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Living in
Dothan.
About
Life in Dothan
The city's economy is genuinely diverse beyond its famous peanut heritage—though the annual National Peanut Festival draws 200,000 visitors—with growing retail and restaurant scenes and year-round cultural events like barbecue competitions, theater productions, and the Wiregrass Festival of Murals. You'll experience a mild climate most of the year, but summers are genuinely hot and humid, rainfall is plentiful throughout the year, and tornadoes are a legitimate concern during spring and fall, occurring 79% more frequently than the U.S. average. The commute averages about 20 minutes, and while the city sprawls across 89 square miles with a car-dependent layout, you'll find decent cultural infrastructure including theaters, museums, and performing arts organizations.
Dothan at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.3%
Foreign-Born
3.7%
Broadband Internet
87.4%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Dothan: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dothan, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (27.6%), and 3.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.6%
of residents
65 and Older
18.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.1%
of households
Married Couples
39.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for AL
Rent, home values, and income in Dothan
In Dothan, home values are 8% below the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
83.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$606
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $204,317 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Dothan
Unemployment in Dothan is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Dothan Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.4 min avg
How Dothan residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dothan, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Dothan Regional Airport (DHN)
Regional airport · few flights52k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 143% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dothan runs 143% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
801
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,538.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dothan Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Houston County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Houston County, which includes Dothan, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $513,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.3M |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $243,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $723,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $431,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $93,000 |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $58,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Houston County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Holmes County, FL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 35 miles from Dothan) is typically good — 219 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
219
per year
Moderate Days
146
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Holmes County, FL (35 mi away)
Climate92°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dothan has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
57.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
89
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
21
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 40°F | 4.76" |
| Feb | 66°F | 43°F | 4.82" |
| Mar | 73°F | 49°F | 4.72" |
| Apr | 79°F | 55°F | 4.79" |
| May | 87°F | 64°F | 2.92" |
| Jun | 91°F | 71°F | 5.08" |
| Jul | 93°F | 73°F | 5.95" |
| Aug | 92°F | 72°F | 6.17" |
| Sep | 88°F | 67°F | 3.27" |
| Oct | 81°F | 57°F | 2.70" |
| Nov | 71°F | 47°F | 3.91" |
| Dec | 64°F | 42°F | 4.76" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dothan
Dothan has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
11.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Southeast Health Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Flowers Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dothan
Dothan's student/teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, 81 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dothan
Dothan has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Jimmy Carter National Historical Park (81 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
National Historical Park
81 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
84 mi awayTuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
86 mi awayAndersonville National Historic Site
National Historic Site
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dothan
Dothan - Westgate Branch Library
535 Recreation Road, Dothan
Dothan Houston County Library System
445 North Oates Street, Dothan
Cities Near Dothan
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dothan?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dothan FAQ
Is Dothan, Alabama affordable?⌄
Dothan's median rent is $960/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,792/year. Median home value is $194,000.
Is Dothan, Alabama safe?⌄
Dothan's violent crime rate was 801 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2538 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dothan, Alabama?⌄
Dothan has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dothan, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Dothan is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $960/month and median household income is $55,792/year. The median home value is $194,000. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dothan, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Dothan is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from