Clarkston, GA: Is Your Property Tax Assessment Too High? (2026)
By AppealAlly Team · Published
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.
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: $302,600 in Clarkston.Median annual tax bill: $3,229.Tax burden: 6.65% of median household income in Clarkston.Potential savings: ~$530/year from a 10% reduction, or $1,590 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.
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 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.
Clarkston 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: $302,600 (-15% below DeKalb County median)
Median Annual Tax Bill: $3,229 (Census ACS 2024)
Tax Burden: 6.65% of median household income
Is your Clarkston property tax assessment too high?
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.
How does Clarkston compare to other DeKalb County cities?
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.
What evidence matters for Clarkston appeals?
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.
How much can you save in Clarkston?
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 Clarkston home ($302,600 down by $30,260) would save approximately $530 per year, or $1,590 over three years (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions) 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.
File your appeal through DeKalb County
Property tax appeals in Clarkston 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 Clarkston property tax too high?
The median annual property tax bill in Clarkston is $3,229 (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 Clarkston 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 Clarkston?
At the median, Clarkston homeowners pay 6.65% of their household income ($48,564/year) in property taxes. That is a significant burden -- a successful appeal directly increases your take-home.
Are Clarkston homes undervalued compared to DeKalb County?
Clarkston'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 Clarkston property taxes compare to Brookhaven?
Brookhaven leads DeKalb County with a median home value of $692,700, compared to Clarkston's $302,600. But a lower county ranking does not mean your individual home is correctly assessed -- overassessments happen at every price point.
How is my Clarkston property tax bill calculated?
Georgia taxes property at 40% of fair market value. For Clarkston's median home ($302,600), the assessed value is $121,040. Multiply by DeKalb County's millage rate of 4.379% to get your annual bill. Many Clarkston 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 Clarkston?
Yes. Even a $175 per year overcharge (from a $10,000 overvaluation at DeKalb County's 4.379% rate) adds up to $525 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.