City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Dothan, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Dothan - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

71,118
Residents
$55,052
Median income
$186,600
Median home
$950
Median rent (state)

Dothan - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Dothan lands in the 27th percentile for household income and the 9th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
39th
percentile, home value
10th
percentile, median rent
9th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Dothan, AL

Dothan is a small city in Alabama, home to 71,118 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $55,052 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.5%. Home values in Dothan run a median of $186,600, and the median resident age is 40.4 years. 27.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 54.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 271 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Growing), up 10% from five years earlier. Dothan's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3677.9 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Alabama scores 88.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $950 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alabama run around $245, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 87.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

71,118 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$55,052 /yr

Poverty 14.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Dothan compare to other US cities?

Here's how Dothan stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 39% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% pricier than other cities
Safety 9% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Alabama, Dothan ranks #190 of 222 Alabama cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Dothan against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Dothan toward the top of Alabama's cities

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Dothan ranks #108 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dothan only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#247 of 530
53rd percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#266 of 556
49th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#144 of 517
72nd percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#216 of 556
61st percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#108 of 556
81st percentile in Alabama

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

27thIncome percentile
9thSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 9th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Dothan's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Dothan's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 37 Avg. percentile National median
Dothan's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Dothan's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$186,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 61% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Dothan $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Dothan, AL Dothan, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dothan, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Dothan, AL median $55,052/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Dothan, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Dothan, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
71,118
Median Income
$55,052
Median Home Value
$186,600
Median Age
40.4
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Labor force participation
54.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3677.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
912.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2765.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
17
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
70,500 residents71,000 residents71,500 residents72,000 residents72,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 71,110 residents 72,060 residents ▲ +1.3%
Dothan's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
271
housing units authorized
Single-Family
175
detached homes
Multifamily
96
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 246
2020 231
2021 249
2022 224
2023 227
2024 271

Permit volume increased 10% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.5%
Carpool
8.3%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
4.6%
Other
1.5%

Based on 30,678 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Dothan sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$950/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Auburn
78,738 people
Madison
58,335 people
Decatur
57,760 people
Hoover
92,401 people
Florence
41,231 people
Prattville
38,850 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dothan's 71,118 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wilmington, DE
71,124 people
St. Charles, MO
71,048 people
Blaine, MN
71,261 people
Rogers, AR
71,411 people
Johnson City, TN
71,455 people
Waukesha, WI
70,779 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dothan's $55,052 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Imlay City, MI
$55,061 median income
L'Anse, MI
$55,042 median income
Bethany, OK
$55,063 median income
Rice Lake, WI
$55,040 median income
Chickasha, OK
$55,039 median income
Hart, MI
$55,066 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dothan, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Dothan, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 56.6% 35.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.5% White 56.6% Black or African American 35.6% Asian 1.4% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 4.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Dothan compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Dothan (this city) 71,118 $55,052
Auburn 78,738 $56,123
Madison 58,335 $131,436
Decatur 57,760 $59,831
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dothan, AL?

What is the population of Dothan, AL? +

Dothan, AL counts 71,118 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dothan, AL? +

In Dothan, the typical household earns $55,052 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dothan? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Dothan; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

Is Dothan, AL safe? +

Dothan has a total crime rate of 3677.9 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Dothan, AL? +

A typical home in Dothan is worth $186,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source 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.