Headland has restaurants, events and a strong rec sports scene
Ask why someone would move to Headland, and several possible answers could come back. The southeastern Alabama city of around 5,000 people has historically acted as a bedroom community for Dothan, but the area has added amenities to keep people close to home, particularly around Headland Square, its social hub. While restaurants, shops and town events are part of the city’s growing appeal, they are not its only draws. “Some people relocate from Dothan for the school district,” says Kelly Woodham, a residential broker with Forrest & Fields. “It’s a family-centered community with lots of rec sports and things to do. Others come from [different] parts of the state for retirement or if they are working remotely, because the cost of living is low.”
New Traditional homes on sizable lots for below-median prices
Most of Headland’s homes are within a few miles of the city center, though a few houses sit in the region’s more rural areas. There’s a mix of modern properties and older midcentury homes, though New Traditional is the dominant style. Lots are typically a quarter-acre or more and can feature medium and large trees, bushes and plenty of grass. The median sale price is around $330,000, below the national median, though Woodham says Headland can be a bit pricier than its surrounding communities. Homes often sell after about 125 days on the market, well above the U.S. average. Large parcels of land are also available for development, usually from $15,000 to $70,000 per acre. Residential roads can be either wide or narrow depending on the part of town, and some feature traffic calming devices like speed bumps.
Southern, Italian and barbecue restaurants bring in visitors
Several restaurants surround Headland Square. The Headland Bottletree uses local ingredients to make Southern-inspired entrees, serving them in an upscale environment. “It has brought people to the town,” Woodham says. Mamma Rosa’s Pizza has lunch specials on weekdays. Nearby, Fred’s BBQ has fed the community for more than 20 years. Along U.S. Route 431 is Rodeo’s Mexican Restaurant, which uses authentic flavors in its cooking. Keel and Co. Distilling offers whisky samples and hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights. The city has Hometown Foodcenter and Dollar General locations, and retail boutiques like District 37 are near the town square. Volunteers from First Baptist Church Headland provide groceries to residents in need.
Headland High offers dual enrollment, and Houston Academy is close
Students are served by Henry County Schools. They can attend Headland Elementary School, which has a B Niche grade. Headland Middle School earns a B-plus. Headland High School offers dual-enrollment classes in partnership with Wallace Community College. It receives a B-minus score. Alabama’s CHOOSE Act lets the state send participating families up to $7,000 in an education savings account. Recipients can use the money to pay for private school tuition and other expenses. Dothan’s private Houston Academy, a prekindergarten through 12th-grade school with an A Niche score, is around 12 miles away.
Oak trees shade the town square, and Douglas Park is for athletics
Headland Square is the city's center and hosts events throughout the year. It also has walking paths and benches shaded by mature live oak trees. Douglas Park has eight baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts and a playground. Dr. J.E. Morris Park has a picnic pavilion and space for kids to play. Just north of the area is Ravenwood Sporting Clays, which has 14 shooting stations across its 43-acre course. Headland Country Club has a private pool and a golf course open to the public.
Residents get concerts under the trees and throw holiday celebrations
The city’s free Under the Oaks concert series is held on select Fridays in April, May, June and December at Headland Square. “People bring lawn chairs, and there are food trucks,” Woodham says. “It’s a nice feeling, everyone getting outside.” The Headland Harvest Festival combines car and tractor shows with games, food trucks and live music each October. The community holds a Let It Glow competition in November and December, awarding prizes to the homes and businesses with creative holiday light displays. It also throws a Christmas parade through its Historic Downtown.
Easy access to Dothan, while hurricane season can bring storms
U.S. Route 431 runs just east of the town center, while Alabama State Route 134 cuts through it. Downtown Dothan is around 10 miles away. Montgomery Regional Airport, about 110 miles away, is the closest airport that offers multiple airlines. Woodham says the annual hurricane season, which runs from June through November, can create tornadoes that impact the area.
