Mobile, AL vs Dothan, AL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
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: Mobile, AL leads with fire protection at $2,010 per resident, while Dothan, AL leads with parks and recreation at $4,666.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 111% of total revenue in Mobile, AL and 26% in Dothan, AL.
Summary
Dothan spends 7.8% more per capita than Mobile ($1,339/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 | $0 | $671 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $756 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,338 | $919 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,664 |
| Other | $1,479 | $3,341 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $537 | $290 |
| Fire Protection | $2,010 | $632 |
| Highways & Roads | $501 | $290 |
| Public Welfare | $2,357 | $1,177 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $126 |
| Parks & Recreation | $524 | $4,666 |
| Housing | $2,998 | $3,247 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $309 |
| Utilities | $791 | $2,759 |
| Other | $5,930 | $3,622 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.