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

Huntsville, AL vs Dothan, AL

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

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 Huntsville, AL at $1,600 per resident and in Dothan, AL at $4,666.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Huntsville, AL at 10% of total revenue, whereas Dothan, AL relies most on other revenue at 26%.

Summary

Dothan spends 6.3% more per capita than Huntsville ($1,084/person difference). Dothan, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Huntsville, AL
Pop. 215,025
C
58/100
Budget Balance62
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency85
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Dothan, AL
Pop. 70,699
B
68/100
Budget Balance31
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency69
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Huntsville
Dothan
Total Spending
$3.4B
$1.2B
Spending / Capita
$16,033
$17,116
Total Revenue
$9.5B
$905.6M
Revenue / Capita
$44,087
$12,809
Total Debt
$275.0M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,279
$0
Population
215,025
70,699
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Huntsville$0
Dothan$290
Fire Protection
Huntsville$637
Dothan$632
Highways & Roads
Huntsville$0
Dothan$290
Parks & Recreation
Huntsville$1,600
Dothan$4,666
Education
Huntsville$60
Dothan$0
Health
Huntsville$354
Dothan$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

HuntsvilleDothan
Sales Tax
$833
$671
Income Tax
$656
$756
Intergovernmental
$4,511
$919
Charges & Fees
$2,558
$1,664
Other
$2,647
$3,341

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

HuntsvilleDothan
Police
$0
$290
Fire Protection
$637
$632
Highways & Roads
$0
$290
Education
$60
$0
Public Welfare
$708
$1,177
Health
$354
$0
Hospitals
$692
$126
Parks & Recreation
$1,600
$4,666
Housing
$2,611
$3,247
Sewerage
$136
$309
Utilities
$2,983
$2,759
Other
$6,253
$3,622
C
Huntsville, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health
B
Dothan, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 68/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities

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