Relocation profile · Federal data
Dothan, AL
BEA RPP 83.8 ranks #3 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 83.8
- Cost index (US=100)
- $950
- 2BR rent / mo
- $52,967
- Median salary
- 59.1
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Dothan ranks #67 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (59.1/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and housing.
- #67
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 5,157,699
- metro-area population
- 376
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,369
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (1/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Dothan ranks #67 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 83.8 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $950/mo, median salary $52,967; LiveAbility Score 59.1/100, strongest in cost of living and housing.
Signature: BEA RPP 83.8 ranks #3 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 83.8 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $950/mo.
LiveAbility 59.1/100 puts Dothan in the top third (#67 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Dothan area is 54,630.
Dothan vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
59 Top 17% higher than 83% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Dothan housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Dothan MSA; housing RPP 46.9 (100 = national average); 2BR $950/mo.
Dothan wages and employment
Dothan posts 54,630 total employment with median salary $52,967 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $28,770 |
| Registered Nurses | $67,430 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,900 |
| Cashiers | $27,040 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $33,910 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Dothan area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Dothan area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Dothan's composite Life Score is 57.2/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Dothan ranks #67 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 59.1/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Dothan - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
100 /100
- Housing
Housing
97 /100
- Climate
Climate
72 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
61 /100
- Safety
Safety
41 /100
- Schools 30
Schools
30 /100
- Job market 1
Job market
1 /100
What this shows Dothan's strongest dimensions are cost of living and housing; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 1/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Dothan to
Metros near Dothan on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Dothan on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Dothan cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Dothan wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Dothan?
Dothan runs a $52,967 median salary at a 83.8 cost index, ranking #67 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Dothan's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Dothan head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Dothan
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.