Austell, GA: Is Your Property Tax Assessment Too High? (2026)
By AppealAlly Team · Published
The median Austell homeowner pays $1,405/year in property taxes. That is 1.93% of median household income. See how Austell compares and check your savings potential.
Key Takeaways
Appeal deadline: Georgia law sets it at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.Median home value: $284,900 in Austell.Median annual tax bill: $1,405.Tax burden: 1.93% of median household income in Austell.Potential savings: ~$343/year from a 10% reduction, or $1,029 over 3 years with the 299c freeze (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions).Filed with: Cobb County Board of Assessors (not the city).Free to file: the Board of Equalization can lower your value but cannot raise it above the county assessors' figure, except on a value already frozen by an earlier appeal.
Austell grew up as a railroad junction in the 1880s, and freight trains still roll through the middle of this south Cobb County town of about 8,447 people, a short drive from Six Flags Over Georgia. Housing has stayed comparatively affordable: the median home is worth about $284,900, roughly 30% below the Cobb County median of $407,200. In fact, across Cobb County home values climb from about $299,081 at the 25th percentile to $586,625 at the 75th, meaning the typical Austell house is priced beneath the bottom quarter of that range. That is exactly the situation where county-wide appraisal models are least reliable, because the sales data behind them comes mostly from pricier submarkets in east Cobb, Smyrna, and Marietta. The good news is that Cobb's effective property tax rate, about 1.21%, is gentler than much of metro Atlanta, and with a median household income of $72,938 the typical Austell homeowner spends a moderate 1.9% of income on property taxes. A moderate burden is not a reason to accept an inflated value, though. Austell's older housing varies house by house, in condition, in renovation, in flood history near Sweetwater Creek, and a model that misses those differences carries the error forward year after year. Read your assessment notice against real sales in your own neighborhood rather than the county as a whole. Georgia law sets the appeal deadline at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
Austell Appeal Quick Facts
Appeal Deadline: Georgia law sets it at 45 days from the date of the assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
Median Home Value: $284,900 (-30% below Cobb County median)
Median Annual Tax Bill: $1,405 (Census ACS 2024)
Tax Burden: 1.93% of median household income
Is your Austell property tax assessment too high?
The median home in Austell is valued at $284,900, and the typical homeowner pays about $1,405 per year in property tax (Census ACS 2024), based on Cobb County's 3.015% combined millage applied to 40% of fair market value after exemptions. That means the typical Austell homeowner spends 1.93% of household income on property taxes alone. Austell has modest home values and a moderate tax burden, but every dollar counts. If the county has overestimated your home's fair market value, you are paying more than you should. Filing is free, and the Board of Equalization can lower your value but cannot raise it above the county assessors' figure, except on a value already frozen by an earlier appeal. At $284,900, Austell home values are 30% below the Cobb County median, 67% above Georgia's statewide median of $170,200, 10% below the national median of $318,000.
How does Austell compare to other Cobb County cities?
Smyrna leads Cobb County in home values, but your individual assessment could still be too high regardless of where Austell falls in the county ranking.
What evidence matters for Austell appeals?
In a mid-size city like Austell, you should be able to find 3-5 comparable sales within Cobb County. Look for homes that sold in the last 12 months with similar square footage, age, and condition. If local sales are limited, expand your search to neighboring areas within the county. For the full evidence strategy, exemption details, and step-by-step filing instructions, see our Cobb County Property Tax Guide.
How much can you save in Austell?
Based on a combined tax rate of 3.015%. Your actual rate may vary by tax district. Three-year figures are estimates and apply only if your value is reduced; you can then keep saving for up to three years, subject to the statutory exceptions.
A 10% reduction on the median Austell home ($284,900 down by $28,490) would save approximately $344 per year, or $1,032 over three years (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions) with the 299c value freeze.
At 1.93% of household income, even a modest reduction in your assessed value makes a real difference in your annual budget.
File your appeal through Cobb County
Property tax appeals in Austell are filed with the Cobb County Board of Assessors. To appeal, submit a PT-311A form. Georgia law sets the appeal deadline at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
Cobb County Board of Assessors: 736 Whitlock Avenue, Suite 200, Marietta, GA 30064 | 770-528-3100 For the full appeal process and deadline details, see our Cobb County Property Tax Guide.
Based on 2024 American Community Survey estimates and Cobb County millage rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Austell property tax too high?
The median annual property tax bill in Austell is $1,405 (Census ACS). If your assessed value is higher than what your home would actually sell for, you are paying more than that. Compare your assessed value to recent sales of comparable homes nearby.
Who do I contact to appeal my Austell property tax?
Appeals are filed with the Cobb County Board of Assessors, not at the city level. File a PT-311A form. Georgia law sets the appeal deadline at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
How much of my income goes to property taxes in Austell?
At the median, Austell homeowners pay 1.93% of their household income ($72,938/year) in property taxes. Reducing your assessment through an appeal lowers that share and increases your take-home.
Are Austell homes undervalued compared to Cobb County?
Austell's lower median does not mean the county's assessment of your specific home is correct. Overassessments happen at every price point. Compare your assessed value per square foot to actual recent sales of similar homes nearby.
How do Austell property taxes compare to Smyrna?
Smyrna leads Cobb County with a median home value of $449,500, compared to Austell's $284,900. But a lower county ranking does not mean your individual home is correctly assessed -- overassessments happen at every price point.
How is my Austell property tax bill calculated?
Georgia taxes property at 40% of fair market value. For Austell's median home ($284,900), the assessed value is $113,960. Multiply by Cobb County's millage rate of 3.015% to get your annual bill. Many Austell homeowners find that assessed values have climbed faster than actual sale prices. Comparing your value to 3-5 recent sales of similar homes is the quickest way to spot an overassessment.
Is it worth appealing a small overvaluation in Austell?
Yes. Even a $120 per year overcharge (from a $10,000 overvaluation at Cobb County's 3.015% rate) adds up to $360 over three years (estimated); if an appeal removes it, the 299c freeze can keep that saving for up to three years, subject to the statutory exceptions. The appeal is free to file, and the Board of Equalization cannot raise your value above the county assessors' figure, except on a value already frozen by an earlier appeal.
Can my property tax go up if I appeal?
Losing at the Board of Equalization cannot raise your value, with one exception. Under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311(e)(9), the Board of Equalization, a hearing officer, or an arbitrator can lower your value but cannot raise it above the value the county assessors set. The exception is a value already frozen by an earlier appeal: on an appeal filed while that freeze is in effect, the Board is not capped and could raise the value. That limit applies to the deciding body; the county assessors can still make changes or corrections to your value when they review your appeal.