Brookhaven, GA: Is Your Property Tax Assessment Too High? (2026)
By AppealAlly Team · Published
The median Brookhaven homeowner pays $6,537/year in property taxes. That is 5.56% of median household income. See how Brookhaven 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: $692,700 in Brookhaven.Median annual tax bill: $6,537.Tax burden: 5.56% of median household income in Brookhaven.Potential savings: ~$1,213/year from a 10% reduction, or $3,639 over 3 years with the 299c freeze (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions).Filed with: DeKalb 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.
Brookhaven runs along the Peachtree Road corridor just northeast of Buckhead, taking in the golf course neighborhoods around Capital City Club and the ballfields at Murphey Candler Park, with Oglethorpe University's campus fronting Peachtree itself. Incorporated in 2012, it has become one of the most expensive places to own a home in DeKalb County. The median home here is worth about $692,700, roughly 94 percent above the countywide median of $357,800, nearly double, and its 57,855 residents carry an assessment load to match. The typical Brookhaven household earns about $117,663 a year and spends roughly 5.6 percent of that income on property tax, a strikingly steep share for a high-income city, driven by DeKalb's effective rate of about 1.75 percent, one of the highest in Georgia. Across DeKalb County as a whole, home values stretch from roughly $237,245 at the 25th percentile to $559,874 at the 75th, which means most Brookhaven homes sit far above even the county's upper quartile. That is exactly the territory where assessment errors get expensive. When the assessor's model overshoots on a $700,000 house, the miss is proportionally larger than anywhere else in the county, and steadily rising values along the corridor give the model plenty of room to overshoot. Comparing your notice against actual sales on your street is the only way to know whether yours did. 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.
Brookhaven 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: $692,700 (94% above DeKalb County median)
Median Annual Tax Bill: $6,537 (Census ACS 2024)
Tax Burden: 5.56% of median household income
Is your Brookhaven property tax assessment too high?
The median home in Brookhaven is valued at $692,700, and the typical homeowner pays about $6,537 per year in property tax (Census ACS 2024), based on DeKalb County's 4.379% combined millage applied to 40% of fair market value after exemptions. That means the typical Brookhaven homeowner spends 5.56% of household income on property taxes alone. Brookhaven combines higher-than-average home values with a heavy tax burden. If your home is overassessed by even 10%, the cost adds up fast. Higher home values mean a larger tax bill and a bigger payoff from a successful appeal. At $692,700, Brookhaven home values are 94% above the DeKalb County median, 306% above Georgia's statewide median of $170,200, 117% above the national median of $318,000.
How does Brookhaven compare to other DeKalb County cities?
Brookhaven's median home value is the highest among these DeKalb County cities, which means overassessment costs more here than anywhere else in the county.
What evidence matters for Brookhaven appeals?
With a population of 57,855, Brookhaven has plenty of recent sales to draw from. The strongest evidence is 3-5 comparable sales: homes similar to yours in size, age, and condition that sold recently for less than your assessed value. Focus on per-square-foot price comparisons and adjust for differences in lot size, condition, and amenities. For the full evidence strategy, exemption details, and step-by-step filing instructions, see our DeKalb County Property Tax Guide.
How much can you save in Brookhaven?
Based on a combined tax rate of 4.379%. 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 Brookhaven home ($692,700 down by $69,270) would save approximately $1,213 per year, or $3,639 over three years (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions) with the 299c value freeze.
At 5.56% of household income, even a modest reduction in your assessed value makes a real difference in your annual budget.
File your appeal through DeKalb County
Property tax appeals in Brookhaven are filed with the DeKalb 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.
DeKalb County Board of Assessors: 120 West Trinity Place, Room 208, Decatur, GA 30030 | 404-371-0841 For the full appeal process and deadline details, see our DeKalb County Property Tax Guide.
Based on 2024 American Community Survey estimates and DeKalb County millage rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Brookhaven property tax too high?
The median annual property tax bill in Brookhaven is $6,537 (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 Brookhaven property tax?
Appeals are filed with the DeKalb 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 Brookhaven?
At the median, Brookhaven homeowners pay 5.56% of their household income ($117,663/year) in property taxes. That is a significant burden -- a successful appeal directly increases your take-home.
Why are Brookhaven home values higher than the DeKalb County average?
Brookhaven's premium reflects demand driven by school quality, proximity to employment centers, and neighborhood amenities. Higher values mean a larger potential overassessment -- a 10% overvaluation costs approximately $1,213 per year in excess taxes.
How do Brookhaven property taxes compare to Dunwoody?
Brookhaven's median home value of $692,700 is higher than Dunwoody's $602,900. Higher values mean a larger tax bill and a bigger payoff from a successful appeal.
How is my Brookhaven property tax bill calculated?
Georgia taxes property at 40% of fair market value. For Brookhaven's median home ($692,700), the assessed value is $277,080. Multiply by DeKalb County's millage rate of 4.379% to get your annual bill. In growing cities like Brookhaven, reassessments often outpace actual market conditions -- compare your assessed value per square foot to recent closed sales within 1 mile of your home.
What evidence wins a property tax appeal in Brookhaven?
The strongest evidence is 3-5 comparable sales -- homes similar to yours in size, age, and condition that sold recently for less than your assessed value. In Brookhaven, there are typically enough recent sales to build a strong case. Focus on per-square-foot price comparisons and adjust for differences in lot size, condition, and amenities.
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.