What are the schools like in Dothan, AL?

Dothan is served primarily by Dothan City. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.9:1.

What is the median household income in Dothan?

The median household income in Dothan, AL is $53,704 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Dothan, AL?

Dothan has an average high temperature of 61.7°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 57.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

Dothan, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dothan, AL affordable or expensive?

Dothan's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dothan is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $175,900 and the median rent is $871 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dothan, AL?

Dothan has a violent crime rate of 912.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2765.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dothan, AL a Good Place to Live?

Dothan is a mid-sized city of 70,699 in Alabama, with a median household income of $53,704 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Dothan stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Dothan is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dothan city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.0

Dothan's overall cost of living index is 92.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dothan costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dothan, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$175,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$871	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,704	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Dothan's violent crime rate is 912.8 per 100,000 residents — 140% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

912.8 /100k

Property Crime

2765.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Dothan is served primarily by Dothan City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dothan, AL	National Avg
School District	Dothan City	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dothan sees average highs of 61.7°F in January and 93.3°F in July, with 57.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dothan, AL
Average High — January	61.7°F
Average High — July	93.3°F
Annual Precipitation	57.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	Dothan, AL	National Avg
Population	70,699	—
Median Age	40.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	58.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	34.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	22.4%	22.2%
65 and over	18.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grimes, AL 5 mi Cowarts, AL 6 mi Kinsey, AL 6 mi Taylor, AL 6 mi Napier Field, AL 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Dothan

Dothan, AL is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

36303 36301 36305

Dothan vs Other Cities

Dothan, AL vs Grimes, AL Dothan, AL vs Cowarts, AL Dothan, AL vs Kinsey, AL Dothan, AL vs Taylor, AL Dothan, AL vs Napier Field, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dothan, AL affordable or expensive?

Dothan's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dothan roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $175,900 and median rent is $871/month.

What is the crime rate in Dothan, AL?

Dothan's violent crime rate is 912.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2765.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dothan?

Public schools in Dothan are operated by Dothan City. The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1. 26.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dothan, AL a good place to live?

Dothan, AL has a population of 70,699, a median household income of $53,704, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dothan?

Dothan averages 61.7°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.6 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dothan?

Dothan, AL is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 36303, 36301, 36305.

What is the population of Dothan?

The population of Dothan, Alabama is 70,699 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dothan?

Key numbers for living in Dothan: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $175,900, median household income $53,704, crime index 197 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dothan side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.