Quality of Life is a subjective term that means different things to different people. Although each resident in a community may have their own definition of quality of life, it is important for the long-term health of a community that each resident is able to achieve what they perceive to be a high quality of life. From the community standpoint, this means providing a spectrum of options that can satisfy the needs of all residents.

The majority of survey respondents and focus group and interview participants from the community input process perceived the quality of life in the Dothan region to be good or excellent. Numerous focus group and interview participants cited Dothan’s quality of life as the community’s strongest assest and the reason they came and/or remain in the community.

Some of the strongest aspects of Dothan’s quality of life, as viewed by community input participants, include Dothan’s central location; the quality and capacity of its healthcare institutions; lack of traffic and crime; shopping and retail opportunities; a relatively low cost of living; and outdoor recreation opportunities. The majority of respondents also called the area a great place to raise a family.

However, there were a few quality of life elements where Dothan is not as strong. The most citied issues related to the lack of cultural amenities, the lack of activities for young people (teens, young adults and young single persons) and the need to revitalize downtown Dothan. Respondents also noted that the Dothan regional population is aging, with notable growth in the area’s over-65 population. Effectively addressing the needs of the senior adult population is also a critical component of the quality of life development efforts.

The purpose of this goal is therefore to address the issues that are hampering Dothan’s competitiveness as a residential and tourist destination, and to improve the community’s quality of life for all residents.