NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL

Metro Market Score 62.9 (Difficult), ranked #285 of 378 metros. 1,132 establishments, 14,980 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 62.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

🏭Industry Hub⚡Rising Wages

With a 1.76 location quotient, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley has an outsized retail trade presence relative to its population. That concentration (index: 98.9) creates a mature local market where supplier networks are established but differentiation matters more.

Industry Concentration
98.9
LQ: 1.76
Rank #374 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
57.4
$38,604 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 68.3
Employment growth index
Rank #121 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
71.5
YoY wage change index

1,132 Retail Trade Firms in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley

1,132
Establishments
+1.8% YoY
14,980
Total Employment
+0.4% YoY
$38,604
Average Annual Wage
+1.9% YoY
1.76
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Daphne-Fairhope-Foley vs Alabama Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Alabama overall. The state ranks #36/51 for entry risk.

Measure Daphne-Fairhope-Foley AL Statewide
Overall Score 62.9 Difficult 46.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #285 of 378 metros #36 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley

Healthcare and Social Assistance 25.9 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 32.7 Information 35.0 Finance and Insurance 39.1 Construction 42.8 Administrative and Support Services 44.7 Accommodation and Food Services 58.2 Other Services 59.7 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 64.4

Retail Trade in Other Alabama Metros

Tuscaloosa 32.9 #14/378 Auburn-Opelika 35.6 #27/378 Decatur 37.0 #31/378 Gadsden 41.9 #55/378 Huntsville 44.8 #81/378 Montgomery 49.9 #137/378 Birmingham 51.8 #161/378 Anniston-Oxford 52.9 #175/378 Mobile 54.9 #195/378 Florence-Muscle Shoals 61.9 #276/378

+ 1 more metros. View all in Alabama →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Daphne-Fairhope-Foley's retail trade sector, the industry concentration component (98.9) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.