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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Dothan, AL vs Mobile, AL

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Dothan, AL and Mobile, AL spend within 8.5% of each other per resident — $17,116 versus $15,777 — 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 55/100 (grade C) for Mobile, AL — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Dothan, AL leads with parks and recreation at $4,666 per resident, while Mobile, AL leads with fire protection at $2,010.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 26% of total revenue in Dothan, AL and 111% in Mobile, AL.

Summary

Dothan spends 8.5% more per capita than Mobile ($1,339/person difference). Dothan, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Dothan, AL
Pop. 70,699
B
68/100
Budget Balance31
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency69
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Mobile, AL
Pop. 186,316
C
55/100
Budget Balance6
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency86
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Dothan
Mobile
Total Spending
$1.2B
$2.9B
Spending / Capita
$17,116
$15,777
Total Revenue
$905.6M
$249.2M
Revenue / Capita
$12,809
$1,338
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
70,699
186,316
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Dothan$290
Mobile$537
Fire Protection
Dothan$632
Mobile$2,010
Highways & Roads
Dothan$290
Mobile$501
Parks & Recreation
Dothan$4,666
Mobile$524

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DothanMobile
Sales Tax
$671
$0
Income Tax
$756
$0
Intergovernmental
$919
$1,338
Charges & Fees
$1,664
$0
Other
$3,341
$1,479

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DothanMobile
Police
$290
$537
Fire Protection
$632
$2,010
Highways & Roads
$290
$501
Public Welfare
$1,177
$2,357
Hospitals
$126
$0
Parks & Recreation
$4,666
$524
Housing
$3,247
$2,998
Sewerage
$309
$129
Utilities
$2,759
$791
Other
$3,622
$5,930
B
Dothan, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 68/100
Good fiscal health
C
Mobile, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.