The median Decatur homeowner pays $9,295/year in property taxes. That is 6.67% of median household income. See how Decatur compares and check your savings potential.
Decatur is barely four square miles of tree canopy and bungalow streets wrapped around an old courthouse square, six miles east of downtown Atlanta, with Agnes Scott College on its south side and a MARTA station beneath the center of town. Walkability and an independent city school system have made it one of the most expensive addresses in DeKalb County: the median Decatur home is worth about $701,400, roughly 96% above the DeKalb County median of $357,800. Across DeKalb as a whole, home values stretch from roughly $237,245 at the 25th percentile to $559,874 at the 75th, which means a typical Decatur house is worth more than the county's upper quartile before an appraiser looks at a single detail. The carrying cost matches. Median household income in the city is about $139,397, yet property taxes claim about 6.7% of household income for the typical homeowner here, one of the highest shares in Georgia, since city and school levies stack on top of a DeKalb County effective rate that already runs about 1.75% of home value. At these price levels, small appraisal errors are expensive: if the county's model overshoots your home's value by even a modest percentage, that overage flows through every levy you pay, year after year, until someone challenges it. Recent sales on your own street are the test. 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 stands for the year.
Decatur Appeal Quick Facts
The median home in Decatur is valued at $701,400, and the typical homeowner pays about $9,295 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 Decatur homeowner spends 6.67% of household income on property taxes alone. Decatur 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 $701,400, Decatur home values are 96% above the DeKalb County median, 312% above Georgia's statewide median of $170,200, 120% above the national median of $318,000.
Check If Your Decatur Home Is Overassessed
Decatur's median home value is the highest among these DeKalb County cities, which means overassessment costs more here than anywhere else in the county.
With a population of 24,518, Decatur 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.
Based on a combined tax rate of 4.379%. Your actual rate may vary by tax district.
A 10% reduction on the median Decatur home ($701,400 down by $70,140) would save approximately $1,229 per year, or $3,687 over three years with the 299c value freeze.
At 6.67% of household income, even a modest reduction in your assessed value makes a real difference in your annual budget.
Property tax appeals in Decatur 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.