Dothan (pop. ~71,000) is an affordable, friendly regional hub—nicknamed the Peanut Capital—with a walkable downtown, museums, parks, lively local festivals (including the big National Peanut Festival), solid healthcare and a small-but-active arts and dining scene that makes multi‑week assignments surprisingly comfortable and even enjoyable.
Weekend escapes are easy: Enterprise is about 30 miles away for bigger-box shopping and dining, and Troy (≈56 miles) offers classic college‑town coffee shops, campus events and small concerts—both simple day trips from Dothan.