Dothan, AL vs Huntsville, AL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Dothan, AL and Huntsville, AL spend within 6.8% of each other per resident — $17,116 versus $16,033 — 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 58/100 (grade C) for Huntsville, AL — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Dothan, AL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Huntsville, AL carries $1,279 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 Huntsville, AL at $1,600.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Dothan, AL at 26% of total revenue, whereas Huntsville, AL relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 10%.
Summary
Dothan spends 6.8% more per capita than Huntsville ($1,084/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)
| Sales Tax | $671 | $833 |
| Income Tax | $756 | $656 |
| Intergovernmental | $919 | $4,511 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,664 | $2,558 |
| Other | $3,341 | $2,647 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $290 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $632 | $637 |
| Highways & Roads | $290 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $60 |
| Public Welfare | $1,177 | $708 |
| Health | $0 | $354 |
| Hospitals | $126 | $692 |
| Parks & Recreation | $4,666 | $1,600 |
| Housing | $3,247 | $2,611 |
| Sewerage | $309 | $136 |
| Utilities | $2,759 | $2,983 |
| Other | $3,622 | $6,253 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.