The median Clarkston homeowner pays $3,229/year in property taxes. That is 6.65% of median household income. See how Clarkston compares and check your savings potential.
Clarkston covers barely more than a square mile of eastern DeKalb County, a small city near Stone Mountain often described as the most diverse square mile in America after decades of refugee resettlement brought families from dozens of countries to its apartments and modest ranch homes. About 14,600 people live here, and by DeKalb standards it remains one of the more attainable places to buy: the median home is worth about $302,600, roughly 15 percent below the countywide median of $357,800. Attainable does not mean lightly taxed. DeKalb's effective property tax rate runs about 1.75 percent, among the steepest in metro Atlanta, and with Clarkston's median household income at $48,564, the typical homeowner here puts about 6.7 percent of household income toward property taxes, a heavier share than almost anywhere else in the county. That math leaves no room for an inflated number on your assessment notice. Across DeKalb County, home values stretch from roughly $237,245 at the 25th percentile to $559,874 at the 75th, and a mass appraisal model calibrated on that wide spread can easily carry assumptions from pricier neighborhoods into a Clarkston valuation. If the county's figure outruns what homes on your street actually sell for, you are overpaying every year it stands. Georgia law gives you 45 days from the date printed on your annual assessment notice to file an appeal, and once that window closes the value is locked in until next year.
Clarkston Appeal Quick Facts
The median home in Clarkston is valued at $302,600, and the typical homeowner pays about $3,229 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 Clarkston homeowner spends 6.65% of household income on property taxes alone. Even though Clarkston home values fall below the DeKalb County average, the tax burden here is significant relative to household income. A lower home value does not mean your assessment is automatically correct. Overassessments happen at every price point, and correcting one can meaningfully reduce your annual bill. At $302,600, Clarkston home values are 15% below the DeKalb County median, 77% above Georgia's statewide median of $170,200, 4% below the national median of $318,000.
Check If Your Clarkston Home Is Overassessed
Brookhaven leads DeKalb County in home values, but your individual assessment could still be too high regardless of where Clarkston falls in the county ranking.
In a mid-size city like Clarkston, you should be able to find 3-5 comparable sales within DeKalb 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 DeKalb County Property Tax Guide.
Based on a combined tax rate of 4.379%. Your actual rate may vary by tax district.
A 10% reduction on the median Clarkston home ($302,600 down by $30,260) would save approximately $530 per year, or $1,590 over three years with the 299c value freeze.
At 6.65% of household income, even a modest reduction in your assessed value makes a real difference in your annual budget.
Property tax appeals in Clarkston are filed with the DeKalb County Board of Assessors. You have 45 days from the date of your assessment notice to submit a PT-311A form.
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.