Dothan, AL vs Decatur, AL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Decatur, AL and Dothan, AL spend within 0.4% of each other per resident — $17,185 versus $17,116 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Dothan, AL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 68/100 (grade B) against 46/100 (grade D) for Decatur, AL — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Dothan, AL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Decatur, AL carries $1,290 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Dothan, AL at $4,666 per resident and in Decatur, AL at $2,612.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Dothan, AL at 26% of total revenue, whereas Decatur, AL relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Decatur spends 0.4% more per capita than Dothan ($69/person difference). Dothan, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $855 |
| Sales Tax | $671 | $975 |
| Income Tax | $756 | $1,360 |
| Intergovernmental | $919 | $37,427 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,664 | $2,804 |
| Other | $3,341 | $4,387 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $290 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $632 | $254 |
| Highways & Roads | $290 | $95 |
| Education | $0 | $43 |
| Public Welfare | $1,177 | $1,023 |
| Health | $0 | $66 |
| Hospitals | $126 | $1,729 |
| Parks & Recreation | $4,666 | $2,612 |
| Housing | $3,247 | $2,549 |
| Sewerage | $309 | $164 |
| Utilities | $2,759 | $3,362 |
| Other | $3,622 | $5,289 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.