Decatur, AL vs Dothan, AL

Decatur, AL and Dothan, AL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.8% difference in their overall index. Decatur scores 73 while Dothan scores 74 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Decatur is $861/month compared to $912/month in Dothan — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decatur has cheaper rent, Dothan actually has lower median home values ($186,600 vs $190,500).

Median household income in Decatur is $59,831 compared to $55,052 in Dothan (+8.7%). Decatur offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Decatur spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 19.9% in Dothan.

Climate-wise, Dothan is notably warmer with an average of 67.8°F compared to 61.4°F in Decatur. Dothan receives more rainfall at 53.9" per year compared to 49.5" in Decatur.