Rents are 2% below what Dothan's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,210 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Dothan is 1.6% below its high of $1,230 in March 2026, at $1,210 as of September 2026.
Rent in Dothan changed +3.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($55,792) is $1,395 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,337); a 4-bedroom is $1,513.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Dothan, 36305 ($1,319/mo), costs 26% more than the cheapest, 36303 ($1,047/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Dothan. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Dothan, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 27.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Dothan, AL has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Dothan, AL stood at $1,037 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,210, reflecting a 16.7% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $49,203 to $55,792 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.4% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.7% since 2021, moving from about 70,318 residents to roughly 71,514. Taken together, the five-year picture in Dothan, AL reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Dothan on your salary?
At $1,210/mo, how Dothan rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Dothan rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Dothan. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Dothan
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Dothan is $1,210/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $783/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $980/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $793/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,337/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($55,792/yr), Dothan ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Dothan?
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How does Dothan rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
At $1,210/mo, rent takes ~26% of Dothan's median household income ($55,792/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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