Valdosta receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Dothan
Valdosta
Opportunity
44 · Bottom 27%
vs47 · Bottom 33%
Growth
67 · Top 23%
vs60 · Top 34%
Climate
71 · Top 34%
vs76 · Top 14%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 30%
vs62 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 36%
vs86 · Bottom 28%
Access
99 · Top 4%
vs98 · Top 7%
Economic stability
25 · Bottom 16%
vs31 · Bottom 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Dothan | Valdosta | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,674 | 150,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,791 | $57,085 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,790 | $30,036 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 89/sq mi | 93/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $170,700 | $201,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $910 | $1,025 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.1% | 59.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 20.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 604 | 871 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.0 | 5.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 19.8% | -4.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 40°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 53.9" | 48.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 22.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.3 | 33.2 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Dothan
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, cold wave.
Valdosta
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, cold wave.
Full profiles: Dothan, AL Metro Area · Valdosta, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology