1.05%
  • ZIP 35654 · Russellville $1,817/yr · 0.95%
  • ZIP 36089 · Union Springs $1,824/yr · 1.40%
  • ZIP 36320 · Cottonwood $1,831/yr · 0.77%
  • ZIP 35555 · Fayette $1,838/yr · 0.58%
  • ZIP 35648 · Lexington $1,849/yr · 0.33%
  • ZIP 36776 · Sawyerville $1,857/yr · 0.76%
  • ZIP 36703 · Selma $1,866/yr · 1.37%
  • ZIP 36475 · Repton $1,878/yr · 0.51%
  • ZIP 35128 · Pell City $1,889/yr · 0.55%
  • ZIP 35754 · Laceys Spring $1,897/yr · 0.91%
  • ZIP 35646 · Leighton $1,910/yr · 0.80%
  • ZIP 35739 · Ardmore $1,919/yr · 0.55%
  • ZIP 35580 · Parrish $1,933/yr · 0.46%
  • ZIP 35824 · Huntsville $1,942/yr · 0.25%
  • ZIP 35672 · Town Creek $1,954/yr · 0.79%
  • ZIP 36548 · Leroy $1,966/yr · 0.47%
  • ZIP 36611 · Mobile $1,975/yr · 1.82%
  • ZIP 36579 · Stockton $1,994/yr · 0.37%
  • ZIP 36069 · Ramer $2,005/yr · 0.74%
  • ZIP 35634 · Florence $2,018/yr · 0.15%
  • ZIP 35064 · Fairfield $2,049/yr · 1.03%
  • ZIP 36875 · Seale $2,065/yr · 0.76%
  • ZIP 36278 · Wedowee $2,093/yr · 0.92%
  • ZIP 36767 · Orrville $2,134/yr · 0.60%
  • ZIP 35010 · Alexander City $2,153/yr · 0.69%
  • ZIP 35033 · Bremen $2,215/yr · 0.25%
  • ZIP 36695 · Mobile $2,284/yr · 0.63%
  • ZIP 36052 · Mathews $2,478/yr · 0.60%
  • ZIP 35741 · Brownsboro $2,659/yr · 1.34%
  • ZIP 36542 · Gulf Shores (this ZIP) $3,580/yr · 0.17%
  • ZIP 36561 · Orange Beach $5,305/yr · 0.21%
Avg Premium (2022)
$3,580/yr
Above-median premium
-18.6% since 2018
Loss Ratio
13.3%
Below-median loss ratio
Claim Frequency
2.16%
Avg severity: $22,116
Nonrenewal Rate
0.17%
Below-median nonrenewal rate
-4.5% change

Data Snapshot: ZIP 36542 (Gulf Shores, AL)

Homeowners in ZIP 36542 (Gulf Shores, AL) pay an average of $3,580 per year for insurance as of 2022, according to U.S. Treasury FIO ZIP-level data across approximately 93 reported policies. The U.S. average sits at $1,776 per year, so this ZIP runs 102% above that mark and lands in the 97th national percentile. The Alabama statewide average is $1,931 per year; this ZIP sits 85% above that figure, ranking #5 of 544 tracked ZIPs in Alabama by premium. The closest-priced peer within Alabama is Birmingham (ZIP 35223) at $3,577, essentially matching this ZIP's rate.

At a loss ratio of 13.3%, insurers retained a working margin after claims in this ZIP. 2.16% of policies in ZIP 36542 file at least one claim in a given year, and the average claim severity (amount paid per claim) is $22,116. Nonrenewal, insurers declining to extend coverage at policy expiration, occurs at 0.17% in this ZIP, a drop of 4.5% over the past five years; rising nonrenewal often signals insurer retreat from high-risk markets.

Since 2018, premiums here have fallen by 18.6% through 2022, ranging $3,580 to $4,471 with a 5-year average of $4,219, an annualized rate of -5.0% per year.

Baldwin County carries a FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.7 (Relatively High), 97th percentile nationally and #3 of 67 Alabama counties - 57% above the state mean of 61.5. Dominant mapped hazard: Hurricane. Companion scores: Social Vulnerability Index 44.2 · Community Resilience 93.0. This is hazard context from FEMA, not a premium formula.

How to read these numbers

The figures on this page come from the U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office, which collects homeowners insurance premium and claims data directly from the largest property insurers in the country. Because the data is aggregated at the ZIP-code level and averaged across many policies, it describes the typical cost in an area rather than a quote for any single home. Two houses on the same street can pay very different premiums depending on their age, construction type, roof condition, prior claims, and the specific coverage limits and deductibles the homeowner selects. The loss ratio shows how much of every premium dollar insurers paid back out as claims; a ratio above one means carriers lost money locally, which often precedes rate increases or carrier exits. Rising nonrenewal and claim frequency reveal how stressed the local market has become. Use these figures to gauge the direction and scale of costs in your area, then request quotes from several licensed carriers before buying or renewing a policy. FIO data aggregates voluntary reporting from the 40 largest homeowners insurers, covering roughly 80% of the U.S. market, so figures represent market averages rather than individual policy quotes; your own premium will vary with dwelling value, deductible, coverage limits, construction type, and insurer-specific underwriting. This page is educational research only and is not insurance advice, homeowners should request quotes from multiple licensed carriers or an independent agent before purchasing or renewing coverage.

How ZIP 36542 Compares

vs National Average
$3,580 vs $1,776
102% above national avg
vs Alabama Average
$3,580 vs $1,931
85% above state avg
National Percentile
97th percentile
More expensive than most ZIPs

Premium History

Average premium in ZIP 36542, 2018–2022

$3,400$3,600$3,800$4,000$4,200$4,400$4,600 20182019202020212022 $3,580
Average homeowners premium per year in ZIP 36542.
Year Avg Premium YoY Change
2018 $4,395 -
2019 $4,471 +1.7%
2020 $4,204 -6.0%
2021 $4,444 +5.7%
2022 $3,580 -19.4%

2018-2022: premiums easing -5.0%/yr

5-Year Avg Premium
$4,219
Premium Range
$3,580 - $4,471
Annual Change Rate
-5.0% per year
Years of Data
5 (2018-2022)

Elevated FEMA NRI in Baldwin County

County National Risk Index joined to ZIP 36542 via FIPS 01003. Hazard and vulnerability context from FEMA, not a premium driver and not a quote.

County risk score
96.7
Relatively High · 97th national percentile
In-state county rank
#3
of 67 Alabama counties · state mean 61.5
Top mapped hazard
Hurricane
Expected annual loss $159,426,444

Social Vulnerability Index 44.2 · Community Resilience 93.0

County hazard ratings

Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flooding
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Very High
Tornado
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Low
Winter weather
Relatively Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · state rollup: Alabama NRI context · top counties by NRI score.

Cross-state FIO peers for a higher-NRI ZIP (Baldwin County)

Cross-state peers for ZIP 36542: nearest FIO ZIPs by premium and by nonrenewal, drawn outside Alabama. County hazard context (Baldwin, NRI 96.7) is separate from these price peers.

Similar average premium

Nearest other-state ZIPs by average homeowners premium ($3,580/yr here).

Similar nonrenewal rate

Nearest other-state ZIPs by nonrenewal rate (0.17% here).

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Federal Insurance Office (FIO) Homeowners Insurance Data (2018-2022). Premiums are ZIP-level averages and may not reflect individual policy costs

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is homeowners insurance in ZIP 36542?
At the 97th percentile nationally, #5 of 544 ZIPs in Alabama, ZIP 36542 (Gulf Shores, AL) ranks among the pricier markets for homeowners insurance, averaging $3,580 per year as of 2022. Premiums have changed -18.6% over the past 5 years.
What affects homeowners insurance costs in Gulf Shores, AL?
In ZIP 36542, insurers report a 13.3% loss ratio, a 2.16% claims frequency, and a 0.17% nonrenewal rate, the 97th national percentile for cost.
Is homeowners insurance expensive in ZIP 36542 compared to the national average?
Nationally, ZIP 36542 lands in the 97th percentile: its $3,580/yr average is 102% above the U.S. figure of $1,776/yr.
What is the nonrenewal rate in ZIP 36542?
Insurers decline to renew 0.17% of policies in ZIP 36542 in Alabama, a drop of 4.5% over the past 5 years.
How have premiums trended in ZIP 36542 over 5 years?
ZIP 36542 premiums spanned $3,580 to $4,471 across the 2018-2022 window, a 5-year average of $4,219. The annualized change rate is -5.0% per year.
How does ZIP 36542 compare to the Alabama state average?
ZIP 36542 runs 85% above the Alabama state average ($1,931/yr vs this ZIP's $3,580/yr), ranking #5 of 544 tracked ZIPs in Alabama by premium.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for ZIP 36542?
County NRI 96.7 (Relatively High) covers ZIP 36542 via Baldwin County FIPS 01003. In-state rank #3 of 67; national percentile 97th; hazard Hurricane.

What to do with ZIP 36542

This ZIP's premiums run at the 97th national percentile, but a single number is not a quote.

These figures are Treasury FIO aggregates for this ZIP, not a personal insurance quote.

Every figure on PlainInsure is rendered directly from U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on U.S. Treasury FIO 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.