36301 and 36116 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
36301
36116
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 25%
vs41 · Bottom 22%
Growth
62 · Top 30%
vs53 · Top 46%
Climate
71 · Top 45%
vs71 · Top 48%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 35%
vs57 · Bottom 49%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 36%
vs86 · Top 40%
Access
97 · Top 24%
vs97 · Top 32%
Economic stability
32 · Bottom 11%
vs38 · Bottom 17%
Measured values
| Metric | 36301 | 36116 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,452 | 45,250 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $50,125 | $55,160 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,844 | $29,748 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 442/sq mi | 848/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $164,100 | $149,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $917 | $1,103 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.1% | 49.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 32.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 21.1% | 25.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 319 | 523 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.5 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 52.6% | 101.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 40°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 53.9" | 51.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 24.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.0 | 33.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.90 | 18.30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 61.9% | 72.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
36301
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
36116
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 36301 — Dothan, AL · 36116 — Montgomery, AL · How this is calculated: methodology