A nationally distributed magazine ranks Dothan as the best place in Alabama to raise kids.

According to Business Week magazine, if you're looking to raise a family in Alabama, Dothan is the place to be.

“For Dothan this is just a great feather in our cap because this community has strived to be a great community,” said Malia McKean with the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.

Each year, the magazine selects one town and two runners-up for each of the 50 states.

To be considered, each town must have at least 45,000 residents and a median income of between $40,000 and $125,000.

Affordability, safety, and school test scores were the three most important characteristics in the survey.

“We probably have some of the lowest property taxes in the country so that's a big draw for people,” said Bob Hendrix with the Dothan Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“It's cheaper down here to live than anywhere else,”

Lynn Cobb is a lifelong Dothan resident.

She says Dothan’s location is a big selling point.

“A lot of it I think is convenient to Florida you can go to the beaches easy. It's not really bad living,” added Cobb.

“We're two hours from Montgomery, two hours from Tallahassee, three hours from Atlanta. The interstate right below us, the beaches are an hour and a half,” said Hendrix.

Hendrix says the circle city has something for everyone.

“Just everything you would want is right here is you just look for it,”

Mckean says Dothan’s appeal is reinforced by the recent population explosion.

“It's a small community that over the past several years has grown with great tremendous rate. We're small but we offer the benefits of a big city in a smaller setting,”

Since 1980, Dothan’s population has increased by almost 20,000 people.

“There's a lot going on so come on and move to Dothan and experience the fun!” said Hendrix.

Tinley Park, Illinois was selected as the top place in the country to raise kids.

Auburn and Montgomery are the runners-up in Alabama.