The Town FilesDothan, Alabama
City in Houston County · population 71,072 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $194,000
- Household income
- $55,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 57
- Median age
- 40.2
Dothan is a city of 71,072 people in Houston County, Alabama. The median home is worth $194,000, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Alabama towns, better for cycling than 91% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 87% of Alabama towns.
How Dothan ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dothan is worth $194,000, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $55,792, which is more affordable than 23% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $960 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dothan | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,000 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $960 | $834 |
| Median household income | $55,792 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Dothan
| People | Dothan | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Dothan
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 53.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 21 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
57 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dothan since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 29, 1973 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on January 9, 2024.
Severe weather in Houston County since 1996
Houston County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Houston County
Houston County had 50,877 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,521 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Dothan itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Dothan
21 public schools with 9,367 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan High School | 10-12 | 1,459 | 17.6 |
| Dothan Preparatory Academy | 7-8 | 1,046 | 17.1 |
| Rehobeth High School | 9-12 | 801 | 21.1 |
| Rehobeth Primary School | PK-3 | 790 | 16.5 |
| Highlands Elementary School | K-6 | 601 | 20.7 |
| Carver 9th Grade Academy | 9-9 | 574 | 17.4 |
| Kelly Springs Elementary School | K-6 | 533 | 16.7 |
| Hidden Lake Primary School | K-2 | 450 | 18.0 |
| Carver School of Mathematics Science and Technology | 3-6 | 427 | 20.3 |
| Selma Street Elementary School | K-6 | 406 | 16.2 |
| Beverlye Intermediate School | 3-6 | 391 | 15.6 |
| Girard Primary School | K-2 | 363 | 16.5 |
Towns near Dothan
- Headland, AL8.9 mi · 4,973 people · home $219,600
- Daleville, AL18.4 mi · 4,866 people · home $126,000
- Hartford, AL19.0 mi · 2,651 people · home $160,800
- Ozark, AL20.6 mi · 14,368 people · home $148,900
- Enterprise, AL26.7 mi · 28,711 people · home $202,900
Dothan questions
Is Dothan, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dothan scores better for retirees than 36% of Alabama towns and quieter than 5%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Dothan?
The median owner-occupied home in Dothan is valued at $194,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,792, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $960 a month.
What is the weather like in Dothan?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Dothan get tornadoes?
57 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dothan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 29, 1973. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)