Moving To Dothan, AL
Moving To Dothan, AL
Making Dothan Your Home
While you might not catch Dothan on any “top places to move” list yet and it doesn’t have what you would call “spectacular mountain views” or hold “beachfront property” status like a lot of popular destination towns, more and more people are moving to The Wiregrass area in recent years. We sat down with some of our friends & family, local business owners, and clients to help us write this article to answer the simple question “why Dothan.” In their own words (and some of ours), here are the main reasons to move to Dothan and why the locals love it here.
1. Real Estate: What Do dothan Neighborhoods Offer?
Moving To dothan: Neighborhoods
So you want to live on 200 acres out in the country, surrounded by fields of cotton and whispering pines? No problem. Or maybe you picture yourself sipping your morning coffee, watching golfers tee-off from your back porch before hitting the gym. We’ve got that too. Maybe you’re finally ready to build that dream home on that perfect piece of land down by the water. You’re covered. One of the great things about the Dothan area is that you can live in and around the city limits and enjoy all three of these options.
Dothan’s layout reminds me of the rings of a tree. At the core, we’ve got the downtown area, rich with history, art and a ton of local small business. Surrounding this core is a slightly less dense ring of neighborhoods, each one special, reflecting the era in which it was developed. Moving further out, you’ll find smaller neighboring communities and small towns, blending residential and commercial spaces. On the outer rings, the landscape transitions into that “sweet home” countryside, where giant crop and cattle farms are busy holding together the local economy and our way of life. Connecting all of these farms, you’ll find an intricate network of rivers, creeks, streams and heavy timber, teeming with the most diverse wildlife in the country.
You can break these areas down into six distinct areas:
Within these areas there are over 50 neighborhoods in Dothan proper.
Downtown Dothan
The most buzz-worthy neighborhood in Dothan right now is the downtown area and it will likely stay that way for years to come.
Downtown Dothan offers a mix of restored historic homes on St. Andrews and new high-end lofts, apartments and historic commercial property on Foster and Main Streets. From here, you can stroll to local breweries, coffee shops and boutique retail spots that highlight the spirit of local small business in Dothan.
Last month, the City of Dothan kicked off phase II of their massive “City Center” revitalization project. This includes a new amphitheater, parks, upgrades to the Dothan Opera House, and the new Wiregrass Innovation Center, a 44,000 sq/ft biotech and genetics lab. Huntsville’s Hudson Alpha, who has created over 2,500 jobs and contributed over a billion dollars to the state’s economy over just the last two years, will be the facility’s anchor tenant partnering with the city. The impact Hudson has had on Huntsville is undeniable and I’m not sure anyone is ready for the seismic shift that’s about to take place not only in our downtown but across The Wiregrass.
Click here for the most up to date digital rendering of the project or click here to go to the City Of Dothan’s project update page for more detailed information and updates on the project.
Central Dothan (Inside the circle)
Dothan is home to the Ross Clark Circle, the main roadway around town and is the country’s first circle city bypass route. Dothan is often referred to as “Circle City” as a result. The 14-mile circle encapsulates the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods and makes getting around pretty convenient, especially if you’re new to the area. Some people say it was a military experiment but I’ll save the tin-foil hat for my article on interest rates and the FED.
Central Dothan is home to the popular Garden District neighborhood as well as Jamestown subdivision near The Dothan Country Club.
North Dothan
Making your way out of the circle heading North you’ll find many of Dothan’s retail shopping centers, restaurants and grocery stores. There are several newer subdivisions that have taken shape like The Orchard and Charleston Mills. The areas of Midland City and Headland north of Dothan are seeing pretty sizable new growth as well over the last few years.
Headland has a fantastic school system according to some in my family who were raised in the school system that have went on to be successful in their respective fields. Headland Country Club is a great little spot to check out as well if you get a chance. You’re not going to find better greens in the area for the price.
Last but not least no discussion of the North side of Dothan would be complete without mentioning established neighborhoods like Brentwood. Brentwood is one of the older neighborhoods in town and is in a great location next door to Westgate Park’s trail system and water park.
South Dothan
Heading South out of the circle we’ll quickly come upon The National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds where our local fair is held every Fall. Just a short par 5 away from there and we’ll be at Olympia Estates on the Dothan National Golf Club, a great neighborhood in the Rehobeth School District.
Rehobeth has become a very popular area for families looking for quality schools for their children in the last couple years after Dothan City Schools rezoned their districts, making for a lot of unhappy parents. As a result, many Dothan residents relocated here, and land and home values have surged in the area. Liberty Park, Chase Ridge, Park Ridge, Southern Hills and the town of Taylor are all in Rehobeth School zone.
If you’re looking for something a little more rural, heading further South to Cottonwood and Slocomb on the south side are great choices as well. My family has lived in these two areas since the early-to-mid 1800’s and you can’t go wrong with the small-town feel and good natured people in these two towns.
East Dothan
If we head east outside the circle we’re quickly met with The Alabama College Of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM), founded in 2010, that prepares physicians to treat patients around the area with a holistic and preventative approach to medicine. Further east and we’ll reach Hidden Lake and Hidden Lake East Subdivisions , two of the larger and newer neighborhoods in Dothan with Lexington right down the street.
Continuing East we’ll find ourselves just a few miles from Dothan in Cowarts and then Waterford, another great neighborhood in Ashford.
Any further East and you’ll either be in Columbia or Gordon, down yonder on the Chattahoochee. Both of these little towns are underrated to me. I lived in Gordon for a little over a year and I can say that I’ve never lived in a more peaceful place (maybe because my phone didn’t have a signal). Not to mention, I’ve never seen more deer in my life than when I lived out there. There’s also plenty of great fishing to be had on the river nearby.
West Dothan
West Dothan tends to get a lot of attention in terms of real estate in Dothan, and for good reason. The West side of Dothan is home to Flowers Hospital, Highland Oaks Golf Course, some of the best neighborhoods, plenty of food choices and activities for the family.
As far as neighborhoods go, Grove Park is a favorite for a lot of families and professionals. It’s a well-kept subdivision and it’s very convenient to everything the west side has to offer.
Westbrook is another great neighborhood similar to Grove Park right across Hwy 84. I have several friends that live here and they tell me how much they love it all the time. I also have a lot of friends in the popular Chapelwood area, one of the west side’s more established neighborhoods with great schools nearby.
If high-end luxury is what you’re after with a convenient location, Spann Farm and Lincolnshire are guaranteed not to disappoint. Right around the corner you’ve got four more terrific neighborhoods in The Highlands, Highlands South, Bocage and Cypress Glade.
Overall, the west side of town has something for everyone.
2. What To Do In Dothan
What To Do In Dothan
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail-Dothan
The small-town feel that Dothan has to offer plus it’s proximity to the many nearby beaches, lakes, springs and events make it a great place to live and enjoy life. Dothan is more of a hub-city than a destination town, making it possible for residents to support local business while also enjoying everything the wider southeast area has to offer. Here’s how we live and what we do.
Visit The Beaches
With Panama City only an hour to the South, you’d more than likely run into a lot of folks from Dothan on any given weekend there. Happens to us every time we go. Panama City is great place to break-away for the weekend to recharge. Destin, while a little bit further, has some great food and the best shopping around.
Visit The Springs
There is no better feeling in the dog days of summer than jumping in the ice cold clearwater springs that blanket the Florida panhandle. Morrison Springs and Ponce De Leon Springs are a couple of our favorites to go kick back, take a swim and do some grilling. If you’re into kayaking, Cypress Springs in Vernon (40 miles south of Dothan) is a 4 mile clearwater stream that will have you enjoying the water all summer long.
Playing Golf
Dothan is home to some top-tier championship golf. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Highland Oaks has 3 of the 26 golf courses that make up the RTJ Golf Trail across 11 locations around the state. Dothan National Golf Club (formerly Olympia Spa) has been host to many tournaments over the years such as the SEC Championship back in the 1980’s and is a great layout. Dothan Country Club in the heart of Dothan is host to the world famous Future Masters tournament every year where many of golf’s current stars have played as juniors.
Forever Wild Trails
Dothan’s “Forever Wild Trails at Beaver Creek” is part of Alabama’s Forever Wild Land Trust with 400 natural acres located inside the city limits between Flowers Chapel Road and Fortner Street. Within the trails are 14-plus miles of naturally wooded trails. You can hike or ride shorter 1 to 2-mile loops or take on the whole trail system. The mile-long section of bridges through the wetlands and the views of Beaver Creek are always pretty great. These trails are fun and dog-friendly.
Lake Eufaula
Some of the fondest memories that I have are going to the lake every weekend with my family as a youngster. Lake Eufaula has some of the best bass-fishing in the country with tournaments being held throughout the year. Created by the Army Corp of Engineers in 1963, the lake is 45,000 acres in size with 640 miles of lake-shore, offering plenty of opportunities for boating, camping, and hiking. The beauty and the thrill of reeling in a big one make every visit to Lake Eufaula special and it remains a go-to spot for creating lifelong memories for families in the area.
3. Home Ownership & Real Estate Is Affordable In Dothan & Houston County
Home Ownership Is Affordable In Dothan
It’s no secret that affordable housing in many places across the country has all but disappeared but here in Dothan it’s not only alive and well but thriving. There are several factors that contribute to Dothan being one of the country’s most home-owner friendly cities:
Low Property Taxes
Alabama ranks as the state with the second lowest property taxes in the country, with an average property tax rate of 0.41%. The only state with lower property taxes is Hawaii. For comparison, Alabama’s average annual property tax is approximately $904.72 based on an average home value of around $220,663.56.
Low Cost Of Living
Alabama is known for its low cost of living compared to other parts of the country. It ranks as the 3rd most affordable place to live in the states, with the overall cost of living being about 20% lower than the national average. This includes lower expenses in housing, groceries, and transportation.
Diverse Jobs Market
Dothan’s economy is supported by a variety of industries including agriculture (with a significant contribution from peanut production), a world-class healthcare industry, thriving local small business community, biotech labs and strong education institutions. This diverse economic base helps maintain a stable job market that provides the ample income necessary to support home ownership here.
Is moving To Dothan The Right Move?
If you’re thinking about moving to Dothan or the surrounding areas and exploring your options for where to live, our Big Creek Real Estate team can help. Many of our team members and clients are transplants from across the country and now call this place home. Some of us are Dothan natives, giving us a deep understanding of the local market and community as well.
We know what it takes to find the perfect property and meet your goals. Contact us today or browse the Dothan MLS listings for sale
