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Buford, GA: Is Your Property Tax Assessment Too High? (2026)

The median Buford homeowner pays $2,457/year in property taxes. That is 3.54% of median household income. See how Buford 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: $368,700 in Buford.Median annual tax bill: $2,457.Tax burden: 3.54% of median household income in Buford.Potential savings: ~$517/year from a 10% reduction, or $1,551 over 3 years with the 299c freeze (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions).Filed with: Gwinnett 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.

Buford built its early fortune on leather. The Bona Allen tannery once supplied saddles and harnesses across the country, and the brick storefronts of its Main Street historic district date to that era, though today the city is better known for Lake Lanier a few miles north and the Mall of Georgia sprawl to the south. Home values in Buford track the middle of the Gwinnett County market almost exactly: the median house is worth about $368,700, just 3% under the county median of $380,900, within a county where values run from roughly $289,831 at the 25th percentile to $487,646 at the 75th. Gwinnett's effective property tax rate is about 1.40%, and for Buford households earning the median income of $69,471, property taxes consume roughly 3.5% of income each year, a meaningful line item that most owners never scrutinize. Being a typical house in a typical price band offers no protection from a bad assessment. Buford's housing stock spans a century, from historic in-town homes to new subdivisions near the lake, and county-wide valuation tends to blur those differences, pricing an aging ranch as if it shared the finishes of the new construction nearby. The only way to know whether your number is fair is to compare it against actual sales of genuinely similar homes. If it fails that test, you can appeal. 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.

Buford Appeal Quick Facts

Is your Buford property tax assessment too high?

The median home in Buford is valued at $368,700, and the typical homeowner pays about $2,457 per year in property tax (Census ACS 2024), based on Gwinnett County's 3.506% combined millage applied to 40% of fair market value after exemptions. That means the typical Buford homeowner spends 3.54% of household income on property taxes alone. If Gwinnett 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 $368,700, Buford home values are 3% below the Gwinnett County median, 116% above Georgia's statewide median of $170,200, 15% above the national median of $318,000.

Check If Your Buford Home Is Overassessed

How does Buford compare to other Gwinnett County cities?

Peachtree Corners leads Gwinnett County in home values, but your individual assessment could still be too high regardless of where Buford falls in the county ranking.

What evidence matters for Buford appeals?

With a population of 17,997, Buford 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 Gwinnett County Property Tax Guide.

How much can you save in Buford?

Based on a combined tax rate of 3.506%. 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 Buford home ($368,700 down by $36,870) would save approximately $517 per year, or $1,551 over three years (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions) with the 299c value freeze.

At 3.54% of household income, even a modest reduction in your assessed value makes a real difference in your annual budget.

File your appeal through Gwinnett County

Property tax appeals in Buford are filed with the Gwinnett 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.

Gwinnett County Board of Assessors: 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30045 | 770-822-7212 For the full appeal process and deadline details, see our Gwinnett County Property Tax Guide.

Other Cities in Gwinnett County

Explore Gwinnett County

Based on 2024 American Community Survey estimates and Gwinnett County millage rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my Buford property tax too high?
The median annual property tax bill in Buford is $2,457 (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 Buford property tax?
Appeals are filed with the Gwinnett 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 Buford?
At the median, Buford homeowners pay 3.54% of their household income ($69,471/year) in property taxes. That is a significant burden -- a successful appeal directly increases your take-home.
How do Buford property taxes compare to Peachtree Corners?
Peachtree Corners leads Gwinnett County with a median home value of $484,700, compared to Buford's $368,700. But a lower county ranking does not mean your individual home is correctly assessed -- overassessments happen at every price point.
How is my Buford property tax bill calculated?
Georgia taxes property at 40% of fair market value. For Buford's median home ($368,700), the assessed value is $147,480. Multiply by Gwinnett County's millage rate of 3.506% to get your annual bill. In growing cities like Buford, 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 Buford?
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 Buford, 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.

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