Valdosta receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Valdosta
Dothan
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 33%
vs44 · Bottom 27%
Growth
60 · Top 34%
vs67 · Top 23%
Climate
76 · Top 14%
vs71 · Top 34%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 42%
vs42 · Bottom 30%
Housing affordability
86 · Bottom 28%
vs98 · Top 36%
Access
98 · Top 7%
vs99 · Top 4%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 22%
vs25 · Bottom 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Valdosta | Dothan | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 150,188 | 152,674 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,085 | $57,791 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,036 | $32,790 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 93/sq mi | 89/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $201,300 | $170,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,025 | $910 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.8% | 68.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 21.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 17.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 871 | 604 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.0% | 19.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 40°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.4" | 53.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.2 | 41.3 | 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
Valdosta
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, cold wave.
Dothan
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, cold wave.
Full profiles: Valdosta, GA Metro Area · Dothan, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology